Post by Y3 on May 8, 2023 15:47:41 GMT -6
In New Light 21XX, we utilize a highly simplified (and modified) version of the California state due process and code procedures.
In the instance you are arrested, you will be tried, and your plea will be gathered. The plea system is as follows:
- Guilty - Admission to being culpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing.
((Guilty pleas serve minimum sentencing permitted by penal code, and do not require a trial although a trial is implied to have occurred IC)
- Not Guilty - Protest in favor of personal innocence against charges.
((Not Guilty pleas will remain in custody indefinitely until innocence is proven in court. Trial required))
- No Contest - Neither admitting guilt nor innocence, but choosing to serve the maximum sentencing provided by the penal code. A no-contest plea can be brought back to court within 30 days of release from custody. After 30 days, a no-contest plea will be defaulted to Guilty.
((No Contest pleas do not require a trial, but can be requested at any time during custody, or within 30 days of release should a plea of innocence be desired.))
In the instance of a criminal hearing, Procedure Timeline is as follows:
- Arrest based on charges
- OOC Plea is gathered by arresting officer (Plea is gathered OOC as it is implied that all charges go through court, not guilty or otherwise. Should you OOCly plea guilt, trial will be NPCed and your minimum sentence will begin immediately)
- Prosecutor confirms or denies charges and assigns bail
- Assignment of private or public legal representation
- Trial assignment
- Court hearing and deliberation
- Issuance or dismissal
((We would like for this process to take no more than 2 days at maximum, with exceptions of those with non-standard schedules.))
Further Information / FAQ
New Frontera, California, is broken into smaller city districts that range from entire sub-regions, to singular city blocks, each with their own state-assigned courthouse. The old-world notion of court divisions are null and void, as all cases fall under a singular judge representing a designated district, who performs his duties of justice from 9am to 5pm Pacific Standard Time. Cases are handled in a 'shotgun' fashion in which permits extremely expedited cases that often lack the needed time to make form a proper case. There is no breaks between hearings, and generally, hearings last no longer than 15 minutes. Jury, given a lack of willingness and participation on behalf of citizens, is now occupied by 5 state sponsored ARIS units (Artificial Rationale and Intelligence System) that make the determining call of guilt or innocence.
The Free States of America inherited the old Supreme Court system of caselaw and it's history, and thereby uses all concurrent interpretations of Supreme Court hearings as the basis for Justice.
The Free States of America does have a Supreme Court of it's own, though a criminal or civil case has not reached their jurisdiction in nearly half a century. They are often perceived as either defunct to most lower class, and omniscient to the upper echelon.
Due to overpopulation of those in custody, case dismissals are increasingly common, generally regardless of guilt or innocence.
This district's assigned judge is Justice Hank Prichard, a 64 year old Judge recently downgraded from a position in Los Angeles to New Frontera after receiving negative public reception in a high-class case.
This district's state prosecutor is John Stacks, a 50 year old UNN retiree who padded his legal career as an advisor for the UNN's FSA Legal team. After his retirement, he was accepted with open arms into yet another government position, now in New Frontera, despite allegations of corruption from previous subordinates.