3-10/015.00 - Felony Arraignment



The defendant(s) is brought before a magistrate to be informed of their constitutional rights and be advised of the charges filed against them by the prosecutor. Defendants may be in custody or may have bailed out and walked in. In either case the bailiff must be aware of the charges for a particular defendant. The arraignment, being the initial appearance of the defendant on a felony charge, can be the most dangerous situation in a courtroom. The bailiff should notify his/her branch supervisor of a specific cases that may require additional security.