What is an Arraignment in Florida?
In Florida, when a person is accused of a criminal offense the accused is entitled to an arraignment hearing in order to be notified of the charge and in order to enter a plea. There are many advantages to retaining counsel when a person is under investigation for a criminal offense or if a person has been accused of a crime. In Florida, the attorney for the accused will often appear on behalf of the Defendant at the arraignment hearing, or waive the arraignment hearing on behalf of the Defendant and enter a written plea of not guilty.
Arraignment hearings will generally be scheduled by the court following the filing of the criminal charges against a defendant. The Defendant should receive formal notice of the hearing location, date and time.
The arraignment process can be rather stressful for any Defendant, but is especially concerning to a first-time offender, or someone with no experience in the criminal justice system. Since the arraignment occurs at the beginning stages of the prosecution, it is often one of the first court appearances a Defendant will have. As such, it is always best to consult with counsel in order to determine the best approach and ensure all questions are answered. In many cases, it may be possible for counsel to appear on behalf of the Defendant in order to enter a not guilty plea, or even waive the arraignment and enter a written plea of not guilty. These options should be discussed with an experienced criminal defense attorney in order to determine the preferred approach for each particular case.
If you are facing criminal charges and have questions pertaining to the arraignment process, or if you have an arraignment hearing scheduled in Hillsborough County, Florida, Pinellas County, Florida, or anywhere else within the State of Florida, please do not hesitate to call The Frey Law Firm, LLC for a free initial consultation with an experienced Tampa, Florida criminal defense attorney today.