What are the typical steps in a criminal proceeding in Florida?

Transcript

In Florida, after an arrest has been made, thirty to forty days, the prosecutor will review the case and have something called State Attorney Hearing. If they decide to press formal charges a information will be filed and your case will be set for what’s called an Arraignment. At an arraignment proceeding the judge will ask you if you want an attorney to be appointed for you if you cannot afford one, or if you have an attorney they will put their notice of appearance in and enter what’s called a Not Guilty Plea. After arraignment you’ll be set for calendar calls, we call them Docket Calls, which are statuses where you tell the judges whether you’re ready for a trial or if you have agreed to change your plea from ‘not guilty’ to ‘no contest’ and accept a plea bargain. Once your case is set for jury selection you will choose a jury and then subsequently have a trial. That’s the usual criminal procedure in a criminal case.