AFTER THE ARREST
A Three Part Series
By Jessica Martinez, Chief Deputy District Attorney
Often you see news reports of people arrested for various crimes. Less often are there reports about what happens after the arrest.
The United States Constitution and the New Mexico constitution both guarantee people the right to be free from self-incrimination, the right to a public and speedy trial by an impartial jury, and the right to be confronted with witnesses against him/her, the right to present witnesses in his/her favor, and the right to an attorney during all proceedings during the criminal process. U.S. Const. Amend. V & VI, N.M Const. Art. II, sec.12, 14, & 15.
What does this mean? It means the State, through the District Attorney has the burden of proving that a person has committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt while protecting both the rights of victim and the rights of the defendant.
PART I
THE PROCESS OF SEEKING JUSTICE
The criminal justice process begins when a crime is reported to local law enforcement. Once a crime is reported, the local law enforcement must investigate by collecting all evidence related to the crime. The collection of evidence might include taking recorded or written statements from witnesses, photographing the crime scene, collecting physical evidence such as forensic evidence, clothing, weapons, or anything that may be helpful in determining whether a crime did in fact occur.
After collecting the necessary evidence, and if there is probable cause, an officer may arrest the suspect(s) believed to have committed the crime. Probable Cause means the officer has more than just a suspicion or possibility that a crime was committed, and that the accused committed it. If an arrest is made the officer will also file criminal charges against the suspect by filing a document called a criminal complaint with the local magistrate or metropolitan court.
Once a complaint is filed and an arrest is made, the court must hold a hearing called a First Appearance within 48 hours of the arrest. During the hearing the Defendant (the accused) is informed of the charges against him/her, and it is determined whether release from custody is appropriate based on the nature of the charges and the defendant’s criminal history. During this stage of the process a defense attorney is appointed to represent the defendant at no cost to the defendant if the defendant cannot afford to hire an attorney.
After a First Appearance, the court informs the newly appointed defense attorney and the local District Attorney of the charges brought against the defendant in addition to setting a Notice of Hearing for a probable cause hearing, also known as a Preliminary Hearing. If the defendant is to remain in custody this probable cause hearing must be held within 10 business days from the first appearance. If the defendant has been released from custody, the probable cause hearing must be held within 60 days of the first appearance.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY REVIEW
At this stage the District Attorney reviews the case to determine if charges are appropriate and if so charges will be filed. When reviewing a case for possible charges, the district attorney must follow the applicable ethical rules allowing a prosecutor to file charges only when there is sufficient probable cause to charge the defendant with a crime and the district attorney has a reasonable belief that the evidence is sufficient to produce a successful outcome at trial. If the evidence is not sufficient then the prosecutor must decline to prosecute the case.
If the evidence is sufficient, the District Attorney decides if the case should be presented to a grand jury for a determination of probable cause or proceed with a preliminary hearing in which case a judge will decide if probable cause exists. Each option has its own benefits.
PRELIMINARY HEARING
A Preliminary Hearing is like a trial. The State calls witnesses to testify about the incident and those witnesses are subject to cross examination by the defense attorney. The defendant may also present his/her own evidence if s/he chooses. At the conclusion of the hearing the judge determines if there is enough evidence to move forward. If the judge determines that sufficient probable exists, then the case is bound over to the District Court for trial. The District Attorney then files a “Criminal Information” listing all the charges for which the Magistrate judge has found probable cause, in the district court.
A preliminary hearing is ideal for cases with few witnesses and or less complex charges. It allows the state to better assess the strength of the case since their evidence will be subject to cross examination.
GRAND JURY
A Grand Jury is a secret proceeding in which 12 impartial members of the community decide if probable cause exists. During the Grand Jury hearing, the district attorney acts as an aid to the grand jury. S/he calls witnesses to testify before the grand jury and proposes charges s/he thinks are appropriate. However, the grand jury also has the power to call additional witnesses if they deem necessary and they may choose which crimes to charge. After the grand jury hears all the testimony, the district attorney and the court reporter leave the room and only the members of the grand jury remain while they deliberate. If the grand jury finds sufficient probable cause exists, they issue what is called a True Bill with the grand jury indictment listing all the charges for which they have found sufficient probable cause. The district attorney then files that Indictment with the district court.
A grand jury is ideal for complex cases or cases involving vulnerable witnesses. During grand jury proceedings, the defendant has the right to testify at the proceeding, but s/he is only allowed in the grand jury room while s/he is testifying. The grand jury proceeding is a more efficient way to present complex evidence since it is not subject to cross examination by the defense. It is also easier for vulnerable victims to testify as they don’t have to testify in front of the defendant and are not subjected to cross examination.
VICTIM’S RIGHTS
At this stage, if the charges involve a violent crime against an individual, known as a Victim Enumerated Crime, the Victim’s constitutional rights apply. As a victim of an enumerated crime the victim or the next of kin has a right to:
(1) the right to be treated with fairness and respect for the victim's dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice process.
(2) the right to timely disposition of the case.
(3) the right to be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the criminal justice process.
(4) the right to notification of court proceedings.
(5) the right to attend all public court proceedings the accused has the right to attend.
(6) the right to confer with the prosecution.
(7) the right to make a statement to the court at sentencing and at any post-sentencing hearings for the accused.
(8) the right to restitution from the person convicted of the criminal conduct that caused the victim's loss or injury.
(9) the right to information about the conviction, sentencing, imprisonment, escape or release of the accused.
(10) the right to have the prosecuting attorney notify the victim's employer, if requested by the victim, of the necessity of the victim's cooperation and testimony in a court proceeding that may necessitate the absence of the victim from work for good cause; and
(11) the right to promptly receive any property belonging to the victim that is being held for evidentiary purposes by a law enforcement agency or the prosecuting attorney, unless there are compelling evidentiary reasons for retention of the victim's property.
N.M. Const. art. II, § 24
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GLOSSARY
Arraignment: Typically, the first court proceeding in a criminal case after formal charges have been filed.
Case In Chief: Refers to the phase of a trial where the party with the burden of proof in the case presents evidence.
Criminal Complaint: An initial charging document that describes the criminal charges against a person and the factual basis for those charges, usually filed by law enforcement.
Criminal Information: A formal charging document that describes the criminal charges against a person and the factual basis for those charges filed after a preliminary hearing where probable cause has been found.
Defendant: An individual, company or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Directed Verdict: A ruling entered by a trial judge after determining there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a jury to reach a different conclusion.
Discovery: A pre-trial procedure in which each party can obtain evidence from the other party or parties.
District Attorney: A District Attorney, State’s Attorney or Prosecuting Attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or the chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a local government area, typically a county or district encompassing several counties.
Grand Jury: A Grand Jury is comprised of 12 jurors and several alternates. A Grand Jury does not determine guilt or innocence but whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime was committed.
Impanel: To form a jury by summoning or selecting the members – to enroll in or on a panel.
Indictment: A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime issued by a grand jury.
Miranda Rights: The wording used when a person is read the Miranda Warning, also known as being Mirandized. (NOTE: LINK TO THE FULL WORDING)
Motion: A procedural device to bring a limited contested issue before a court for a decision. A request to the judge to decide a certain issue about the case.
Outside the Scope: Outside of the relevant range for example re-direct is not allowed to go beyond the scope of cross examination.
Preliminary Hearing: The hearing in which the judge decides whether probable cause exists to require a defendant to stand trial for a charged crime.
Probable Cause: The standard by which police authorities have reason to obtain a warrant for the arrest of a suspected criminal or issuing of a search warrant. It is also the standard by which grand juries’ issue criminal indictments.
PTI (Pre-Trial Interview): Interviews conducted before the trial begins with potential witnesses.
Reasonable Doubt: The traditional standard of proof that must be exceeded to secure a guilty verdict in a criminal case in a court of law.
True Bill: The name for the decision by a grand jury that evidence presented to it, contained in the prosecutor’s indictment, justifies charging the defendant with a crime.
Uniform Jury Instructions: Instructions for the jury deliberation in the language of the Uniform Jury Instructions regarding the law applicable to the facts in the case at hand.
Victim Enumerated Crime: A crime in which the victim has suffered physical or emotional harm, property damage or economic loss because of the crime, as defined by the NM Constitution.
Voir Dire: The process by which attorneys select or reject certain jurors to hear a case. Jury Selection.