CaliforniaAdult Criminal Cases—Early StagesOfficial-source checkedAttorney review pendingGeneral legal education—not legal advice

What Are the Main Stages of a California Criminal Case?

A plain-English map of how an adult California criminal case commonly moves, so you can tell where a case is and what to ask counsel.

Adult Criminal Cases—Early Stages Last reviewed: September 5, 2026

Share CaseSteps

Shares a link to this page and a short general description. Nothing about you is included.

Email Text Message LinkedIn Facebook

Link shared: https://casesteps.org/resources/california/criminal-case-stages

What this pilot covers

Adult California misdemeanor and felony cases
General California criminal-case stages
Arraignment and early pretrial organization
Preparing questions and locating paperwork

What this pilot does not cover

Juvenile proceedings
Traffic-only or infraction matters
Federal cases
Detailed plea advice
Trial strategy
Sentencing calculations
California custody credits
Probation, parole, or reentry rules
Immigration consequences
Appeals or post-conviction relief
Diversion or specialized-court eligibility
Form preparation or filing instructions

Short answer

California criminal charges may be classified as infractions, misdemeanors or felonies. In general terms, an adult misdemeanor or felony case commonly moves from a decision to file charges, to arraignment, and then through pretrial proceedings, with the specific sequence depending on the charge level and local practice. This reading covers early stages only. It does not state deadlines, predict release or outcomes, or evaluate evidence, and individual questions belong with qualified California defense counsel.

Attorney review pending. This is general education, not legal advice.

Plain-English overview

California criminal charges may be classified as infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies. This CaseSteps pilot is limited to adult misdemeanor and felony cases. It does not cover juvenile proceedings, traffic-only matters, or infractions.

A criminal court case commonly begins when the prosecution files charges, often in a document called a complaint. A felony case may also be initiated by a grand jury indictment. A misdemeanor case may begin with a citation or notice to appear rather than an arrest. Which route applies depends on the case and local practice. Filing is a decision made by the prosecuting agency, not by the person who was cited or arrested.

Arraignment is usually the first court appearance. Pretrial proceedings occur after arraignment. A misdemeanor case may involve pretrial conferences, and a felony case may involve a preliminary hearing.

A case may be resolved through dismissal, an agreement reached with counsel, trial, or another lawful process. Sentencing follows only if the case results in a conviction, whether by verdict or by a guilty or no-contest plea.

Not every case follows every step. Procedures, terminology, timing, and local practices can vary between counties and courthouses.

Why understanding the current stage matters

Knowing the general stage helps you ask counsel a more useful question. The same question can mean different things before charges are filed, right after arraignment, or during pretrial proceedings.

It also helps you notice which paperwork should exist by now, what the next court event is for, and which written conditions may already apply.

Understanding the stage is organizational, not legal. It does not tell you what the law requires in a particular case, what will happen next, or what any person should decide.

Common stages of an adult California criminal case

Investigation or events before filing

Activity may occur before any charge exists — an incident, a citation, an arrest, or a law-enforcement investigation. No court case exists until the prosecution files charges, and charges are not guaranteed to be filed.

Charges filed

A criminal court case commonly begins when the prosecution files charges, often in a document called a complaint. A felony case may also be initiated by a grand jury indictment, and a misdemeanor case may begin with a citation or notice to appear rather than an arrest. Which route applies depends on the case and local practice.

Arraignment

Arraignment is usually the first court appearance. It commonly addresses the filed charges, basic rights, representation by counsel, a plea or the continuation of the plea decision, and release or custody status.

Pretrial proceedings

Pretrial proceedings occur after arraignment. This period may involve court dates, discussions between counsel and the prosecution, and written conditions that remain in effect.

Pretrial conferences in a misdemeanor case

A misdemeanor case may involve pretrial conferences. Whether one occurs, and what it addresses, depends on the case and on local practice.

Preliminary hearing when applicable

A felony case may involve a preliminary hearing. CaseSteps does not predict whether a preliminary hearing will occur in an individual case or what its result would be.

Plea discussions or trial preparation

A case may be resolved through dismissal, an agreement reached with counsel, trial, or another lawful process. Plea decisions should be made only after confidential consultation with qualified defense counsel.

Trial when unresolved

A case that is not otherwise resolved may proceed to trial. Trial procedure is outside the scope of this early-stage pilot.

Sentencing after a conviction or plea

Sentencing follows only if the case results in a conviction, whether by verdict or by a guilty or no-contest plea. This pilot does not cover sentencing, custody credits, probation, parole, or reentry.

Timing

Court deadlines in a California criminal case may be short, and they can be affected by waivers, exceptions, custody status, and local procedure. CaseSteps does not state a California deadline and does not calculate any time period. Confirm timing promptly with qualified counsel and the official court.

Local variation

Procedures, terminology, timing, and local practices can vary by county and by courthouse. Confirm local practice with counsel and the official court.

This is California state material. CaseSteps federal articles are federal-only and do not govern a California state case.

What this page cannot determine

Which court has jurisdiction over an individual case.
What charges are or will be filed, or how they are classified.
Any deadline, time period, or how long a stage will take.
Whether someone qualifies for court-appointed counsel.
Whether a preliminary hearing will occur in a particular felony case.
Whether release, bail, or custody status will change.
What any evidence means, or how strong a case is.
Whether a plea should be entered, or what any plea would produce.
What sentence could follow a conviction or plea.
Immigration, licensing, employment, housing, or other collateral consequences.

Information to confirm with counsel

Confirm each item with qualified counsel rather than assuming it. CaseSteps does not supply any of these answers.

Which court is handling the case.
Whether charges have actually been filed.
What the charging document alleges.
Whether the case is being handled as a misdemeanor or a felony.
Whether arraignment has occurred, or is upcoming.
What plea, if any, has been entered.
The current release, bail, or custody status.
Any written release conditions currently in effect.
Any protective or no-contact order currently in effect.
Who is representing the case, and how to reach that person.
The purpose of the next court event.
Whether any timing or waiver question needs an immediate discussion.
Whether an interpreter or accessibility accommodation has been arranged.
How instructions will reach you if the schedule changes.

Questions to discuss with counsel

What exact charges are currently filed, and how are they classified?
Which California court is handling this case?
What stage is this case actually in right now?
Has arraignment happened, and what was addressed there?
What plea, if any, was entered, and what does it mean?
What written release, bail, or protective conditions apply right now?
What is the purpose of the next court event?
Is this being handled as a misdemeanor or a felony, and can that change?
Could a preliminary hearing be relevant in this case?
What discovery has been received so far through you?
Are there any timing or waiver decisions we should discuss promptly?
What should I organize outside CaseSteps, and what should I not write down?
What should I do if a written order or instruction is unclear?
Are there people I must not contact because of an order?
What official court information should I verify myself?

Official California sources

Each link was checked before publication. Confirm you are on an official government website before relying on anything you read.

What Happens at a California Arraignment and During Pretrial?The companion reading for the first court date and the pretrial period.California Early Case OrganizerOrganize early-stage information and prepare questions for counsel.

This is general legal education about California process, not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and it does not tell anyone what to do in an individual case.

CaseSteps federal material is federal-only and does not govern a California state case.