An arraignment is your initial appearance in court for your criminal defense case. It is one of your constitutional rights to be presented with the charges against you. It is one of the defendant’s first chances to appear in front of the judge, even though your case will not be won at an arraignment. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that the arraignment is a formality.
Law enforcement does not have a legal right to hold a defendant indefinitely without them being able to go in front of a judge. Otherwise, it would be a violation of the defendant’s rights that could jeopardize the prosecution. The initial appearance in front of a judge is called an arraignment. There are several substantive things that will happen in an arraignment that provide an introduction of sorts to the case.
In our role as Appleton criminal defense attorneys, individuals regularly contact us with issues related to pretrial release – specifically cash bail and bond conditions. While these terms are often used interchangeably by lawyers, judges, and others in the criminal justice system, technically, bond refers to the conditions of pretrial release, and bail refers to a monetary condition of bond (money you put up to get out of jail). Once you have attended all court appearances and your case is disposed of, you should get any bail you posted back. The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that “excessive bail shall not be required.” In addition, when you have been arrested and are awaiting trial, Wisconsin law allows you to be released under “reasonable conditions.” These conditions are designed to: Assure your appearance in court Protect members of the community from serious bodily harm Prevent the intimidation of … Continued