| Vindictive and Selective Prosecution |
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| A prosecutor may violate a defendant's due process rights if they are using their decision to prosecute the defendant for purposes of retaliation. More... |
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| Lie Detector Tests and Polygraphs |
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| A lie detector test or a polygraph test is used to determine whether the defendant or witness shows physiological and psychological reactions in response to certain questions. These tests are typically given if it is believed that the defendant or a witness is intentionally trying to deceive authorities or attorneys. There are various types of lie detector tests.
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| Defendant's Rights |
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| A defendant has numerous rights during a trial. If the defendant is deprived of any of his rights, he may be entitled to a reversal of his conviction. Generally, the defendant's rights include the right to: the compulsory process, confrontation, speedy trial, effective assistance of counsel, to be present, to remain silent, to a fair and impartial jury, and to be afforded the proper due process. Many of the defendant's rights are embodied in the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution, as well as in state constitutions.More... |
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| VOIR DIRE EXAMINATION OF JURORS |
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| A defendant in a criminal prosecution has the right to an impartial jury under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In order to determine whether potential jurors are impartial, the defendant has a right to question the jurors about their qualifications and background. Such questioning of the jurors is called voir dire. Voir dire is also conducted in order to determine whether the jurors should be accepted or should be challenged by the prosecution or by the defense. More... |
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| Sentencing Alternatives |
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| After a defendant is convicted, has entered a guilty plea or into a plea bargain, the sentencing phase of the trial begins. The defendant may be sentenced to serve time in jail or in prison. However, there are numerous other alternatives to which the defendant could be sentenced. More... |
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