In District Court, it is the time when a defendant enters a plea, and if the plea is not guilty, a trial date is then set. In the case of some minor infractions, a police officer citation form will act as a criminal complaint. It is the basis for the arraignment, plea of guilty or not guilty, and trial by jury. You may request to be notified by the Board of Parole of hearing dates and Board decisions prior to an individual's release. Contact the Victim Assistance Program for further info.
Most defendants plead guilty.
Once a defendant decides to plead guilty, it is up to the District Attorney's Office and the defendant's attorney to work out an agreement to present to the judge. The judge may accept or reject the plea. Although a victim does not have the final say as to what sentence is given, the District Attorney's Office is interested in their viewpoint and will present that to the court at sentencing. The test at the preliminary hearing is not guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but rather whether is evidence to indicate that a crime was committed and that the defendant committed it. Based on that, the court may bind the case over.