Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal charging document in the presence of the defendant, to inform them of the charges against them. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea.

What does it mean when someone is arraigned?

Reviewed September 2019. An arraignment is a hearing. It is where the court formally charges the person who abused you with the crime. If the person who abused you is arrested and the District Attorney files a criminal complaint against them, the first thing that will happen in court is the arraignment.

Does an arraignment mean your going to jail?

At arraignments, people are taken into custody for 3 reasons: A Judge Orders Bail. ... In most cases, as we have our clients prearrange and qualify for bail, posting bail takes about 2-4 hours to post and then however long it takes the local jail to process you and release you.