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When you or a loved one has been arrested you need to quickly determine whether to retain counsel or to have counsel assigned to you by the court.  If you cannot afford private counsel an Attorney, fully qualified, may be appointed to you to represent you in the Courtroom.  These attorneys work for various agencies that pay them a salary and they represent those who cannot afford private counsel.  We call these Legal Aid or Assigned Counsel.

If the police have arrested you they will take you to the local police precinct or station house.  You may be detained there for many hours while the paperwork is written up with your charges.  You may be questioned in the car ride to the police station or you may be put into a line up.  The Police will NOT protect your rights or "help you out" they are investigating a crime and may detain you or mislead you to solve the crime and make an arrest.  They don't care about "your side" of the story or "helping you". Anything you say to a Police Officer will be used in their investigation(s).

After you are formally arrested you will be transferred to another location and given over to a different agency.  Now you are in a "Lockup" or "Holding Cell" or "the Tombs".  After being held you will be ARRAIGNED.

Arraignment is the first time for you to appear in a Courtroom.  While you are being arraigned the Police and the Department of Probation are investigating you and any prior criminal interactions you have - this is used to determined how or if BAIL will be set for your release.  If BAIL is set for you - you will need to pay it directly or have family member secure a BAIL BOND through an outside agent.

After ARRAIGNMENT AND BAIL you may be released or returned to Custody until you next court date.

HAVING A PRIVATE ATTORNEY ARGUE FOR YOU FOR BAIL REDUCTION OR RELEASE TO YOUR FAMILY IS AN IMPORTANT STEP AND ONE YOU MUST CONSIDER AS KEY.

If a High Bail is set for your or if no BAIL is set for you - you will have to remain in CUSTODY while a new hearing is sought.  This can take up to a week or more and is very tough to win. 

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