nys cpl what happens at arraignment for felony if defendant has no attorney

by Ms. Onie Weimann MD 3 min read

The defendant has a right to the aid of counsel at the arraignment and at every subsequent stage of the action, and, if he appears upon such arraignment without counsel, has the following rights: (a) To an adjournment for the purpose of obtaining counsel; and (b) To communicate, free of charge, by letter or by telephone, for the purpose of obtaining counsel and informing a relative or friend that he has been charged with an offense; and (c) To have counsel assigned by the court in any case where he is financially unable to obtain the same.

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What happens after arraignment in New York State Criminal Court?

Sep 22, 2014 · superior court, or if no such notice of appearance has been filed, to an attorney, if any, who filed a notice of appearance in behalf of the defendant with the local criminal court. 2. If a felony complaint against the defendant was pending in a local criminal court or if the defendant was previously held by a local criminal court for the action of the grand jury, and if the …

When to give notice of arraignment of a felony?

Jan 01, 2021 · The defendant has the right to the aid of counsel at the arraignment and at every subsequent stage of the action. If he appears upon such arraignment without counsel, he has the following rights: (a) To an adjournment for the purpose of obtaining counsel; and

Can a prosecutor drop charges before arraignment in New York?

Jun 20, 2011 · The defendant can plead guilty to all of the charges; some of the charters to plead to a lesser charge if offered by the District Attorney. If the defendant pleads guilty, the judge hands down the sentence. When there is a felony and no misdemeanor offered, a defendant is not asked to enter a plea during arraignment.

Can a local criminal court order recognizance of a felony?

Upon the defendant`s arraignment before a local criminal court upon a felony complaint, the court must immediately inform him, or cause him to be informed in its presence, of the charge or charges against him and that the primary purpose of the proceedings upon such felony complaint is to determine whether the defendant is to be held for the action of a grand jury …

Can a case be dismissed during arraignment?

Criminal charges generally do not get dismissed at an arraignment. While prosecutors can dismiss a charge if there is a compelling reason to do so (for instance if they learn that a defendant was wrongly charged), in practice, they rarely do this. This is true with both misdemeanor charges and felony charges.Aug 27, 2021

How long after indictment does arraignment happen in NY?

within 24 hoursIn New York City, defendants are brought before a judge for arraignment within 24 hours of arrest. After the case has been docketed by the court and the complaint and the accused's criminal history are ready, the defendant is brought to Criminal Court for arraignment.

What happens at arraignment?

At an arraignment, a judge will formally state the charges against the defendant. If bail has not yet been set in the case, it will be addressed at arraignment. Then, the defendant will be apprised of their rights and asked to enter a plea to the charges.Nov 29, 2021

What is a felony hearing in NYS?

Answer: A preliminary hearing on a felony complaint (sometimes called a PH, a felony hearing, or a preliminary examination) is the first opportunity for a defendant who is being held on a felony charge to be heard in front of a judge.

What happens after a felony indictment?

Specifically, after obtaining an indictment, prosecutors obtain an arrest warrant. The arrest warrant names the person prosecutors want to arrest and specifies a place and time for the arrest. It also lists the crimes alleged against the target of the arrest warrant.Nov 15, 2021

How long is a felony indict in NY?

The Prosecutor has six months to indict a Defendant for a felony charge. if the Grand Jury indicts the defendant, then the felony case is on the trial track. Time lines and procedural guidelines must be followed by the court.

What happens at a preliminary hearing for a felony?

During a preliminary hearing, the prosecutor presents evidence (which can be witnesses, documents and physical evidence) that the defendant committed the charged crimes. The purpose of a preliminary hearing is for the judge to determine if there is sufficient evidence to bind the defendant over to stand trial.Aug 21, 2021

What is the importance of arraignment?

The main purpose of the arraignment is to inform the defendant of the criminal charges against him or her. At this first court appearance, the defendant (or his or her attorney) enters a plea of "Guilty" or "Not Guilty." Typically, the defendant pleads "Not Guilty" to begin defending the case.

How can charges be dropped before court date?

There are ways to have charges against an accused or defendant dropped even before the trial date. The typical action is to file a motion to dismiss. The defendant's lawyer can invoke various reasons for a motion to dismiss.Feb 2, 2022

Is every criminal defendant in NY entitled to a preliminary hearing?

Defendants have a right to be present at their preliminary hearings. However, in cases where identification of who committed the crime is at issue, it is prudent for the attorney to waive the client's appearance at the preliminary hearing.Jan 15, 2021

What must the defendant prove to be found not guilty by reason of insanity?

He was acquitted, and the resulting standard is still used in 26 states in the U.S.: A defendant may be found not guilty by reason of insanity if "at the time of committing the act, he was laboring under such a defect of reason from disease of the mind as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing, or ...

What is accusatory instrument?

Accusatory instrument" means: (a) an indictment, an indictment. ordered reduced pursuant to subdivision one-a of section 210.20 of this. chapter, an information, a simplified information, a prosecutor's. information, a superior court information, a misdemeanor complaint or a. felony complaint.

What is an arraignment in New York?

An arraignment is a very important and strategic phase of the judicial process. It is the point in time during your New York criminal case when your New York defense attorney states your plea. At an arraignment there will be a formal reading of the criminal complaint so that the defendant may hear and understand the charges being placed ...

How long does it take to get an arraignment in New York?

In New York, the first arraignment is called the initial arraignment and must take place within 48 hours of an individual’s arrest. That can be stretched to 72 hours if the individual was arrested on the weekend and unable to see a judge until Monday.

What happens after a grand jury indictment in New York?

After arraignment in Criminal Court, felony cases in New York County are adjourned to a Criminal Court All Purpose Part called Part F. After a Grand Jury indictment has been voted, the case moves to a Supreme Court Arraignment Part.

What happens if a judge sets bail?

If the judge does set bail, then the accused will be held in custody at Rikers Island until either the case is over, or there is a change to the bail for a variety of reasons. If a person makes bail, but doesn’t return to court, then New York City gets to keep the money while the police start looking for the individual.

What is probation violation?

A probation violation means that defendant’s probation officer will let the judge know, and the case will be returned to the New York Court’s calendar, or docket. The defendant will appear before the sentencing judge and have a probation violation arraignment or hearing.

What is a peremptory plea?

Pleas include: “guilty” and “not guilty”, as well as a peremptory plea. A peremptory plea is a plea that tells the prosecution and judge why a trial cannot proceed. The decision about what type of plea to make is a very serious decision that can affect your case, as well as affect your life in the future.

What is an arraignment?

From the accused’s viewpoint, an arraignment is about bail — will the judge set bail, and if he does, how much. While other things may happen at an arraignment, the most obvious and significant even is the judge’s decision regarding bail. The defense lawyer will be able to negotiate the terms of the bail, and, in certain occasions, ...

What is a felony hearing?

A hearing upon a felony complaint must be conducted as follows: 1. The district attorney must conduct such hearing on behalf of the people. 2. The defendant may as a matter of right be present at such hearing. 3.

What happens if a defendant waives a hearing?

If the defendant waives a hearing upon the felony complaint, the court must order that the defendant be held for the action of the grand jury of the appropriate superior court with respect to the charge or charges contained in the felony complaint.

What is a warrant of arrest?

Warrant of Arrest - a process issued by a local criminal court directing local law enforcement to arrest a defendant designated in an accusatory instrument filed with the court and bring him/her before such court. Criminal Procedure Law (120.10)

What is a city court?

"City Court" means any court for a city, other than NYC, having trial jurisdiction of offenses of less than felony grade only committed within such city. Criminal Procedure Law (10.10)

Can a defendant waive his/her right to a jury trial?

The defendant may waive his/her right to a jury trial and request a bench trial. Criminal Procedure Law (320.10) A bench trial is a non-jury trial in which the Judge hears all the evidence and makes the determination of guilt or innocence.

What happens if a grand jury indicts a felony?

if the Grand Jury indicts the defendant, then the felony case is on the trial track. Time lines and procedural guidelines must be followed by the court. Alternatively, a felony case can be negotiated Pre-Indictment --and sometimes this can yield a much better offer from the prosecutor. In this scenario, a Defendant pleads guilty by way ...

How does the felony process differ from the misdemeanor process?

The felony process differs from the misdemeanor process in the beginning stages of the case because there are threshold requirements to charge somebody with a felony and then the Criminal Procedure Law requires people charged with felonies to be INDICTED by the GRAND JURY.

What is bail used for?

Bail can be used to your advantage to shorten a jail sentence later in the case. 3. Felony Preliminary Hearing (at local court --not county level) this hearing is an opportunity to question the police officer, and is required for the prosecutor to prove that charging the felony was appropriate. It is a low standard that is usually met.

What is the discovery phase?

Discovery Phase. 5. Indictment / Grand Jury Proceedings. Often, it can take time for a felony to be indicted by the Grand Jury. Alternatively, the prosecutor can decide NOT to indict the case and reduce the charges to a misdemeanor (which will remove the case to a lower court).

Can you plead guilty to a felony?

At the felony level, a person can only plead guilty after having been INDICTED by a Grand Jury or by means of an "SCI" [Superior Court Information]. An SCI allows the defendant to waive indictment by a grand jury often as part of a plea deal.