How Does Video Arraignment Work?
Video arraignment is the same as the standard arraignment process, except instead of being directly in front of a judge in person, you may interact with the judge and the other necessary parties via teleconference. Video arraignment is used because it is believed to be a more timely and cost efficient manner of handling court business.
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Arraignment
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Arraignment is a formal court proceeding where the criminal complaint is read in front of the defendant. The point of arraignment is to inform the defendant of the charges being levied against them and to allow them to enter a plea of guilty, non guilty or nolo contendre. In the U.S., your arraignment must take place within 48 hours of your arrest.
Process
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The general process for arraignment is as follows: the accused will be addressed by their name and then the charges will be read, including the date time and place of offense. Afterwards the defendant will plead to the charges. If the defendant pleads not guilty, a date will be set for a preliminary hearing. If the defendant pleads guilty, the judge will accept the plea and pass sentence on the defendant.
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Video Arraignment
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Video arraignment is the exact same as as a standard arraignment except that the procedure takes place with video-conferencing technology. Instead of actually appearing in the courtroom, the defendant will sit in front of a video screen and interact with the court through an audio visual link. There are several benefits to video arraignment.
Benefits
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The main benefit of video arraignment is that it allows the court to proceed with the arraignment process without having to transport the defendant to court. This is particularly beneficial when the defendant is incarcerated in prison or otherwise unable to attend court. There is effectively no difference in the procedure used in video arraignment and a standard arraignment except that the defendant will not appear in court in person.
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References
- Nefsis: Video Conferencing Expidites Court Arraignments and Helps Increase Visitation
- "Chagrin Valley Times"; Video Arraignments Save Police Trips to Court; Joan Demirjian; December 2008
- State of Pennsylvania:Video Preliminary Arraignment Systems
- Government Technology; Video Justice; Meghan Cotter; November 1995
- State of Maine Judicial Branch; Protocol for Region 5 In-Custody Video Arraignments; January 2011
Resources
- Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio: Video Court Appearances/Video Arraignment
- Washow County Sherrif's Office: Video Arraignment
- "Joplin Independant"; Jasper County Sheriff Initiates Video Arraignment; April 2005
- Strike Industries: Video Communications Solutions for the Corrections and Judicial Markets
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
