Arraignment is the first court appearance in a criminal case. This is when a judge formally advises the defendant of the charges against them and their constitutional rights. A plea is usually entered (i.e. “not guilty”) at the initial arraignment. The court also address conditions of release (such as bail, own-recognizance (O.R.) or protective orders), set future court dates. Although arraignments may brief, it can have important consequences. If a defendant is in custody we can potentially get them release without having to pay bail or get bail reduced. If done improperly before we are hired, we are unable to readdress bail until there has been a change of circumstance. We often hear potential clients say, “I’ll just go to the arraignment and see what happens. That can be a big mistake. Having counsel present from the start to address bail, CPO’s and set the tone for the case is critical.
If you are facing criminal charges in San Joaquin or Stanislaus county give us a call today for a free consultation.