What is Arraignment?
An arraignment is a judicial process in which the defendant is charged and required to enter a plea before a court of law. The word “arraignment” originates from the French term “aresnier”, which signifies speaking or addressing with decency. It refers to the defendant’s plea of ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’. An arraignment is a judicial hearing during which the defendant is told the accusations in the indictment and asked to enter a plea. The arraignment takes place after the offender is arrested and official charges are filed. ‘Arraign’ also refers to summoning someone to court to respond to an accusation.
Key Takeaways
- An arraignment is generally a defendant’s initial court appearance before a judge and prosecutor.
- The primary goal of the arraignment is to inform the defendant of the criminal allegations leveled against him or her.
- During the initial court appearance, the defendant (or his or her counsel) enters a plea of “Guilty” or “Not Guilty.” To begin defending the case, the defendant often pleads “not guilty.”
- At the arraignment, the defendant’s counsel will be provided with the criminal complaint as well as the police report.
Table of Content
- Stages of Court Proceedings in Arraignment
- Arraignment in Context with Criminal Cases
- Conclusion
- Arraignment-FAQs
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