Doing something that is against the law could find you being arrested and hauled off to jail. If you are arrested, there are three things that happen.  If you are unaware of these items, understand them so if you're ever in the situation you know the basic steps, as well as if a friend of yours or family member of yours is in the situation you can explain the situation to them.

Arraignment 

This is the formal reading of a criminal charging document in the presence of the defendant to inform the defendant of the charges that are being pressed against them.  In response to the arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.  This is the first step after you are arrested and they take your picture.  This is the first court documentation after you are arrested. This is also the time where the judge is going to determine if you are going to be released on a personal recognizance bond or if you are going to have to pay money to get out of jail until your next court date.

Trial

After being arrested, there is processing. Once you reach a trial date, the prosecution must prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  The defendant has a right to confront witnesses against him or her and may ask them to testify in the courtroom.  During the trial, the jury will make all determinations of disputed facts and the judge will provide the jury with instructions regarding the laws. They will make decisions regarding any legal issues and if the jury returns a non-guilty verdict, the defendant leaves the criminal justice system and may not be tried again for the same offense.

Hearing and Sentencing

This happens at the end of the trial and is the final decision on what your punishment will be.  Some judges request pre-sentence reports from probation officers. These documents can help acquaint the judges with a convicted party's social history, as well as any explanations of the defendant's behavior and information about previous criminal activity.  If you have a clean record, this will positively assist you with your trial and the ultimate decision at the end.

Regardless of what type of crime you were charged with, you need to make sure you have a licensed attorney (such as one from Thomas & Associates, PC) working on your case to help reduce or eliminate the charges against you.