You're Under Arrest!

Understanding the Criminal Justice System

“You’re Under Arrest”—words that nobody ever wants to hear. This book is designed to help the reader who is facing his or her first brush with the law by providing an overview of the criminal justice system and the people and procedures one may encounter along the way. The complexity of this unfortunate journey depends, in large part, upon the type and degree of the crime the individual is accused of committing. Thus, it is important to understand what one is facing as a defendant during this process. This book sets forth an overview of the American criminal justice system, including the role of law enforcement and the criminal court system. The unique jurisdiction of the family court over juvenile delinquents and minors in need of supervision is also discussed. This book also explores the constitutional rights of the accused, and describes the criminal trial, including the role of the prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, judge, jury, the offender and the victim. In addition, the criminal appeal process is also examined. The Appendix provides arrest statistics, sample forms, and other pertinent information and data. The Glossary contains definitions of many of the terms used throughout the book.