Arraignment
is the initial step in a criminal proceeding. At this stage a defendant
will be brought before a judge and will enter a plea not
guilty to the charge. Sometimes the district attorney DA will offer a plea . You should only
discuss the consequences of accepting such an offer with an experienced
criminal defense attorney, as it is very difficult to withdraw such a
plea and the consequences can be grave.
If
you do not accept a plea bargain at arraignment, the judge will
determine if bail should be set or ROR> The court will take into account many factors, such as the
severity of the alleged crime, criminal record and
whether the individual poses a flight risk. You will want an
experienced attorney to argue on your behalf to fight for your release
or at the least argue for lower bail.
Also there may be other issues also discussed at arraignment; such
as temporary orders of protection, license revocation, or pre-trial
release to probation.
If
you are charged with a felony , your case may be referred to
the Grand Jury to determine whether probable cause exists to pursue your
case further. The Grand Jury meets in secret and will hear evidence
from the prosecution. You also have the right to testify before the
Grand Jury. However, most defendants choose not to do so. One of
our experienced criminal defense attorneys will help you decide what to
do in this situation. If the Grand Jury decides there is sufficient
evidence for your case to proceed to trial, they will issue an
indictment, and your case will be scheduled for further court dates.
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