In this scenario, the heart beats faster if you have no criminal law experience. This article is written to familiarize the civil paralegal with the process of an arrest and the resulting odyssey into the criminal justice system. The American criminal justice system is too vast to suggest that a specific remedy or action would apply in all 50 states. A competent paralegal is advised to use this article as an overview of the system. You must consult with an attorney and perform subsequent legal research to determine if any of this format applies to your fact situation.
Felonies are more serious offenses.
The punishment for capital murder may result in the state-sanctioned death penalty. My experience comes from more than 2,000 felony cases, including capital murder, in a large city, and that experience will be the focus of this article. The job of the police officer is to make a case that will stick together in court, and any inculpatory utterances made by defendants are used against them. Police officers are known to have used trickery and coercion to encourage confessions. The arresting officer has little or no influence on a subsequent court proceeding in which a judge or jury considers probation.