The initial arrest is made by the police either by securing an arrest warrant after sufficient evidence has been attained to execute the warrant or the suspect may be arrested at the scene of a crime. The offender is carried to the police station and booked, searched, fingerprinted, photographed allowed to contact a lawyer and given a receipt for any personal property that is impounded. If it is a misdemeanor he/she is usually released and given a court date.

If it is a felony he is usually jailed after the offender is booked, the suspect appears before a judge and a bail is set. This is the initial court appearance. It is here that the court and the police intersect. From the initial court appearance the offender moves to the preliminary hearing. If there is sufficient evidence against the offender the case will be forwarded to the Grand Jury. If the Grand Jury decides that there is enough evidence against the offender, an indictment is issued requiring the offender to stand trial. The offender is arraigned – his charges are read to him and he is advised of his rights. Then there is the pretrial hearing where the judge meets with the defense attorneys and the prosecuting attorneys, and reviews the issues of the case. After which the defendant goes to trial where a jury will issue a verdict of guilty or not guilty. If the defendant is guilty, he/she will be sentenced to serve time. The Department of Corrections interfaces wit the courts and the police.

Kinds of Corrections:

1. Jails – are facilities operated by Metro or the County to house individuals who commit infractions against the law.
   
   
2. Prisons – State property and Federal Correctional Institutions that house men and women after they have been sentenced by the courts to serve time for their crimes in Correctional Facilities.
   
   
3. Community Corrections – al alternative form of sentencing where offenders are sentenced to do community service work.
   
   
4. House Arrest – an individual is confined to his/her house under mandated stipulations. He/she is monitored by electronic surveillance.
   
   
5. Weekend Arrest – an offender works during the week and is incarcerated on the weekend.