Domestic Violence Charges Arraignment
In a domestic violence case in Florida the next court appearance after the initial appearance hearing is the arraignment hearing. Arraignment is the arrested person’s opportunity to answer to the domestic violence charges. The options are not guilty, guilty and nolo contendere (no contest). If you plead not guilty to domestic violence charges the judge will set your case for a future court date to discuss your case and the judge will normally ask you if you are going to hire a lawyer to represent you in the case. If you plead guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) to domestic violence charges the judge will ask the prosecutor what the State of Florida is recommending as a sentence in the case and the judge will ask you if you have anything to say prior to sentencing. If the judge gives you a jail or prison sentence you will normally be placed in custody right then. You will leave the courtroom in handcuffs to start serving the jail or prison sentence. Most people who go to arraignment do not plan on going to jail or prison right then but if you plead guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) at arraignment and the judge accepts the plea and then imposes a jail or prison sentence in your case you cannot then say no I changed my mind I do not want to go to jail or prison it is to late. This is one of many reasons why people hire lawyers. If you are being represented by a lawyer normally before you enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) a sentence agreement will have been reached with the prosecutor as a result of plea negotiations. While the judge needs to also agree to this negotiated sentence for it to be your sentence in the case you will have an idea of what the sentence in your case will be instead of not knowing and not being able to change your plea to not guilty if the judge sentences you to jail or prison. If you would like to discuss how I can help, the consultation is free. Please call me at 407-740-8300, text me at 407-616-8808 or email me at [email protected].
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