For those facing prosecution in Greene County State Court after an arrest in Georgia, uncertainty about the future is common. People are often anxious about the timeline for criminal proceedings and unsure of how long it may take to have their day in court.
Those waiting for arraignment and anxious about the criminal proceedings they may soon face may benefit from learning the basics about the criminal justice process in Greene County, Georgia. What is the average timeline for a criminal case?
Arraignment is the first critical hearing
An arraignment hearing is where the prosecutor announces the charges against the defendant. Typically, the courts schedule arraignment hearings between 30 and 60 days after an individual’s arrest. The judge presiding over the hearing ensures that the defendant understands the charges.
They may have a criminal defense attorney with them during the arraignment, who can enter a plea of not guilty on their behalf. An arraignment is sometimes when the courts review a plea bargain.
The calendar call comes next
A calendar call is a critical pretrial meeting where the defendant’s defense attorney, the judge presiding over the case and the prosecutor all meet to evaluate the case. During that meeting, defense attorneys may attempt to prove that the case is not ready to go to trial and may seek the dismissal of pending charges, if possible.
The defense attorney reaffirms the not-guilty plea. This can be another opportunity to present the courts with the terms of an agreement they may have reached with the prosecutor.
The calendar call is often one of the key deadlines for filing pretrial motions. For example, if a defense attorney wants to exclude or suppress evidence due to unlawful searches, misconduct by police officers or other civil rights violations, they may need to submit those motions before the calendar call meeting.
If the case goes on to trial, the calendar call helps set the trial date. The volume of cases pending trial determines how long after the calendar call the actual trial begins. The delay could be anywhere from a few days to multiple weeks.
Defendants who have an attorney assisting them during both arraignment and the calendar call meeting can work to avoid bench warrants issued for non-compliance and other complications that could negatively impact their chances of exonerating themselves. Discussing arraignment and other pretrial requirements with a skilled legal team can help those facing Greene County criminal charges understand the Georgia criminal justice process and fight for a favorable outcome accordingly.