An administrative hearing, which is a separate form of “due process” from a criminal trial, is usually held by a local, state or federal government agency in order to determine the validity of criminal charges. The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) often holds administrative hearings for defendants who are accused of drinking-and-driving related crimes. Administrative ...
Laws against double jeopardy in the United States are used to protect the integrity of the legal system as well as to protect citizens’ rights when it comes to crime. It is illegal in the U.S. to prosecute an individual twice for the same crime, no matter the circumstances. The only way in which a ...
One of the key components of the US criminal justice system is the jury. A jury panel of 12 people listens to arguments and evidence presented by the prosecution and defense attorneys to determine a defendant’s guilt. Of course, in order to seat a panel of 12 people on a jury, every courthouse sends out ...
There are two types of juries that you might encounter when you are charged with a criminal offense a grand jury and a petit jury. The grand jury is a selection of jurors who will decide whether or not to indict (charge) a suspect, while a petit jury decides the guilt or innocent of a ...
There are two major factions of the United States court system: civil cases and criminal cases. Both take place in courtrooms all across the country, but there are several differences that separate the two. Civil & Criminal Court Cases: Plaintiff vs. Prosecutor In a criminal court case, the opposing parties are the prosecutor, often the ...
