What Does Arraign Date Mean?

An arraignment is usually the first court hearing in a criminal case. At an arraignment hearing, the accused enters a plea (guilty, not guilty or no contest), the issue of bail and release is determined, and a future court date is set – usually for the pretrial or, in a felony case, the preliminary hearing.

What is an arraignment date?

An arraignment is a court proceeding at which a criminal defendant is formally advised of the charges against him and asked to enter a plea to the charges. In many states, the court may also decide at arraignment whether the defendant will be released pending trial.

How long do they have to arraign you?

Despite the Supreme Court ruling that initial appearances that are combined with probable cause hearings must be held within 48 hours of arrest, many jurisdictions provide a 72-hour window for arraignment. This allows for the timely arraignment of defendants nabbed over the weekend.