What to expect at the arraignment:
Charges are read that have been brought against the defendant.
Bail amount is set during the arraignment. Bail can range from being released on their own recognizance to any set dollar ($) amount, depending on the severity of the crime. Bail is an insurance policy that the defendant will appear before the court again. If the defendant fails to appear, after being released on bail or their own recognizance, a warrant will be issued for their arrest.
An attorney can make an appearance during the arraignment and bring motion to reduce bail. The decision to reduce bail will be made by the judge. The judge decides whether the defendant is a risk of flight or a danger to society and the amount of bail will be adjusted upon this decision.
After the arraignment, the defense attorney is provided with the prosecuting attorney’s discovery. Discovery includes but it is not limited to: police reports, probation reports, physical evidence, etc. The prosecution must provide the evidence they are using to the defense. In felony prosecutions, neither the prosecuting attorney nor the defense attorney may hide evidence that will later be introduced into the trial.