ABSTRACT
There are more than 16,000 courts in operation in the United States. Justice agents filed almost 21 million criminal cases in American state courts in 2005. The courts must strike a balance between the rights of disputing parties. In the criminal courts, the principal balance is between the rights of an individual and the rights of the state. Court systems contain two basic types of courts: trial courts and appellate courts. In comparison to most state court systems, the federal courts are relatively simply organized. US courts of appeals represent the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the federal territories. In terms of general organization, state court systems mirror the federal courts. Community courts are one type of problem-solving court designed to address not just specific instances of criminal behavior, but community problems that lead to crime. The principal decision points in the courts are initial appearance, formal charging, preliminary hearing, arraignment on charges, and trial.
