The law of criminal procedure is a set of rules and procedures regulating the whole process of criminal prosecution. It regulates, among others, arrest, bail, the trial, sentence and appeal. Th e main source of the South African law of criminal procedure is the Criminal Procedure Act, Act 51 of 1977.  The Constitution also contains important principles of the criminal procedure, specifically in the Bill of Rights. Entrenched in the Bill of Rights is, for example, every accused person’s right to a fair trial.

• Steps in the criminal justice system
• Rights of victims in the criminal justice system
• Appearing in court
• Postponement of trial
• Compensation
• Parole boards
• Complaints mechanisms