What Is the Federal Criminal Process?

In the federal courts, an investigation begins every federal criminal case. After the investigation is complete, usually by federal agents from one of the many, many federal agencies or a taskforce, they bring the matter to an assistant United States attorney, a federal prosecutor. Typically then the person is arrested or the matter is brought to a Federal grand jury that returns an indictment. At that point, there is an arrest, there is a bond hearing in most cases, immediately after the arrest and then the case begins, the first thing that happens is an arraignment, the case is then set for trial, and during that phase, your attorney will get all the evidence against you, discuss the matter with you and he or she will prepare the matter for either a trial or a plea, it is essential in every federal case that you have an experienced federal criminal defense attorney who understands the federal criminal justice system.

By Jeffrey S. Weiner, P.A.