In the nine steps of the criminal justice process, which step comes immediately after Preliminary hearing?

• A. Arraignment
• B. Information and indictment
• C. Booking
• D. First appearance

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that once a preliminary hearing finds probable cause, the case moves to formal charging. The prosecutor files a charging document—either an information or an indictment—depending on the jurisdiction. This formally lays out the crimes and allows the case to proceed to arraignment on those charges. Booking and first appearance occur earlier in the process, before the preliminary hearing, and arraignment comes after the charges are filed. So, information and indictment is the correct next step.