Federal Specific - A general description of what happens in a federal criminal case.

State Specific - NY - The criminal justice process is complex, and often can be confusing to persons not familiar with criminal law.  This arrest-to-sentence guide and legal glossary are designed to explain and clarify the criminal justice process in New York County.

General - This is an outline of the course a criminal case involving a felony, such as rape, follows through the court systems. Although you, as a witness, are not involved at every step, it can help you understand your role and the way the criminal justice system works by reviewing this information.

State Specific - NY - The arraignment is the first time you go to court in front of a Judge. At the arraignment, you are told what the charges are against you and what your rights are, like the right to a trial and the right to have an attorney appointed for you if you don’t have the money to hire one.

State Specific - NY - The arraignment is the first time you go to court in front of a Judge. At the arraignment, you are told what the charges are against you and what your rights are, like the right to a trial and the right to have an attorney appointed for you if you don’t have the money to hire one.

When a defendant (the “principal” or “arrestee”) is held before trial, the court may release them under conditions known as “bail.” Bail usually includes a payment to the court, which is typically given back at the end of the case if the defendant follows court orders.

This page includes forms and other information regarding the implementation of the 2019 bail reform law, which took effect on January 1, 2020, and has since been amended with the 2020 State Budget (effective July 2, 2020).

In New York’s statewide court system, once someone is arrested they typically experience what can be an arduous process. For many, that process may involve time spent in jail, regardless of guilt or a conviction. At the heart of that quandary is the use of cash bail.

Bail is the amount of money defendants must post to be released from custody until their trial. Bail is not a fine. It is not supposed to be used as punishment. The purpose of bail is simply to ensure that defendants will appear for trial and all pretrial hearings for which they must be present. Bail is returned to defendants when their trial is over, in some states minus a processing fee.

You or a loved one has been arrested, now what? After an arrest, you will be brought before a judge in the local criminal court. At that time, the judge will decide whether to set bail (monetary condition) or release you while you fight your charge(s).