Phoenix Criminal Defense Attorneys | Arizona Criminal Lawyer
How Criminal Court Works

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Criminal Defense Attorney Nick Alcock Explains The Rules of Criminal Procedure in Arizona

As a criminal defense lawyer, I know that my clients are oftentimes very confused about how the court process works. Some clients will meet with many attorneys and hear different answers to the same questions. Furthermore, the resources available to the public are difficult to understand.

As a result, I have put together a series of videos that help explain the criminal process in Arizona. Here are some videos that help explain how the process works.

• Rule 2: How Felony Cases Start
• Rule 3: Warrants
• Rule 4: The Initial Appearance
• Rule 5: Preliminary Hearings
• Rule 6: Public Defenders and Criminal Defense Attorneys
• Rule 7: Release
• Rule 8: Time Limits for Trial (Speedy Trial)
• Rule 9: A defendant’s right to waive their presence
• Rule 10: Changing Judges
• Rule 11: Incompetency (Insanity)
• Rule 15: Disclosure of evidence
• Rule 16: Pretrial Motions
• Rule 17: Pleading Guilty
• Rule 18 and 19: Trial by Jury
• Rule 26: Sentencing
• Rule 27: Probation Revocation

Here are some things to keep in mind about criminal defense cases in Arizona. First, virtually every criminal case starts with a not guilty arraignment. From there the case is set to a number of pretrial conferences. Over the course of weeks or months, defendants in Arizona are given some to consider a plea agreement. If the person wants to enter a plea, they can do so and the case will be set to sentencing. If the person rejects the plea, the case will be set to trial.

The good news is that most criminal defense clients have time. They have the time necessary to select the right criminal defense attorney. They have the ability to sit down with that attorney and look over the police reports and the evidence against them.

Many people panic when they have to go to their first court appearance because they are afraid that the case is set to trial. This is almost always incorrect. However, many people also wait too long to contact a criminal defense lawyer. If you call our office when your trial is only weeks away, we probably won't be able to help you. Every attorney needs time to prepare a defense.

So if you have been arrested for a crime and are worried about going to court alone, take a deep breath and pick up the phone. We offer a free consultation with a criminal defense attorney who can answer your questions and help resolve your confusion. Every case is different, and it is very important to keep in mind that the advice we give in this website may not apply to your case.

As such, please feel free to call us at any time. You can talk with a criminal lawyer right over the phone and we can help you better understand the court process. We know that the system is confusing, but we are here to assist you in any way possible. The consultation is completely free, confidential and convenient. Please do not substitute the content of this website for advice from criminal defense attorneys.

Obviously, every criminal defense case is different, and the advice of qualified criminal attorneys is extremely valuable. If you are looking for a general overview of criminal procedure in Arizona, below you can find links to the court rules, along with a simple explanation.

The Law Offices of Alcock and Associates criminal attorneys handle cases in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler and Maricopa County.