Summary of the criminal process
The following is a summary of the normal stages in a criminal process:
- The investigation establishes whether a crime has been committed and identifies who by, and ends with a decision to prosecute or to close the investigation;
- The “instruction” or inquiry stage is optional, depending on the charge, the defendant, or the plaintiff or civil party in the criminal process. It ends with a decision by the Examining Magistrate whether or not to commit the suspect to trial;
- The trial comprises the court hearing.
Details about all of these stages in the process and about your rights can be found in the factsheets. This information is not a substitute for legal advice and is intended to be for guidance only.
Role of the European Commission
Please note that the European Commission has no role in criminal proceedings in Member States and cannot assist you if you have a complaint. Information is provided in these factsheets about how to complain and to whom.
Click on the links below to find the information that you need
1 - My rights during the investigation