What happens at an arraignment in Colorado?
What happens at an arraignment in Colorado?
An arraignment hearing is generally the first court appearance in a Colorado criminal case. At the arraignment, the defendant is advised of the charges, enters a plea of guilty or not guilty, and the judge sets the case for further proceedings. In felony cases, the accused must always be present at the arraignment.
What happens during an arraignment in court?
Definition of an Arraignment. If you have been charged with a crime, the first step in the criminal procedure is an arraignment, which is before a judge in a courtroom. The procedure involves reading you the crime you’ve been charged with and entering your initial plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
How long is a court arraignment?
The time before the judge is very short…often less than a minute unless there are lengthy bail arguments. That being said, it could take over an hour for your case to called depending on County and whether or not you have private counsel.
How long does it take for an arraignment?
For suspects who are in custody, some kind of court appearance (usually an “arraignment” or “initial appearance”) must typically occur within two or three days. At that court appearance, the government presents the charges against the defendant.
Does arraignment mean jail?
The arraignment is often the first court appearance following an arrest or criminal citation. Some states require arraignments in all felony and misdemeanor cases—basically, any case in which the defendant faces possible incarceration, whether in jail or prison. Some states require arraignments only in felony cases.
What is the next step after an arraignment?
After the Arraignment This is called “discovery.” Defendants may be limited in what information they are able to see, but their lawyers usually are not. This is because lawyers are required by law to protect the identity of witnesses while still preparing a defense so that the witnesses are not put in jeopardy.
Can a judge dismiss a case before trial?
What this means is that if police or investigators violate those rights, a judge may dismiss your case. Additionally, before going to trial, the prosecutor’s office and a grand jury will review the evidence against you. If there is a substantial lack of evidence, a grand jury or a judge may dismiss your case.
Why do prosecutors sometimes choose not to prosecute criminal cases?
Prosecutors may decline to press charges because they think it unlikely that a conviction will result. No matter what the prosecutor’s personal feelings about the case, the prosecutor needs legally admissible evidence sufficient to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
How long before a crime Cannot be prosecuted?
5 years
Does the prosecutor represent the victim?
The prosecutor (a Deputy District Attorney) represents the People of the State of California. They do not represent individual victims and there is no attorney-client privilege when a victim speaks to a prosecutor or the prosecutor’s investigator.
