Criminal procedure flow

Here's how to criminal process works

From investigation to arrest to a criminal charge and resolution

The typical life cycle of a criminal case varies

Most criminal cases end by plea bargaining and skip to the sentencing stage, while others proceed step by step from investigation and arrest through trial and appeals

Criminal procedure deals with the set of rules governing the series of proceedings through which the government enforces substantive criminal law

Municipalities, states, and the federal government each have their own criminal codes, defining types of conduct that constitute crimes

Code outlines all federal crimes