Guides
The court process
Every stage from first appearance through disposition, and what each one decides.
Charging: How Criminal Charges Are FiledHow criminal charges are filed: who decides the charges, how a complaint, an information and an indictment differ, and what a charging document must contain, with federal and state examples.Criminal Investigations: What Happens Before Charges Are FiledHow the stage before criminal charges works in federal court, including grand juries, secrecy rules, and how a complaint or indictment begins a case, with state examples.Post-Conviction Relief: What It Is and How It Differs From an AppealA plain-language explanation of post-conviction relief, how it differs from a direct appeal, and how Florida's postconviction DNA testing and capital records rules work.Trial: What Happens at a Criminal TrialHow a criminal trial works: who decides guilt, when a jury can be waived in federal court, Florida and New Mexico, and what the verdict leads to.