What happens after a plea and trial preparation hearing?
Asked by: Prof. Pete Lind | Last update: June 9, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (6 votes)
After a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH), if you plead guilty, the case moves to sentencing, with a future date often set for the judge to impose punishment, possibly after a pre-sentence report; if you plead not guilty, the court sets a trial date and timelines for evidence exchange, proceeding toward a trial or further motions, with the goal of effective case management or resolution before trial.
What is the next step after a pretrial hearing?
After a preliminary hearing, if the magistrate finds probable cause, the defendant will be held to answer the charges. This transition into the criminal justice process involves several steps: Arraignment: The criminal defendant is formally charged and enters a plea—guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
How long after plea agreement is sentencing?
THE SENTENCING HEARING: About 10-11 weeks after your guilty plea or verdict, you will go back to court for sentencing. Three different people will tell the judge how they think you should be sentenced: your lawyer, the Probation Officer, and the prosecutor.
How long after trial do you get sentenced?
If a defendant pleads guilty or is found guilty by a court, they will become an offender and will need to be sentenced. Sometimes the offender will be sentenced immediately after the trial. Sometimes another court date will be set for the sentencing hearing.
What are the 5 stages of trial?
The Trial
- Opening Statements. Every trial proceeds in basically the same way. ...
- Presenting the Prosecution/Plaintiff's Evidence. Opening statements are followed by the case-in-chief. ...
- Presenting the Defense's Evidence. ...
- Closing Arguments. ...
- The Jury's Verdict.
What happens at a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH)?
What is the final step in a trial process?
DELIBERATION AND VERDICT
During the final stage, the judge provides the jury with instruction and they deliberate. The jury attempts to agree on whether or not the defendant is guilty or not guilty. Depending on the case, the deliberation process can last anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks.
Do you go straight to jail after a trial?
It is quite common for you to receive your sentence immediately following a guilty verdict or guilty / no contest plea to a misdemeanor. Felony sentences must be scheduled within 20 days of the guilty verdict or plea. The court may extend that timeframe by up to ten days for the same reasons listed above.
How long do trial hearings last?
Trials can last from a day to many months. In general, the more witnesses in a case the longer it can last. Trials also tend to be longer if there is more than 1 defendant in the case.
Is it better to plead guilty or not guilty?
It's generally better to plead not guilty at your first court appearance to preserve your rights, discover the prosecution's evidence, and allow your attorney time to negotiate for lesser charges or a better deal; pleading guilty immediately surrenders your power to bargain and results in a conviction and criminal record, though a guilty plea might be considered later after consultation with a lawyer or if the evidence is overwhelming and a plea deal offers significant benefits, like avoiding harsher penalties.
Do you go to jail after a plea hearing?
Yes–it is possible to go to jail after a plea hearing. This happens from time to time. But it is more common for people to stay on bond after a plea hearing. As an example, if the person is on bond, then the judge will ask the pre-trial officer if the person is following the bond rules.
How much time off for a guilty plea?
The reduction should be decreased from one-quarter to a maximum of one-tenth on the first day of trial having regard to the time when the guilty plea is first indicated to the court relative to the progress of the case and the trial date (subject to the exceptions in section F).
What happens at plea and trial preparation?
The first hearing at Crown Court is called the 'Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing' or PTPH. At this hearing, the court clerk will read out the list of offences the defendant has been charged with (the indictment) and asks the defendant to plead 'guilty' or 'not guilty'. This process is called arraignment.
What is the next step after hearing?
The judge will make a decision after hearing both sides and considering the evidence. The judge may make the decision right away or may take a recess to give the decision. The recess may be only for a few hours or it may take days or weeks to give the final decision.
Can a case get dropped at pretrial?
Yes. It is possible for a case to be dismissed at the pretrial hearing. During the hearing, the judge will likely issue a decision regarding any pretrial motions to dismiss the case. Thus, if those motions are successful, your case may be dismissed at the pretrial.
What happens during a trial hearing?
The trial is a structured process where the facts of a case are presented to a jury, and they decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the charge offered. During trial, the prosecutor uses witnesses and evidence to prove to the jury that the defendant committed the crime(s).
How often do trials get dismissed?
Many cases are dismissed by lack of cooperation of witnesses, lack of evidence, legal issues, and/or because a defendant qualifies for a conditional dismissal or diversion. Stats have these scenarios taking up 5-8% of all the cases. So, if you do the math, that leaves roughly 2-5% of cases going to trial.
What does it mean when a hearing goes to trial?
Trial. The trial is when a Judge or Commissioner hears what both parties say about an action. The Judge or Commissioner will determine the facts of the case and apply the law to the facts stated in trial.
What happens if I lose in trial?
If the judge decides you lost your case
In addition to saying you lost, the judge may also order that you have to pay the other side's costs, like filing fees and attorney fees. The judge may also decide that you have to do other things the other side asked for.
How soon after sentencing do you go to jail?
How long after sentencing you go to prison varies greatly, but it can range from immediately (especially in state cases for serious crimes) to several weeks or months in federal cases, often allowing time for "self-surrender" to organize affairs, though this depends on the judge, case specifics, and flight risk. You might stay in county jail temporarily for processing before transfer to a designated prison, which takes more time in the federal system for placement.
Why does sentencing take so long after a trial?
One of the main reasons it takes so much time between your guilty plea or verdict and the sentencing hearing is because an agent with Pretrial Services has to write a report. They are typically busy writing other reports and have additional responsibilities.
What not to say in a court hearing?
In court, avoid saying anything dishonest, sarcastic, angry, or disrespectful, such as calling witnesses liars or interrupting the judge. Don't use slang, make jokes, over-explain, or give absolute answers like "always" or "never". Focus on answering only what's asked, speak clearly, admit mistakes if you make them, and avoid undermining your own case or client.
Do prosecutors want to go to trial?
When a prosecutor decides to take a case to trial, it's typically because they believe they have a strong case that serves the interests of justice. Several factors can contribute to this decision: Strong evidence supporting the charges. Serious nature of the offense.