Progress of a criminal case

Preparation

The district court will open proceedings in a criminal case once the prosecutor has delivered the application for a summons has arrived to the court. When needed, the district court will exhort the injured party to file a claim for compensation, unless the prosecutor has already done so on behalf of the injured party.

The defendant will be served with a summons, where he or she is exhorted to respond to the charge presented in the application for a summons and the claims for compensation presented by the injured parties. At the same time, the district court usually summons the defendant to appear at the session of the court, that is, the main hearing. In the invitation it is stated if the party by threat of a fine is required to appear in the hearing or if the case may be decided regardless of the absence of the party.

The district court issues summonses also to the witnesses and to those injured parties whose presence in court is necessary for the clearing up of the case.

However, the injured parties are not summoned if they have not filed a claim for compensation or if the prosecutor has filed the claim for compensation on behalf of them. They are entitled to come to the main hearing, but they must self find out about the date and time of the hearing.

Written procedure in a criminal case
Videoconferencing in court proceedings

Updated on 29 March 2010