Week 4 VocabularyPre-trial Procedures

Pretrial Procedures and Steps of a Trial

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

Plea bargainIndictmentArraignmentVoir dire

TrialAffirmative DefenseProsecutionPlaintiffDefendant

SentencingCorrectionsAppeal

Plea BargainWhen a person tries to get their sentence reduced or the type of crimes changed in exchange for saying they are guilty.

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

IndictmentA formal charge of the crime. The grand jury or judge will indict someone if there’s enough evidence to go to trial.

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

ArraignmentWhen the defendant goes before the judge and pleads “guilty” or “not guilty”.

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

Ma’am, you are charged with robbery. How do you plead?Not

guilty!

Voir direWhen the lawyers ask the potential jurors questions to see who would be the best to be on a jury

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

Select Your Jury!

Tim Thomas, age 18, was at a party and was driving home late at night. He ran a red light and hit and killed Marie Davis and seriously injured her husband. Now he’s on trial for vehicular manslaughter.

Juror #1 Juror #2 Juror #3 Juror #4 Juror #5

Female35 years oldMarried 5 years, no childrenHusband is a district attorney

Male28 years oldProfessional artistSingleStopped by police on two occasions and given a sobriety test but never charged

Male27 years oldManage of McDonaldsMarried, two kidsWorks close to high school and enjoys being around teenagers

Female 26 years oldBuddhistSingleRecently in a car accident that was caused by a drunk driver

Male 39 years oldUsed car salesmanDivorce with 3 kidsNot paying attention during voir dire

TrialThe formal examination of the evidence before a judge and/or jury.

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

Affirmative DefenseWhen a defendant goes to trial and admits that, “Yes, I committed the crime but I shouldn’t be found guilty because…” and tries to prove this in the trial.

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

ProsecutionThe lawyers who work for the government who are trying to prove the defendant is guilty.

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

PlaintiffThe person who sues the defendant in a civil case. (The plaintiff complains…)

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

Defendant

The person accused of committing a crime.

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SentencingThe part of the process where, after a person is found guilty, the judge or the jury decides what the punishment for the crime will be.

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

CorrectionsThe punishment for the crime or civil action for the purpose of “correcting” the person’s behavior.

For civil cases, this is usually a fine. For criminal cases, the defendant may be fined, imprisoned, or given some other sentence.

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial

AppealWhen the person found guilty can ask a higher court to review their case for mistakes and possibly be let free.

Before the Trial Trial After the Trial