Describe the five stages of the criminal justice system. There are five stages through which a defendant is processed within the criminal justice system. These stages include: (1) entry into the...

Describe the five stages of the criminal justice system.

There are five stages through which a defendant is processed within the criminal justice system. These stages include: (1) entry into the system by arrest, (2) prosecution and pretrial services to determine if evidence is sufficient, (3) adjudication wherein the defendant enters a plea, (4) sentencing by the judge, if the defendant is found guilty, and (5) corrections, where the defendant can be sentenced to a correctional facility, or given an alternative sanction such as probation. There are limited options as to how a person is processed into the criminal justice system, but there are numerous exit options.

1. Describe what occurs during the defendant’s first appearance.

2. What must a prosecutor obtain if he or she is going to prosecute the defendant?

3. What does the term true bill mean?

4. How does the input-output model explain the processing of a criminal defendant?