Difference between Investigation, Inquiry and Trial and Investigation,lawguru

Difference between Investigation, Inquiry, and Trial and Investigation

In criminal law, "trial," "inquiry," and "investigation" are three distinct stages in the criminal justice process. Here is a brief overview of the difference between these three stages:

Investigation: This is the first stage of the criminal justice process, where law enforcement agencies gather information about a crime that has been committed. The goal of the investigation is to identify the suspects and collect evidence to support the prosecution's case.

Inquiry: Inquiry is the stage where the investigating agencies present the evidence they have gathered to a judicial officer, such as a judge or a magistrate. The judicial officer then decides whether there is sufficient evidence to charge the suspect with a crime and proceed to a trial.

Trial: If the judicial officer finds sufficient evidence to support a charge, the case will proceed to a trial. During the trial, both the prosecution and the defense present their evidence and arguments, and a judge or a jury will decide whether the suspect is guilty or not guilty of the crime.

It is important to note that not all cases go through all three stages. For example, in some cases, the investigation may reveal that there is not enough evidence to support a charge, and the case will not proceed to a trial. In other cases, the suspect may plead guilty to the charges, in which case a trial will not be necessary.

In summary, the investigation stage is about gathering information and evidence, the inquiry stage is about determining whether there is enough evidence to charge the suspect with a crime, and the trial stage is about determining the guilt or innocence of the suspect.

Here is a very informative video on this topic: