Arraignments are usually held within 48 hours of a suspect's arrest if the suspect is in jail. If the suspect has bailed out or was issued a citation, the arraignment typically occurs several weeks later. The exact timing of arraignments varies from one locality to another.

How long before you have to be arraigned?

Answer. For suspects who are in custody, some kind of court appearance (usually an "arraignment" or "initial appearance") must typically occur within two or three days. At that court appearance, the government presents the charges against the defendant.

Where does an arraignment take place?

Arraignment: The First Stage in the Criminal Court Process. An arraignment is usually the first court hearing in a criminal case.