| The process of arresting a person has deteriorated | | | | Non-guilty Plea - In a non-guilty plea, the |
| with time. In USA, if a suspect is charged with | | | | defendant refutes the criminal charges against them. |
| murder, he/she may be given a bail, in which most | | | | Defendants can choose this type of plea for many |
| families contact a bondsman to arrange for bail | | | | reasons. They can choose this if they have a |
| bonds. This bail bond is a surety bond to guarantee | | | | defense to the criminal charges, for example, insanity |
| that the detainees will give the amount if he/she fails | | | | defense. Or an innocent defendant may choose this |
| to come to the hearing. Now what happens, the | | | | so that their case can be tried before the jury. |
| suspect is called in the cell, he/she hears the charges | | | | Guilty Plea - This plea affirms that the defendant |
| and faces the judge. This procedure is called | | | | is accepting the charges that have been given to him |
| arraignment. | | | | her. Some people confess to the crime they have |
| Arraignment is a formal reading of the complaint, | | | | committed. This can be due to the fact that they |
| which is done during the presence of the judge and | | | | feel remorse or want to pay for the crime. People, |
| the criminal or defendant, to let him know the | | | | who are concerned about the trial costs, may also |
| charges against him/her. In the other words, it is the | | | | opt for the guilty plea as they might want to save |
| court hearing for a criminal case where the charges | | | | money and not spend on the trial. |
| are read against the criminal. Usually, it is short, unless | | | | No contest plea - According to this plea, it |
| the crime is a serious felony. In some countries, it is | | | | means that the person is neither denying the |
| first of the eleven stages in the trial. While in other | | | | charges, nor is he/she accepting them. However, if |
| countries, such as United States of America, it is | | | | the person goes for no contest plea, it is often |
| divided into two stages: the initial arraignment and the | | | | considered that the person is guilty. This type of plea |
| post-indictment arraignment. The first one takes | | | | does not keep the court from finding the person |
| place in the first 48 hours of the arrest and during | | | | guilty, but results in conviction. |
| this; the defendant is informed of all the legal charges | | | | Once the pleas are done, the dates for trial are |
| on them and their rights to retain counsel. In the | | | | decided. If the case is minor, than the accused may |
| second arraignment, the suspect is allowed to enter | | | | pay a ransom and leave. But if the case is a serious |
| a plea. | | | | one, the judge can pronounce a sentence, as well. |
| Different Types of Pleas | | | | Arraignment is a formal process in which the person |
| In arraignment, the suspect either admits or denies | | | | charged with crime is arraigned in his/her first |
| the charges given to him/her. When accused of | | | | appearance before the judge. It is a fair procedure, in |
| some charges, the court asks the defendant that | | | | which the detainee is punished if he/she has |
| how will he/she plea. In return, the suspects can plea | | | | committed a crime, or saved if he/she has been |
| in three different ways. Following are the three ways | | | | accused. |
| in which a suspect can plea. | | | | |