Court Services is a County-funded department. Court Specialists interview inmates scheduled for First Appearance. Objective, factual information is presented by Court Services in District Court at First Appearance to assist the Judge in determining appropriate conditions of pretrial release.
How soon after a person is arrested is their first court hearing?
First Appearance hearings are held every business day for those defendants arrested since the previous First Appearance session who have not made bond.
What happens at an initial appearance hearing?
This court appearance is not a trial but a hearing during which the Judge advises each defendant of legal rights, the charge(s), and the punishment allowed by law, next scheduled court date, accepts the defendant's waiver of counsel or appoints counsel, and determines conditions of pretrial release.
What does release on own recognizance (ROR) mean?
ROR means that you are released from custody on your promise to appear in court for all future hearings.
What does it mean when a person who is arrested is released to the custody of Court Services?
As a condition of pretrial release, a Judge may place a defendant with Court Services as a form of Supervised Custodial Release. Monitoring by Pretrial Services may be imposed in addition to other conditions of pretrial release set by the Judge or may be the only condition of pretrial release.
