What And Where Is A New York City Arraignment

An arraignment in New York County Criminal Court is a court proceeding where a defendant appears before a judge after being arrested and processed. During the arraignment, the defendant is read the charges against them and advised of their right to an attorney. A plea is entered, and the judge will determine bail or release on recognizance.

It is not a trial, and no evidence or witnesses are presented. The main focus is on setting a bail amount. In New York, the first arraignment is called the initial arraignment and must take place within 48 hours of the individual's arrest, which can be stretched to 72 hours in certain circumstances. It is important to hire an experienced criminal arraignment attorney as early as possible to make decisions that will affect the defendant's future.

After an arraignment in New York County Criminal Court, the case proceeds depending on the severity of the charge. For misdemeanors, a court date is typically set for a future hearing. For felonies, the case may go to a grand jury to determine if charges are warranted. If the defendant pleads guilty at arraignment, sentencing may occur immediately, or a pre-sentence investigation may be ordered. The defendant may also be released on bail or in their own recognizance, and if they fail to appear for future court appearances, bail monies posted may be forfeited. It is important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney at arraignment and throughout the arrest process. Failure to appear at arraignment can result in additional charges and jail time.

The New York criminal court is located in various locations throughout the different boroughs of New York City, including the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Midtown Community, and Red Hook Community. The specific addresses and contact details for each court can be found on the Criminal Court website or by calling (800) 268-7869.

The Manhattan Criminal Court is located at 100 Centre Street in New York City. The courthouse is the main location for New York County (Manhattan) arraignments and houses various courtrooms, including the DAT courtroom on the first floor. The building was constructed in 1938 and was previously a prison and courthouse known as the Halls of Justice. The courthouse also houses part of the District Attorney's office and the Department of Corrections. It is easily accessible via public transportation and its telephone number is (646) 386-3600.