Criminal Appeals And The Role They Play In Criminal Justice

In this article, the author discusses the role that criminal appeals play in the criminal justice system. The author breaks down the concept of appeals and gives background information about how they are formed.

The Purpose of Criminal Appeals

Criminal appeals serve a vital purpose in the criminal justice system. Appellate courts review lower court rulings to ensure that defendants receive fair trials and that the punishment meted out is proportional to the crime committed.

Criminal appeals can have a significant impact on a defendant's case. For example, if an appellate court finds that the evidence used to convict a defendant was not strong enough, then the chances of receiving a pardon or having the sentence reduced are higher. Appeals also help to guard against mistakes made by prosecutors or judges during trial, which can result in an unfair conviction or harsher sentence.

Overall, criminal appeals play an important role in ensuring that everyone involved in the criminal justice system receives a fair trial.

Common Reasons for Appeals

Appeals are a common part of criminal justice. There are many reasons why someone would appeal a court decision, and each reason will have a different impact on the overall outcome of the appeal. 

Some common reasons for appeals include: 

-The accused did not receive a fair trial- This is usually due to errors by the prosecution or the judge during the trial. An appeal may allow the accused to have their case reviewed by a different judge or jury, which could result in a different verdict. 

-The conviction was based on false evidence- This can happen if the police used false evidence to arrest or convict the accused, or if the victim lied in order to get revenge on someone they dislike. An appeal may allow the accused to get their conviction overturned, which could mean a lighter sentence or even freedom.

-The sentence is too lenient- This can happen if the court decides that the punishment given to the accused is too light, or if there was an error in calculating jail time. If this happens, an appeal may allow the convicted person to receive a harsher sentence than they would have received if their original conviction hadn’t been appealed.

Major Issues that Appear in Appeals

Criminal appeals are a major part of criminal justice. They can vary greatly in terms of the issues that are raised and the impact that they have on the criminal case. Some common issues that appear in appeals include:

1. The scope of the original trial – If there were significant errors made during the original trial, an appeal may be necessary to correct them.

2. Juror bias – If a juror was improperly influenced by outside sources, an appeal may be necessary to remove them from the jury and allow for a fair trial.

3. Jurisdiction – If the original crime was committed in one jurisdiction but was tried in another, an appeal may be necessary to have the conviction overturned.

4. Lack of evidence – If key pieces of evidence were not presented at trial, an appeal may be necessary to have them located and introduced into evidence.

Conclusion

Criminal Lawyers Houston play an important role in criminal justice. They can help to correct errors made during the original trial, such as when a juror is dismissed for cause or when evidence is improperly admitted. Additionally, Criminal Appeals can overturn decisions that resulted in a prison sentence, such as the denial of a motion to reduce or dismiss charges. The bottom line is that Criminal Appeals can make a tremendous difference in the lives of people who have been convicted of crimes.