In Florida, the criminal law process begins with an arrest. Police officers can take you into custody and book you at the station. Alternatively, a law enforcement officer may give you a notice to appear in court. The initial appearance occurs within 24 to 48 hours after the police arrest you. Here, the court will inform you of the charges that the prosecutor filed against you. In addition, the judge will determine whether to set bail in the case and the amount. By this point, you should have an attorney who will appear with you in court. It is always better not to say anything at the initial appearance. Your next time in court will be for the preliminary hearing. The prosecutor needs to present enough evidence to show the judge that there is probable cause for the charges. They may need to call witnesses and present evidence. Here, you and your defense lawyer will begin to get an understanding of the prosecution’s case. Your attorney can weaken the case and challenge some of the evidence the prosecutor tries to use against you. Even if it is rare for the judge to entirely dismiss the case after the preliminary hearing, you may successfully narrow the charges. After the preliminary hearing, your attorney may speak with the prosecutor about the case and the possibility of a plea bargain. However, you may also choose to continue to fight the charges and take the case all the way to trial. Before trial, the prosecution must share the evidence with you that it intends to use at trial. At that point, your lawyer can begin in earnest to prepare for the trial. The prosecution has the first chance to prove its case. Your attorney can cross-examine the witnesses who are testifying against you. Once the prosecution rests, the defense will get to put on its case, with your lawyer calling witnesses. Whether you testify often depends on the strength of the prosecution’s case. Your lawyer may adjust trial tactics depending on how the prosecution’s case has gone. After closing arguments, the jury will reach a verdict (or the judge, if you have opted for a bench trial). If there has been a conviction, you have the right to appeal the verdict if there were errors. If there is a guilty verdict, the judge will set a date for sentencing within 90 days. If you reached a plea bargain, the judge can immediately move to sentencing if they approve the deal. They are not obligated to adopt the prosecution’s recommendation for a sentence.