Exam 8: Pretrial Procedures and the Criminal Trial

The preliminary questions that the trial attorneys ask prospective jurors to determine whether they are biased or have any connection with the defendant or witness is referred to as:

______is the process by which the accused and the prosecutor work out a mutually satisfactory conclusion to the case, subject to court approval.

What is the formal investigation prior to trial in which the defense uses various methods to obtain information from the prosecution to prepare for trial?

The_____ is the group of citizens from which the jury is selected.

A suspect is formally charged with the criminal offense in the ________.

Explain what "taking the Fifth" really means.

A blood-stained piece of clothing presented in court as an exhibit is an example of real evidence.

What type of evidence tends to prove or disprove a fact in question?

Case 8-2 Ruth was arrested for burglary. If Ruth is found guilty, she can be sentenced to 5 years in a state prison. The prosecutors are offering her a 3-year prison sentence if she pleads guilty to the charges. Ruth is being represented by a public defender who informs Ruth she must decide if she will take the plea bargain or decide to go to trial for the charge of burglary. -The public defender advises Ruth that she can also take a plea where she will neither admit nor deny guilty. This is referred to as a plea of:

Why does the Supreme Court require "beyond a reasonable doubt" as the standard of proof in criminal cases, rather than "preponderance of the evidence" as in civil cases?

Which amendment contains the "confrontation clause," or the right to cross­examine witnesses?

During the appeals process, the burden of proof rests with the prosecution.

Explore the phenomenon of case attrition. Use a description of the criminal justice funnel in your explanation.

In the case of _______, the Supreme Court held that a defendant's decision not to testify during the trial cannot be held against him or her.

Once the initial appearance has been completed and bail is set, the prosecutor must establish:

The initial appearance resembles a mini trial.

During the ______, the defendant appears before a judge or magistrate, who decides whether the evidence presented is sufficient for the case to proceed to trial.

_____is the dollar amount or conditions set by the court to ensure that an individual accused of a crime will appear for further criminal proceedings.

During the preliminary hearing, the judge decides if there is probable cause to hold the defendant over for trial.

Excessive bail is prohibited under the ______Amendment.