You may think that being arrested in New York or receiving a Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT) was stressful and humiliating. However there will soon be your Arraignment, which poses new challenges and stressors. No matter what you were originally arrested for (or if you received a DAT), all criminal offenses will need to be arraigned in court. This holds true if you were cited for a Sex Crime or DWI or a DWAI violation; a misdemeanor for a Drug Crime (this could include Possession of a Controlled Substance) or a white collar crime. Regardless of your alleged offense, the matters determined at your hearing are important. As such, it is important to obtain the advice and support of counsel. The experienced Staten Island Criminal Arraignment Lawyers at our office are ready to lend their legal support and advice at any of our centrally located offices, from Staten Island to Brooklyn, Manhattan Queens, Long Island and Westchester County.
After you have been formally booked, (or received a DAT), you will be informed when you are expected to appear for your Arraignment. It is suggested that you meet with your Staten Island Criminal Lawyer well before your Arraignment hearing, as this will give them ample time to prepare your defense strategy, and familiarize themselves with your case. They will inform you that the Staten Island Criminal Court is where the arraignment will take place.
You will be advised by your Staten Island Criminal Arraignment Lawyer that defendants are presumed innocent at the onset of their case. They have to be proven guilty in a court of law. Once your Staten Island Criminal Arraignment Lawyer announces how you will plead, the judge will begin his assessment of your case. The primary purpose of the Arraignment hearing is to determine if the judge will release you (known as ROR-released on your own recognizance) or if they judge will set bail. It is important to be aware that the judge has a large amount of latitude here, and he will be weighing various factors in order to make his determination. He will review your previous criminal record (if you have one), and the nature of the crime you have been accused of. He will also analyze your ties in your community to see if you pose a potential flight risk. Community ties are things like whether you have family in the area (married, children, parents, etc), as well as if you are gainfully employed, and if so, for how long. Whether or not you own a home or property in the area will be considered. As the judge is considering these matters, your New York Criminal Lawyer will be attempting to convince the judge that you should be released, or if bail in inevitable, be ordered to post the least possible sum.
As stressful as the Arraignment process is, it can be the onset of a long legal journey ahead. Being well supported and counseled by a lawyer from Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC can ensure that you are doing everything possible to protect your rights. Whether you are facing a Gun Crime or a family issue involving domestic violence, or a common Staten Island traffic ticket we offer a free consultation to you when you call us at 800.696.9529. We can meet at your convenience in any of our centrally located offices, which are open not only in Staten Island, but Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Long Island and Westchester County as well.