Getting arrested on suspicion of a crime can be disheartening if you have been misinterpreted or had hard luck on that ominous day. Your and your family’s reputation will be at stake. But things happen, and one must know how to handle a situation in its best shape and form. You may have heard the term arraignment many times and never bothered about it until someone you know was summoned for an arraignment. Arraignment is when a suspect appears in the court for the first time. It can also include a bail hearing.
In most cases, it’s the first court hearing for defendants served citations or summons but not arrested. Felony cases entail delayed arraignment procedures. Still, all these hearings have similar formats for defendants.
Arraignment plea
In Ohio, judges usually determine bail amount during this court appearance. Hence, it’s also when you may seek help from a trustworthy bail bond company like Castle Bail Bonds. During the arraignment process, you learn about criminal charges filed against your name and make a plea. It’s not a trial and doesn’t involve arguments and evidence. If you are booked for a minor misdemeanor case, you may skip arraignment, let your attorney attend, and submit a plea. Entering a plea is the most critical aspect of this event, whether you are asked to pay a high or affordable bail amount. You learn about the formal charges written against you and your constitutional rights. All these also lead to the decision about trials.
Choice of plea at arraignment
You accept the charges, which lead to closure of the case without requiring a trial. If you plead guilty, the judge may announce a suitable sentence for the crime committed or postpone it to the next date. Suppose you plead not guilty and deny all the charges. In that case, you may not face trial immediately. However, there will be an extensive legal process leading to it. The last plea option is no contest or nolo contendere. In some aspects, it is similar to a guilty plea, as the defendant accepts the sentence. However, the difference here is that they deny committing the specific crime.
Retrieving bond money after arraignment
Getting back bond money can be one of your concerns after arraignment, regardless of whether you took the help of the bail bond service or not. The bail amount determined during this procedure is temporary because it’s collateral to ensure your presence in court hearings. If you appear on given dates, you can expect to get your money back when the sessions end. And it doesn’t depend on the verdict. If you accept a crime or sentence, you may get the amount almost immediately. Remember, you will lose this money on failing to appear in court.
Smaller bail amounts can be easy to pay from one’s pocket. However, larger sums may compel a defendant to sign a surety bond, whereby 10% goes to the bail bonds company as a service charge per standard industry practices. The advantage of using this service is that these firms pay the amount, relieving your stress about arranging it amidst the chaos. Hence, keep this factor in mind if you ever get into trouble.
