- Home
- Departments/Offices
- State's Attorney's Office
- Criminal Process
Criminal Process
-
Criminal Complaint Phase
When someone determines or has cause to believe they are the victim of a crime, their first call should be to 9-1-1 if the crime is in progress or there is an emergency situation.
-
Investigations Phase
Depending on each case, after a police officer has taken the preliminary report, un-uniformed officers known as detectives begin the investigative phase.
-
Charging Phase
When an investigation progresses to the point that the police have probable cause and there is a reasonable belief that a person has committed a crime, they may make an arrest. An important part of this phase is the determination of what offense or offenses have been committed.
-
Bond Court Phase
Once the suspect is charged with a criminal complaint, he or she becomes the defendant in the criminal case and may be eligible to be released on bond.
-
Pre-trial
Find out what all happens prior to a trial in Lake County.
-
Trial Phase
Learn how trials operate within Lake County.
-
Sentencing Phase
At the sentencing hearing the Assistant State’s Attorney will argue for an appropriate sentence and may introduce evidence of past criminal involvement.
-
Things to Remember
Keep the following things in mind in regards to the Criminal Process within Lake County.