What Happens At An Arraignment?

By David P. Badanes, Esq.

After you have been arrested, there will be an arraignment in court. An arraignment is where the District Attorney will read the defendant’s charges. At that time, you get to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.

If you plea “guilty”, then the court can accept your plea and proceed to impose a sentence.

If you plea “not guilty”, the District Attorney will either request that you:

1. be immediately sent to prison, without the opportunity to provide bail;
2. request a bail amount; or
3. that you can be released into the community without providing bail.

If you have an attorney, the attorney can contest that you be immediately sent to prison, negotiate the amount of bail or request that no bail be set. If no bail is set, then you are released on your own recognizance, which is typically called an “ROR”. If bail is set, then the amount is determined by several factors, including whether you have a prior criminal history, whether you are employed, and your community ties.

At the Badanes Law office we have helped numerous individuals at their arraignments. We fight for you to get you released without bail.

If you have been arrested, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent you. David Badanes and the Badanes Law Office can help you. In Suffolk County, Nassau County and New York City, call David Badanes and the Badanes Law Office today at 631-239-1702, email at david@dbnylaw.com or visit our web site: www.dbnylaw.com. We have offices in Northport, Garden City, Brooklyn and Manhattan.

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