Criminal Procedures And Court Stages
When a criminal act is reported, the following procedures normally take place:
1. Investigation Stage
The police will conduct the initial investigation, interview witnesses, collect evidence, and issue a police report. By law, the police have the power to perform the following:
• Look for suspects, compile evidence, and question witnesses.
• Upon receipt of a subpoena – search a person or a location to look for witnesses and evidence and to arrest suspects. There are some exceptions to the subpoena requirement – for example, in very serious matters of situation of life and death.
• Issue subpoenas to witnesses and suspects.
• Confiscate items that can be used as evidence.
• Place a suspect in custody for investigation.
• Allow a suspect to post bail during the investigation.