Intended to be the first court appearance, an arraignment involves a formal reading or distribution of a criminal complaint or indictment. There may a brief discussion of the defendant’s rights, including a right to a speedy trial. During the arraignment, the defendant will enter a plea (often a “not-guilty” plea) and set the matter out for a separate date. A police report may be provided to the defendant’s attorney. If a Defendant is in custody, they must be arraigned within a certain prescribed time, mainly two business days after arrest.
Client Tip:
At The Law Office of James Dunn, we can talk to a defendant or their loved ones to guide them through the process and prepare for the Arraignment date. In many cases, if you hire our firm, we may arrange to appear without you.