Understanding What an Arraignment in California Is
After you have been arrested in connection with an alleged crime, you will have to go to court for your arraignment. If you are unsure what an arraignment is and what to expect after you have been arrested, call the Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys at the Manshoory Law Group. The California criminal defense attorneys at the Manshoory Law Group’s sole focus is on criminal defense and helping defendants protect their legal rights and preserve their futures. The attorneys at the Manshoory Law Group can answer all of your questions regarding the criminal justice system in California as well as provide you with aggressive and tactical legal defense services.
What is an Arraignment?
If you have been arrested for a crime, you will have a court date set after your arrest where you will have your charges formally set forth. During this court proceeding, you will enter your plea which would either be not guilty, guilty or no contest. Not only will you learn more about your constitutional rights at your arraignment, but you will also learn about your bail amount or if you will be released before your next court appearance.
The length of time it takes to have your arraignment will depend on your circumstances. If you had to remain in custody after your arrest, then you must have your arraignment scheduled within 48 hours. However, if you are not in custody, you are going to have your arraignment in about a week’s time or longer. No matter what type of crime you committed, whether it be a felony or misdemeanor, how long it takes for you to have your arrangement will be based on if you are in custody or not. The United States Supreme Court’s ruling that scheduling a defendant’s arraignment is something that should be done as quickly as possible is the guideline that the state of California, like the rest of the country abides by.
The reason why it is helpful to have an arraignment in a reasonable and expedient amount of time is to preserve the legal justice of defendants. If an arraignment is drawn-out, then this would unfairly give the authorities time to search for as much evidence as possible so that it could be used against the defendant. For those individuals who have been detained after their arrest, this would all be happening while they are sitting behind bars waiting.
In instances where there is bail, if the bail is paid then the defendant will not be detained and will await their arraignment which will be longer than 48 hours. There are some cases where an argument can be made for a judge to dismiss the charges of a bailed-out defendant because the amount of time it took to schedule the arraignment was excessive. In this situation, the argument must be persuasive enough to show that the delay hurt the defendant’s ability to mount a substantial and competent defense.
Meet with an Experienced Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Today
The Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers at the Manshoory Law Group have a proven track record of success representing defendants’ best interests and helping them see the most favorable outcome for their case. You can speak with the top-rated Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at the Manshoory Law Group 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Consultations are always free, and flexible payment plans are available. Call the Manshoory Law Group today at 877-977-7750.