Understanding the Criminal Court Process

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The criminal court process +

Explains the criminal court process from before your arraignment through the pre-trial, trial, and verdict process.

Before your arraignment  What to expect at your arraignment or first court appearance  Your arraignment or first appearance in court  Consequences & processes after your arraignment or first court appearance  The pre-trial, trial, and verdict process 

Additional information about criminal proceedings +

How to file a criminal complaint  Criminal proceedings in the Housing Court  Court forms for criminal matters  Glossary of court terms 

District Court criminal procedure resources +

District court complaint manual  Criminal model jury instructions for use in the District Court 

Open PDF file, 310.19 KB, for District Court Standards of Judicial Practice: The Complaint Procedure (English, PDF 310.19 KB)

Open PDF file, 9.04 KB, for Offenses Within District Court Criminal Jurisdiction (English, PDF 9.04 KB)

Rules of criminal procedure +

Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure  Massachusetts District/Municipal Courts Rules of Criminal Procedure  Massachusetts District/Municipal Courts Supplemental Rules of Criminal Procedure