sentencing hearings
Penalty determination sessions
Sentencing hearings are court proceedings where a judge determines punishment after a defendant has been convicted or pleaded guilty.
Evidence about the crime's impact, the defendant's background, and mitigating or aggravating factors is presented.
Victims may give statements, and defense attorneys argue for leniency: The sentencing hearing lasted three hours as witnesses testified about the harm caused.
- court dateScheduled judicial appearance
- guilty pleaAdmitting criminal responsibility
- mitigating factorsCircumstances reducing culpability
- defendantParty facing charges
- incarcerationConfinement in jail
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sentencing hearingsarraignment
Charge-reading court session
trial · jury trial · preliminary hearings · pretrial hearings · bail hearings
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