What Happens After an Arrest?

 Posted on January 25, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Many of the almost 60,000 people who were arrested in Connecticut in 2022 were probably confused about what was going to happen following their arrest. Did you know that most arrestees do not remain in police custody until their trial or that you enter a plea at a hearing known as an arraignment? You may have no idea how the arrest or pre-trial process works, which can make your head spin when nothing is being explained to you. 

Our Stamford criminal defense lawyer would like to discuss the process of posting bail and what court proceedings will follow your arrest.

Police Custody and Booking

Immediately following your arrest, you will be in police custody. You will be brought down to the police station for “booking.” During the booking process, your information will be entered into the police system, you will be fingerprinted, your mug shot will be taken, a full body search will be conducted, and the police will check to see if there are any outstanding warrants in your name.

The booking process can take several hours, depending on how many persons are also in custody. During this time, a police officer will decide if you will be released from custody or held on bond. 

Posting Bail

Bail is not a punishment but rather a promise that the defendant will appear in court as scheduled. Bail is a security deposit, and if the defendant does not appear as scheduled, then he or she forfeits that amount to the court.

If you do not have the funds to post bail, you do have the option to have a bondsman post bail on your behalf. You will most likely have to pay the bondsman 7-15% of the entire amount to secure payment. This fee is non-refundable.

In 2020, Connecticut recently changed the law, automatically allowing defendants to post a 10% cash option for any bail that is $20,000 or less. This allows you to act as your own bondsman, allowing you to be released from jail without having to involve a third party.

Arraignment and Pre-Trial Conference

Following your arrest, your first court date is usually the arraignment. If you were arrested without a warrant and were not released pending your trial, a judge will need to determine probable cause. Probable cause means that there is a sufficient amount of trustworthy evidence to charge you for a particular crime. If there is not enough evidence to establish probable cause, then the charges against you will be dropped.

At an arraignment, a judge reads the charges against the defendant. The defendant will enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere. If you plead not guilty, then you will proceed to the pre-trial conference, in which the judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney will meet to decide if a plea bargain can be agreed upon or if your case will proceed to trial.

Our Fairfield County criminal defense lawyer has been aggressively representing Connecticut residents for over 40 years and is here to assist you.

Speak with a Stamford, CT, Criminal Defense Lawyer Now

Hiring reliable counsel is a must in defending criminal charges. If you have been accused of a crime, do not hesitate to reach out to our Fairfield County, CT, criminal defense lawyer today. Contact Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner at 203-348-5846 or online to schedule your free consultation.