What happens at an arraignment?
You have the right to be arraigned without unnecessary delay after being arrested. You will appear before a judge who will tell you officially of the charges against you at your arraignment. At the arraignment, an attorney may be appointed for you if you cannot afford one, and bail can be raised or lowered. You also can ask to be released on personal recognizance, even if bail was previously set. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you can plead guilty or not guilty at the arraignment. Or, if the court approves, you can make an “Alford plea”, meaning that you will not contest the charges. Legally, this has the same consequences as a guilty plea. I would not advise people to plead guilty without speaking with an attorney. Before pleading guilty to some first time offenses, such as misdemeanor domestic violence or drug possession in small amounts for personal use, you may want to find out if your county has any diversion programs. Under these programs, instead of fining you or sending
You have the right to be arraigned without unnecessary delay usually within two court days after being arrested. You will appear before a judge who will tell you officially of the charges against you at your first arraignment. At the arraignment, an attorney may be appointed for you if you cannot afford one, and bail can be raised or lowered. You also can ask to be released on personal recognizance, even if bail was previously set. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you can plead guilty or not guilty at the arraignment. Or, if the court approves, you can plead nolo contendere, meaning that you will not contest the charges. Legally, this is the same as a guilty plea, but it cannot be used against you in a noncriminal case. Before pleading guilty to some first time offenses, such as drug possession in small amounts for personal use, you may want to find out if your county has any drug diversion programs. Under these programs, instead of fining you or sending you to jail, the cou
You have the right to be arraigned without unnecessary delay after being arrested. You will appear before a judge who will advise you officially of the charges against you. At arraignment, an attorney may be appointed for you if you cannot afford one, and bail can be raised or lowered. You also can request to be released on personal recognizance, even if bail was previously set. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you can plead guilty or not guilty at the arraignment. Or, if the court approves, you can plead no contest, meaning that you do not admit guilt but do admit the truth of the facts alleged in the complaint or indictment, and allow yourself to be found guilty. Legally, this is the same as a guilty plea, but it cannot be used against you in a subsequent civil case. Before pleading guilty to some first time offenses, such as drug possession in small amounts for personal use, you may want to find out if your county has any drug diversion programs. Under these programs, instead
You have the right to be arraigned without unnecessary delay – usually within two court days after being arrested, if you have not bailed out based upon the local bail schedule. You will appear before a judge who will tell you officially of the charges against you at your first arraignment. At the arraignment, an attorney may be appointed for you if you cannot afford one, and bail can be raised or lowered. You also can ask to be released on personal recognizance, even if bail was previously set. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you can plead guilty, or not guilty at the arraignment. Or, if the court approves, you can plead nolo contendere, meaning that you will not contest the charges. Legally, this is the same as a guilty plea, but it cannot be used against you in a non-criminal case. In San Luis Obispo County, if a plea, which accepts responsibility for the offense, a no contest plea is almost always the preferred plea to be entered, as opposed to a guilty plea. Before pleading
