The Arizona Criminal Practice Manual is designed as a treatise for prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges throughout the state of Arizona.

This manual comprehensively addresses Arizona criminal law from pretrial release and detention through appeals and post-conviction litigation. It contains chapters on a wide range of topics of interest to anyone either practicing in criminal court or presiding over criminal trials.

Topics covered include:

• Competence to stand trial
• Discovery
• Guilty pleas and plea bargaining
• Speedy trial
• Joinder and severance
• Motions to suppress statements
• Search and seizure law
• Eyewitness identifications
• The exclusionary rule
• Motions to preclude/admit evidence
• Defenses
• Opinion testimony
• Privilege against self-incrimination
• Testimonial privileges
• Witnesses’ competence to testify
• Confrontation
• Compulsory process
• Jury issues
• Opening statements and closing argument
• Trial practice issues
• Sentencing and probation

This manual explains Arizona case law, criminal procedure rules, and statutes while also discussing major United States Supreme Court criminal law decisions. It provides quick answers to immediate questions at all stages of a criminal case and highlights areas of law that are unsettled, uncertain, or internally inconsistent and offers guidance for resolving such thorny questions.