CITP Exam 3 | COMPLETE EXAM PREPARATION 2026
| VERIFIED ANSWERS | STUDY GUIDE
• Original Jurisdiction -✓✓ANSWER: Trial court where the defendant was found
guilty or not guilty by the judge or jury.
Witnesses testify under oath and evidence is presented.
• Appellate Jurisdiction -✓✓ANSWER: Court that conducts a review of what
happened at the trial court.
Court only reviews the record for legal errors committed at the trial level.
Court does not entertain new evidence or testimony.
• Classifications of criminal offenses -✓✓ANSWER: Felony - Max sentence is more
than one year imprisonment or death (366 days or more)
Class A Misdemeanor - More than 6 months up to 1 year imprisonment
Class B Misdemeanor - More than 30 days up to 6 months imprisonment
Class C Misdemeanor-More than 5 days up to 30 days imprisonment
Infraction - 5 days of imprisonment or less
• Petty Offense -✓✓ANSWER: Offenses where the max imprisonment is 6 months
or less (Class B, C, and infractions)
• Federal Courts from Highest to Lowest -✓✓ANSWER: U.S. Supreme Court
US Circuit Court of Appeals
US District Court
,US Magistrate Courts
• Supreme Court -✓✓ANSWER: Only court created by the U.S. Constitution
Has both appellate and original jurisdiction
Has 9 judges who decide by majority vote
Hears cases on appeal by discretion only
• Circuit Courts -✓✓ANSWER: 13 Circuit Courts around the United States
Have appellate jurisdiction only
Decision is only binding on the courts within its circuit
• District Courts -✓✓ANSWER: Only court that can hear the trial on felony cases
94 District Courts around the U.S.
Can hear Class A misdemeanor offenses, but only if the defendant does not
consent to it being heard by the magistrate court
• Magistrate Courts -✓✓ANSWER: Hears Class A misdemeanors, if the defendant
consents
Hears petty offenses
Can hear pre-trial hearings such as the initial appearance, detention hearings, etc.
• Legal Documents Used to Start a Case -✓✓ANSWER: Criminal Complaint
Indictment
Information
, • Initial Appearance -✓✓ANSWER: Defendant's first court appearance after arrest
Defendant is told the criminal charges
Defendant is read their constitutional rights
Pre-trial release (bond) is determined
Without unnecessary delay
Max 48 hours from arrest
Remedy for violation of rule is release from custody
Congress gives 6-hour safe zone to delay for purpose of getting statements from
defendant, but after 6 hours statements may not be admissible
• Detention Hearing -✓✓ANSWER: Hearing where the defendant is permitted to
present evidence about whether they should get a bond
Hearing occurs either at the initial appearance or up to 10 days after the initial
appearance
**Release is preferred on his own personal recognizance
• RULE 1 -✓✓ANSWER: If arresting the defendant in the District where the crime
occurred, Their initial appearance should be in the district of arrest
Example
o Crime occurs in North Georgia, Defendant arrested in North Georgia, his initial
appearance is in North Georgia
• RULES 2 & 3 -✓✓ANSWER: If arresting the defendant in the District other than
where the crime occurred,
Their initial appearance should be in the district of arrest or an adjacent district if
you can get him there more
| VERIFIED ANSWERS | STUDY GUIDE
• Original Jurisdiction -✓✓ANSWER: Trial court where the defendant was found
guilty or not guilty by the judge or jury.
Witnesses testify under oath and evidence is presented.
• Appellate Jurisdiction -✓✓ANSWER: Court that conducts a review of what
happened at the trial court.
Court only reviews the record for legal errors committed at the trial level.
Court does not entertain new evidence or testimony.
• Classifications of criminal offenses -✓✓ANSWER: Felony - Max sentence is more
than one year imprisonment or death (366 days or more)
Class A Misdemeanor - More than 6 months up to 1 year imprisonment
Class B Misdemeanor - More than 30 days up to 6 months imprisonment
Class C Misdemeanor-More than 5 days up to 30 days imprisonment
Infraction - 5 days of imprisonment or less
• Petty Offense -✓✓ANSWER: Offenses where the max imprisonment is 6 months
or less (Class B, C, and infractions)
• Federal Courts from Highest to Lowest -✓✓ANSWER: U.S. Supreme Court
US Circuit Court of Appeals
US District Court
,US Magistrate Courts
• Supreme Court -✓✓ANSWER: Only court created by the U.S. Constitution
Has both appellate and original jurisdiction
Has 9 judges who decide by majority vote
Hears cases on appeal by discretion only
• Circuit Courts -✓✓ANSWER: 13 Circuit Courts around the United States
Have appellate jurisdiction only
Decision is only binding on the courts within its circuit
• District Courts -✓✓ANSWER: Only court that can hear the trial on felony cases
94 District Courts around the U.S.
Can hear Class A misdemeanor offenses, but only if the defendant does not
consent to it being heard by the magistrate court
• Magistrate Courts -✓✓ANSWER: Hears Class A misdemeanors, if the defendant
consents
Hears petty offenses
Can hear pre-trial hearings such as the initial appearance, detention hearings, etc.
• Legal Documents Used to Start a Case -✓✓ANSWER: Criminal Complaint
Indictment
Information
, • Initial Appearance -✓✓ANSWER: Defendant's first court appearance after arrest
Defendant is told the criminal charges
Defendant is read their constitutional rights
Pre-trial release (bond) is determined
Without unnecessary delay
Max 48 hours from arrest
Remedy for violation of rule is release from custody
Congress gives 6-hour safe zone to delay for purpose of getting statements from
defendant, but after 6 hours statements may not be admissible
• Detention Hearing -✓✓ANSWER: Hearing where the defendant is permitted to
present evidence about whether they should get a bond
Hearing occurs either at the initial appearance or up to 10 days after the initial
appearance
**Release is preferred on his own personal recognizance
• RULE 1 -✓✓ANSWER: If arresting the defendant in the District where the crime
occurred, Their initial appearance should be in the district of arrest
Example
o Crime occurs in North Georgia, Defendant arrested in North Georgia, his initial
appearance is in North Georgia
• RULES 2 & 3 -✓✓ANSWER: If arresting the defendant in the District other than
where the crime occurred,
Their initial appearance should be in the district of arrest or an adjacent district if
you can get him there more
