The purpose of the initial court appearance versus the purpose of arraignment

Full Answer Section The different types of pleas available during arraignment are:

• Guilty: A guilty plea means that the defendant admits to the charges against them. If the defendant pleads guilty, the case will proceed to sentencing.
• Not guilty: A not guilty plea means that the defendant denies the charges against them. If the defendant pleads not guilty, the case will proceed to trial.
• No contest: A no contest plea is similar to a guilty plea, but it does not admit guilt. A no contest plea can be used to avoid the possibility of a harsher sentence at trial.

The grand jury is a group of citizens who are responsible for deciding whether or not there is enough evidence to charge a person with a crime. The grand jury hears evidence from the prosecution and then decides whether or not to issue an indictment. An indictment is a formal charge that is brought against a person by the grand jury. The grand jury is involved in charging the defendant in two ways:

• The grand jury decides whether or not there is enough evidence to charge the defendant with a crime.
• The grand jury determines the charges that will be brought against the defendant.

If the grand jury does not find enough evidence to charge the defendant with a crime, the defendant will be released. If the grand jury does find enough evidence to charge the defendant with a crime, the defendant will be arraigned and will have the opportunity to enter a plea.

Sample Answer The initial court appearance and arraignment are two important court proceedings that take place after a person has been arrested and charged with a crime. The initial court appearance is a hearing that is held shortly after the arrest. The purpose of the initial court appearance is to inform the defendant of the charges against them, to appoint an attorney if they do not have one, and to set bail. The arraignment is a hearing that is held after the defendant has had time to meet with their attorney. The purpose of the arraignment is to enter a plea to the charges against the defendant. The defendant can enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.