Suspect to Defendant: Facing Criminal Charges
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To be "charged" with a crime means to be formally accused of that crime. Police officers usually start the charging process with an arrest or citation. They then send copies of their reports to a prosecutor’s office staffed by government lawyers whose job it is to initiate and prosecute criminal cases. The prosecutor is supposed to either:
- make an independent decision as to what charges should be filed, or
- enlist the help of citizens serving as grand jurors in deciding what charges to file.
Learn about how criminal charges are chosen and filed.
What Makes a Case a "Criminal" Case?
Criminal cases have very different consequences for defendants than civil cases. The penalties for a crime vary between common categories of crimes and the crime itself.
What Are Felonies, Misdemeanors, and Infractions?
The most serious crimes carry the most severe penalties.
The most serious crimes carry the most severe penalties.
How Much Time Does the Prosecutor Have?
Prosecutors have a limited amount of time to file criminal charges.
Criminal Statutes of Limitations
The statute of limitations governs the amount of time that can pass once a crime has been committed before the prosecutor becomes "barred" from bringing a criminal case.
The statute of limitations governs the amount of time that can pass once a crime has been committed before the prosecutor becomes "barred" from bringing a criminal case.
Get Legal Help
Speak to a Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you've been charged with a crime, you'll probably want to speak to a lawyer.
If you've been charged with a crime, you'll probably want to speak to a lawyer.
The Criminal Law Handbook
Know Your Rights, Survive the System. Learn how the criminal justice system works.
Know Your Rights, Survive the System. Learn how the criminal justice system works.
Browse Nolo's Criminal Lawyer Directory
Browse through lawyer profiles and find an attorney that can help you with your case.
Browse through lawyer profiles and find an attorney that can help you with your case.
In-Depth Information
Learn about the nuts and bolts of criminal charges. Read about how the prosecutor decides to press charges and how grand juries are used.
The prosecutor is the one who chooses to file criminal charges against a suspect. Learn about how a prosecutor decides whether to formally file criminal charges and how it all works.
In some cases, a grand jury will be convened to determine if there is probable cause to press charges against a suspect.