In
law,
post-conviction refers to the
legal process which takes place after a
trial results in
conviction of the
defendant. After conviction, a court will proceed with
sentencing the
guilty party. In the
criminal justice system, once a defendant has received a guilty verdict, he or she can then challenge a conviction or sentence. This takes place through different legal actions, known as filing an
appeal or a federal
habeas corpus proceeding. The goal of these proceedings is
exoneration, or proving a convicted person innocent. If lacking representation, the defendant may consult or hire an
attorney to exercise his or her legal rights.