There are several different proceedings before a criminal trial ever begins. For example, there is an arraignment, the discovery, motions, and a set of plea negotiations. While each of these steps in a criminal trial process is important, the discovery process helps shed light on the facts gathered by the prosecutor and defense, as well as what may have happened and what other people saw or noticed. The Indianapolis criminal defense attorney at Wruble Law tackles this topic in today’s blog.
What Is the Discovery Process?
The discovery process is when the defense and prosecution meet and exchange important details about the case. It gives both sides of the criminal court process the opportunity to see what type of evidence they have collected. As a result, they will know how much work needs to be done, how to prepare, and what they need to do to ensure that they disprove what the other has collected.
What Types of Information and Evidence is the Prosecutor and Defense Usually Required to Give?
If the police officers or law enforcement agencies have specific evidence related to the case, they are required to give this information to the defense during the discovery process. This type of information and evidence usually consists of police reports, paperwork related to the charge, probable cause reports, the recording of the 9-1-1 call, dash camera or police camera footage, and forensic reports.
On the other hand, the defense will need to hand over the evidence that they have found to back up their client’s innocence. For example, the defense may have evidence showing that the client was not in the area or location when the crime took place. The goal of the defense’s evidence is to encourage law enforcement officers to drop the charges or dismiss their client’s case.
So, What Is Happening During the Discovery Process?
During the discovery process, the prosecutor and defense are working endlessly to gather their information and evidence to use in the criminal trial. Here are some of the tasks they are likely to accomplish during this time:
- Locating and interviewing witnesses
- Reviewing the police reports, witness transcripts, and statements
- Collecting as much evidence as possible to support their sides
- Speaking and hiring expert witnesses to back up their arguments
How Does the Discovery Process Affect the Results of a Criminal Case?
The discovery process allows both the prosecutor and defense to take a look at one another’s evidence and determine which pieces may have importance in the criminal trial. That said, this process can heavily affect the results of a criminal case because the defense will become aware of how much evidence the prosecutor has as well as how likely their client is to be found guilty or not guilty of the charges.
By knowing how strong the prosecutor’s case is, the defense can help their client understand whether there is potential to find mistakes and errors or if a plea deal is an option instead of taking the case all the way to a criminal trial hearing.
Talk to an Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney Today
If you have been charged with a crime, hiring an experienced, aggressive, and skilled Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer is essential. At Wruble Law, we have more than three decades of combined experience helping our clients get through the criminal trial proceedings. Our team is committed to providing excellent legal representation as well as creating a tough defense argument to obtain the best outcome possible for your case. All you have to do is contact us to schedule a complimentary case review today.