Difference between criminal charge, arrested and convicted

Being involved in the Australian criminal justice system can be incredibly stressful, with terminology specific to its different stages often adding to the confusion. This makes it important to understand such terminology, namely the difference between being arrested, charged, and convicted to better comprehend the process.

Essentially, arrest may occur at the start of the process where police apprehend a suspect. They may then be charged with an offence and will be considered convicted if they plead or are found guilty. Our criminal lawyers Sydney team explain this in more depth below.

What is an Arrest?

An arrest involves a person being apprehended and taken into custody and can occur before you are charged with an offence.