Queens Criminal Arraignment

Upon receiving a Desk Appearance Ticket (otherwise known as a DAT) or being taken into custody, the next thing you will need to do is go to your Arraignment. This will be required, no matter what your criminal violation is; anything from a Felony Drug Crime (including a Possession of a Controlled Substance), to driving under the influence (DWI) or even a Sex Crime (which can also be a domestic violence charge) all will require an Arraignment hearing. Going to court for your Arraignment can be scary, and disconcerting. A Queens Criminal Arraignment Lawyer from our office will help you through this process can ensure that your rights will be looked after and you will receive the best possible result under the circumstances. We have offices to serve you in Queens, as well as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester County and Nassau County.

Once your booking is complete, or after you have been issued a Desk Appearance Ticket, you will notified of your Arraignment date. Obtaining the counsel and support of a Queens Criminal Arraignment Lawyer prior to your arraignment is wise, as it will give your lawyer an opportunity to review your case and formulate a defense strategy. The Queens Criminal Court is located at 125-01 Queens Blvd, near Hoover and 82nd Avenue. Arraignments are heard from Monday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., and Desk Appearance Tickets are heard Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In criminal court, defendants have the presumption of innocence when facing criminal allegations. As such, your Queens Criminal Arraignment Lawyer may enter your plea as not guilty. After this, the judge will decide whether to release you, which is known as being released on your own recognizance (also known as “ROR”), or determine the amount of bail to be set. Because the judge has a lot of freedom to decide these matters, it is important to have your Queens Criminal Arraignment Lawyer present with you in court. It will be incumbent on your Criminal Lawyer to persuade him/her to release you, or keep the bail amount as small as possible. When the judge considers ordering bail, he/she will be looking at various criteria, like if you have a past criminal history, and how serious the current offense is. The more violent or serious in nature the crime is, combined with other factors could mean a higher bail amount. It is even possible for certain serious felonies not to receive bail at all. The judge will consider your level of involvement in the community, which helps them to determine your “flight risk.” The more involved the defendant is in their community, the less likely they will leave the area and not attend future hearings. Things like property ownership, employment, and friend and family connections in the area will be important. Your New York Criminal Lawyers will be very important in this process, and can help to make an impact on how these issues are decided.

The arraignment hearing can be set the tone for your criminal case. Securing the help of counsel during this process is very important. If you call a Queens Criminal Arraignment Lawyer from our office you will received not only advice and guidance, but a free consultation. Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC have offices available to you in Queens and throughout New York City, as well as Nassau County and Westchester County. Whether it’s a gun crime resulting in a weapons possession charge, a traffic ticket or a White Collar Crime call us today for your free consultation at 800.696.9529.