![]() Pleading NOT guilty allows you to explore your options, review evidence with an experienced attorney and their experts and better understand your rights. Our advice: Always Plead Not Guilty at Arraignment. Pleading guilty removes all of your rights and ensures you don’t have the opportunity to find out whether you could have had a better outcome or not. If it is a DUI case, you probably won’t even know if the Government has a good or weak case at that point. Your case will be over and you will accept whatever punishment the judge gives you, with no opportunity to speak to the prosecutor, look at the evidence or negotiate a known plea outcome. If you plead guilty, it is very rare to be able to undo that and plead not guilty later. With few exceptions, pleading guilty at arraignment is a very bad idea. If you are sentenced to jail time – you will go directly to jail. The judge will impose a sentence and you usually cannot undo it. You are pleading guilty – don’t expect the judge to understand and then make your charges go away, that will not happen. You will have the opportunity to explain your situation to the judge and have him or her take your unique circumstances into consideration, but if you plead guilty with an explanation your case will not be dismissed. If you plead guilty – you will be sentenced right then and there- and the case will be over. The Judge only wants to hear a Guilty or Not Guilty plea, to get the process started. This is not really the time to tell the judge about your case. You’ll then need to enter a guilty or not guilty plea. The presiding judge will read you your rights, as well as the maximum possible penalties for any and all criminal charges. Your first court appearance is known as an arraignment or initial appearance. If you post bail, you are required to physically show up for Court- usually within a week or so. After you are arrested, whether you are in jail or out of jail, you will be seen by a judge within two days. If you hire a bondsman, they usually require payment of around 10% of the total bail amount, but that is a fee you pay and never get back. If you pay cash for the bail, you will be released and at the completion of the case, your bail amount will be returned to you via check from the Court. #After 14 days of trial joinme whats going on fullYou pay cash for the full bail amount and 2. Bail can be posted so you are released 2 different ways: 1. Having an attorney advocate for you at such a court hearing is the best way to ensure you get a lowered bail, or the attorney convinces the judge to release you without posting any bail. Bail can be reduced, but usually only after a court hearing. There are uniform bail amounts for crimes, so your bail amount usually depends on the crimes you are charged with. Bail is a financial guarantee by the Court that you will show up for court if released. ArraignmentĪfter you’re arrested- you will either be released by posting bail or remain in jail if you cannot post bail. But is almost always worth it.īut what if you don’t have a lawyer yet? Or what if a loved one is involved in a criminal case? How can you help? What can you do? Start by reading today’s post, where I’ll help you understand the process of court appearances and trials and what you can expect from start to finish. An experienced lawyer will help you understand the process, identify problems in the Government’s case and provide guidance and insights that will help you to make the best possible decisions. Lawyers, Judges and Prosecutors work in this arena with/against each other every day trying to address a criminal case by yourself after being accused is a terrible idea for multiple reasons. Trying to navigate the court system where you are already accused of being a criminal is no place for someone without experience. Being arrested and charged with a crime like a DUI, Partner Assault or drug possession can be confusing, stressful, and terrifying. ![]()
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