Riverside County Misdemeanor Case Process Part 2: Arraignment Thru Sentencing

Riverside County Misdemeanor Case Process Part 2: Arraignment Thru Sentencing

Here are 10 steps in the life of a Riverside County misdemeanor case that occur from the arraignment thru sentencing:

10. At the arraignment, the defendant once enters a plea of “guilty” or “not guilty.” The court will also address the issue of bail to make sure bail is sufficient for the charges filed. Unless the court orders otherwise, the defendant must be present in court at the arraignment.
11. After the arraignment, the case is set for one or more trial readiness conferences.
12. A trial readiness conference (TRC) is a meeting between the lawyers in court to discuss the case and to try to reach a resolution to the case. If resolution does not appear likely, the lawyers will use the TRC to make sure they have all the evidence and to prepare the case for trial. Unless the court orders otherwise, the defendant must be present in court at every TRC.
13. If the case is not resolved during the trial readiness conference(s), the case is set for a jury trial once both sides are ready for trial.
14. On the date set for trial, if both attorneys announce to the court they are ready, the case is sent to the master calendar courtroom. The master calendar courtroom will then send the case out to an available trial courtroom somewhere in the county. Unless the court orders otherwise, the defendant must be present in court for the trial.
15. Once the case is sent to a trial courtroom, jurors will be ordered, and the trial will take place.
16. At the trial, the DA will attempt to prove each and every charge beyond a reasonable doubt to the jury.
17. The jury is instructed by the judge to return a guilty verdict only for the charges where they feel the DA successfully proved the charge beyond a reasonable doubt to every juror.
18. If the defendant is found guilty of any charges, the judge will set a sentencing hearing.
19. At the sentencing hearing, both sides try to convince the judge as to what a fair and appropriate sentence is. The sentence is the punishment for the charges the defendant was convicted of. Unless the court orders otherwise, the defendant must be present in court at the sentencing hearing.

Related Articles

• Riverside County Felony Case Process General Overview
• Riverside County Misdemeanor Case Process Part 1: Incident Thru Arraignment

Criminal defense attorney and former Riverside County prosecutor Gregory Rollins uses his unique experience and expertise to defend the rights of the accused, provide meaningful legal advice to his clients, and to fight for the best possible outcome for every client in every case.  If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, it is important to make sure that your rights (or those of your loved-one) are protected.

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