Your first time in front of a judge after an arrest is often at the arraignment. This meeting is routine and quick, but it's also very important. If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI), you should know what to expect at the arraignment. Read on to find out.
When Is the Arraignment?
This brief appearance may be held a few hours after your arrest. However, if you are deemed to be intoxicated, you may have to wait longer to appear. Also, many locations don't have arraignments on weekends, so you may need to wait for Monday if you were arrested then. It should also be mentioned that some states hold bail hearings instead of arraignments.
Where Are Arraignments Held?
In many cases, inmates appear via a closed-circuit camera for their arraignment. That keeps things moving faster and decreases the need to move inmates to courtrooms. You will be able to see the judge, and they can see you also. You and others arrested during a given time period will be seen individually but not privately, though this can vary from place to place.
What Happens at an Arraignment?
These meetings are quick and efficient with several important topics being covered. The order varies but these issues will be discussed in most cases:
Bail: If you are offered bail, you will find out how much it is. If your bail is too high, consider using a bail bonding agency or getting your criminal defense attorney to ask the judge to reduce the cost. Bail for violent felonies is not common. Once you pay the bail, you are released pending a return for your future court appearances. Most of the time, those charged with a simple DUI can be released on bail.
Plea: You will be asked to enter a plea at the arraignment. You may plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Even though you may not have a lawyer at this early date, most lawyers advise their clients to plead not guilty at the arraignment. Though you are pleading not guilty, you may later change your plea if you agree to a plea bargain.
Legal Representation: The final subject to be addressed at the plea bargain is legal help. You will be asked if you have a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer and feel that you cannot afford a private lawyer, you can be considered for the public defender's services.
Once you are out of jail, make it your priority to speak to a defense attorney about your DUI case. Contact a DUI defense lawyer for more information.
Share16 November 2022
My son and a group of his friends got in some trouble for trespassing and were arrested. Every one of the boys that were there were charged with trespassing, criminal mischief and vandalism. I contacted all of the other boys' parents and we got together to discuss the situation. After hearing the boys' stories about what happened that day, we knew that we had to hire an attorney to get the boys out of some of the trouble they were in. I have been working on my blog to help other parents that are struggling with the legal system prosecuting their kids for things that they may not have done.
