During which stage does a prosecuting attorney seek an arrest warrant?

The stage during which a prosecuting attorney seeks an arrest warrant is the indictment stage. An indictment is a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime, and it typically follows a preliminary investigation or hearing where evidence is presented. If the evidence suggests that there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and that the accused is responsible, the prosecutor can request an indictment from a grand jury.

Understanding this process is crucial, as the indictment stage marks a significant step in the legal proceedings where a formal accusation is made, allowing for the issuance of an arrest warrant. This warrant enables law enforcement to apprehend the suspect based on the grand jury's findings.

In contrast, the arraignment is the stage where the accused is formally charged and enters a plea, discovery involves the exchange of evidence between the defense and prosecution to prepare for trial, and sentencing occurs after a conviction or plea deal has been reached. Therefore, these stages do not involve the initial request for an arrest warrant.