Your written assignments for the first half of this course will follow a criminal case through the pre-trial, trial, and sentencing processes. Begin by selecting a defendant who has been through a criminal trial, to use as your case study. You will get the most out of the assignment if you choose a case that was prosecuted in your state's system, since you will be discussing the procedures that took place in the case. Web sites of local newspapers or local TV news channels are good sources if you need help finding a case. Also, many counties have their criminal court dockets online, so it may be possible to find a good amount of detail about a case that way.
This assignment will follow the case from crime through trial and sentencing, so remember to select a case that has been through the trial and has reached the sentencing stage.
Part 1: Post-arrest
Describe the case against the defendant and the crime(s) for which the defendant was charged. Identify the courtroom players involved in this case (the judge and attorneys). Explain the decisions that the prosecutor and defense were faced with, including the possibility of plea bargain. You won't know if specific deals were discussed, but you should be able to describe the process and review the options that existed.
Part 2: Pre-trial
Describe the pre-trial processes that take place in a criminal trial, and use the facts and players related to your specific case study to illustrate wherever possible. Were there any pre-trial motions? What pre-trial motions would you expect there to be? Much of the pre-trial process takes place outside the public eye, but you should be able to describe the processes. For instance, you won't know what was said in depositions, but you should be able to describe the process and its purpose.