Criminal Exhibit Stamps — Prosecution & Defense
Professional exhibit stamps for criminal proceedings. Choose State's, People's, or Commonwealth's Exhibit for prosecution, or Defense Exhibit templates with jurisdiction-specific terminology.
Prosecution Exhibit Terminology by Jurisdiction
Criminal prosecution exhibits use different terminology depending on jurisdiction. ExhibitPrep supports all three variants:
"STATE'S EXHIBIT"
Used in most U.S. states
Examples: Texas, Florida, Ohio, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and most other states
"PEOPLE'S EXHIBIT"
Used where prosecution represents "the People"
Examples: New York, California, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado (some courts)
"COMMONWEALTH'S EXHIBIT"
Used in Commonwealth states
Examples: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky
Pro tip: When creating prosecution stamps, ExhibitPrep lets you choose your state/commonwealth terminology in the template configuration.
Criminal Proceeding Types
Felony Trials
Complex cases with extensive exhibits: physical evidence, forensics, financial records, communications, witness statements
Typical: 50-500+ exhibits
Misdemeanor Trials
DUI records, police reports, citations, body camera footage transcripts, calibration records
Typical: 10-50 exhibits
Preliminary Hearings
Probable cause evidence, arrest reports, initial forensics, witness identification
Typical: 5-30 exhibits
Suppression Hearings
Search warrants, consent forms, Miranda records, chain of custody documentation
Typical: 10-40 exhibits
Sentencing Hearings
Pre-sentence reports, victim impact statements, character letters, mitigation evidence
Typical: 10-50 exhibits
Post-Conviction
New evidence, ineffective assistance claims, procedural records, expert affidavits
Typical: 20-100 exhibits
When to Use Criminal Templates
Recommended For
- Criminal trials (felony and misdemeanor)
- Preliminary/probable cause hearings
- Suppression motions
- Sentencing proceedings
- Post-conviction relief hearings
- Grand jury proceedings (prosecution only)
Consider Alternatives When
- Discovery productions (use Bates numbering)
- Civil rights cases arising from criminal matters
- Administrative proceedings (e.g., DMV hearings)
- Juvenile proceedings (check court rules)
- Federal court (may have specific requirements)
Criminal Template Features
Jurisdiction Selection
Choose State's, People's, or Commonwealth's for prosecution exhibits to match your court
Auto-Numbering
Sequential numbering (1, 2, 3) applied automatically across all exhibits
Color Coding
Red/orange for prosecution, teal/green for defense — or customize to local conventions
Proceeding Prefixes
Add "PH-" for preliminary hearing, "T-" for trial, "S-" for sentencing exhibits
Batch Processing
Stamp entire case files at once — forensic reports, communications, records
Position Control
Place stamps consistently or adjust per-document for optimal placement
Prosecution vs Defense Stamps
Prosecution Exhibit
- • Red/orange background
- • State's / People's / Commonwealth's
- • Evidence supporting charges
- • Introduced by prosecutor
Defense Exhibit
- • Teal/green background
- • "DEFENSE EXHIBIT" header
- • Evidence supporting defense
- • Introduced by defense counsel
Criminal Case Exhibit Tips
Chain of Custody Documentation
For physical evidence, include chain of custody logs as companion exhibits. Stamp them with the same number plus a suffix (e.g., "State's 15" for the evidence, "State's 15-A" for the custody log).
Multi-Proceeding Numbering
When the same document appears at multiple hearings, consider a master exhibit list. Reference prior exhibit numbers in subsequent proceedings to maintain consistency and avoid re-marking documents.
Redaction Before Stamping
Apply redactions (witness addresses, victim information, sealed material) before exhibit stamping. The exhibit stamp should appear on the final, trial-ready version of each document.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between State's, People's, and Commonwealth's Exhibits?
These terms all refer to prosecution exhibits but vary by jurisdiction. Most states use 'State's Exhibit.' New York, California, and Illinois use 'People's Exhibit.' Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky use 'Commonwealth's Exhibit.' ExhibitPrep lets you select the correct terminology for your jurisdiction.
What colors are standard for criminal case exhibits?
There's no universal color standard for criminal exhibits. Common conventions include red/orange for prosecution and green/teal for defense, providing clear visual distinction. Some jurisdictions prefer neutral colors. ExhibitPrep allows full color customization to match local practice.
Do I need different stamps for preliminary hearings vs trial?
The same exhibit stamps work for both preliminary hearings and trial, though exhibit numbering may restart. Many attorneys use a prefix system like 'PH-1' for preliminary hearing exhibits and 'T-1' for trial exhibits to avoid confusion when the same document appears in both proceedings.
How should I handle discovery exhibits vs trial exhibits?
Discovery productions typically use Bates numbering rather than exhibit stamps. Exhibit stamps are applied when documents are formally introduced at hearings or trial. Documents can have both Bates numbers (for discovery tracking) and exhibit stamps (for trial identification).
What numbering format is preferred in criminal cases?
Criminal cases typically use sequential numbers (1, 2, 3) for both prosecution and defense exhibits. The party identification ('State's Exhibit 1' vs 'Defense Exhibit 1') distinguishes them. Some courts require different formats - check local rules or consult the clerk's office.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between State's, People's, and Commonwealth's Exhibits?
These terms all refer to prosecution exhibits but vary by jurisdiction. Most states use 'State's Exhibit.' New York, California, and Illinois use 'People's Exhibit.' Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky use 'Commonwealth's Exhibit.' ExhibitPrep lets you select the correct terminology for your jurisdiction.
What colors are standard for criminal case exhibits?
There's no universal color standard for criminal exhibits. Common conventions include red/orange for prosecution and green/teal for defense, providing clear visual distinction. Some jurisdictions prefer neutral colors. ExhibitPrep allows full color customization to match local practice.
Do I need different stamps for preliminary hearings vs trial?
The same exhibit stamps work for both preliminary hearings and trial, though exhibit numbering may restart. Many attorneys use a prefix system like 'PH-1' for preliminary hearing exhibits and 'T-1' for trial exhibits to avoid confusion when the same document appears in both proceedings.
How should I handle discovery exhibits vs trial exhibits?
Discovery productions typically use Bates numbering rather than exhibit stamps. Exhibit stamps are applied when documents are formally introduced at hearings or trial. Documents can have both Bates numbers (for discovery tracking) and exhibit stamps (for trial identification).
What numbering format is preferred in criminal cases?
Criminal cases typically use sequential numbers (1, 2, 3) for both prosecution and defense exhibits. The party identification ('State's Exhibit 1' vs 'Defense Exhibit 1') distinguishes them. Some courts require different formats - check local rules or consult the clerk's office.
Create Professional Criminal Exhibits
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