A simplified criminal-procedure sequence with jurisdiction and practice caveats.

highlighted = computed this step

Foundations honesty note

Honesty note: simplified standard model; jurisdiction US; as of 2026-06-24; jurisdictions vary; not legal advice; the chart models a process description, not the law itself.

US model as of 20260624\text{US model as of }2026-06-24

Criminal procedure is a process map

This lesson uses a simplified criminal procedure map. State and federal systems differ, and the map does not imply any result.

simplified criminal process\text{simplified criminal process}

Example stage data

The toy path starts at investigation, then charge, arraignment, pretrial motion practice, trial, verdict, sentencing, and appeal labels.

stage labels only\text{stage labels only}

The verdict branch has a safeguard

The not-guilty branch terminates at case ends in this diagram. The guilty branch is a process label that points to sentencing; it is not a prediction.

not guilty branch terminates\text{not guilty branch terminates}

The diagram governs the route

The simplified criminal flow has 11 stages and 2 decision gates.

stages=11,decisions=2\text{stages}=11,\quad \text{decisions}=2

Diagram note

The chart is a procedure vocabulary map. It does not imply any verdict, sentence, or appeal outcome.

criminal process labels only\text{criminal process labels only}

Jurisdiction: US; as of 2026-06-24; not legal advice; Code encodes the stated-rule interpretation.

Simplified criminal case pathSimplified criminal case pathscope: US | Common criminal procedure pattern | as of 2026-06-24Simplified standard model; jurisdictions vary; not legal advice; this models a process, not the law itself.refernextnextnextnextpleatrialverdictguiltynot guiltyreviewInvestigationrole start r0 in0 out1 reach10Chargingrole step r1 in1 out1 reach9Initial appearancerole step r2 in1 out1 reach8Arraignmentrole step r3 in1 out1 reach7Motionsrole step r4 in1 out1 reach6Plea decisionrole decision r5 in1 out2 reach5Trialrole step r6 in1 out1 reach4Verdictrole decision r7 in1 out2 reach3Case endsrole terminal r8 in1 out0 reach0Sentencingrole step r8 in2 out1 reach1Appeal pathrole terminal r9 in1 out0 reach0SCC: scc10:start; scc9:charge; scc8:appearance; scc7:arraignment; scc6:motions; scc5:plea; scc4:trial; scc3:verdict; scc0:acquittal; scc2:sentence; scc1:appeal

Narrow summary

Read each node as a process label and each branch as a route label, not as a factual or legal finding.

route labels not findings\text{route labels not findings}