What Happens After I’m Arrested in Connecticut?
If you or someone you love has just been arrested in Connecticut, or you have been contacted by law enforcement and told that you have a warrant for your arrest, you’re probably scared and unsure what happens next.
This post will walk you through what actually happens after you are arrested or after you turn yourself in on an arrest warrant in Connecticut, step by step, so you can better understand the process and how to protect yourself.
The Arrest
An arrest happens when police take you into custody because they believe they have probable cause you committed a crime. This can ONLY occur when one of the following happens:
At the scene of an alleged crime
After a traffic stop
At your home or workplace, if the alleged crime just occurred
Anywhere IF the police have a signed arrest warrant from a judge
Being arrested does not mean you are guilty. It only means that the police believe they have enough evidence to charge you with a crime. An arrest is not the time to negotiate the police’s evidence or plead your innocence.
Booking at the Police Station
After you’re arrested, you will be taken to a police station for booking and processing, which generally includes:
Photographing/mugshot
Obtaining personal and contact information
An inventory of your personal belongings
Fingerprinting
In some cases, police may take DNA or request additional information, depending on the charge. This process could take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
Police Questioning
Police may attempt to question you about the facts and circumstances of the allegations before or after you’re booked and processed.
Here are some things many people do not realize about police questioning:
Police do not need to read you your Miranda rights immediately after handcuffing you.
Miranda warnings are only required before a custodial interrogation.
Police may ask you for basic contact information, even if you request an attorney.
Police are legally allowed to lie to you during a custodial interrogation, to obtain information from you.
You always have the right to remain silent. You can always respond by saying something like “I am invoking my right to remain silent and I want to speak with an attorney before answering any questions.”
Once you clearly ask for an attorney, police must stop questioning you. If the police attempt to question you again, in violation of your rights, respond again by invoking your rights to remain silent and to speak with an attorney.
Bond & Release
After booking and processing, police decide whether you will be:
Released on a promise to appear (you don’t pay anything)
Released after posting a nonsurety bond (you don’t pay anything unless you don’t appear in court)
Released after posting a cash surety bond (you must pay part or all of the bond amount in order to be released)
Held until your first court appearance
Bond decisions depend on factors such as:
The seriousness of the charge
Prior criminal history
Prior failures to appear in court
Risk of flight (means to flee, citizenship in another country, etc.)
Safety concerns
Many people are released the same day they’re arrested, but it’s possible you must remain in custody until your court date, which would be the next business day that court is in session.
Your First Court Appearance
Your first court date in Connecticut is called an arraignment. This generally occurs within one or two business days if you are held on bond or if you’re arrested for domestic violence charges. The date may be several weeks later if the arrest was not domestic violence in nature and you were released from custody.
At arraignment:
Charges are formally read or given to the defendant in written form
Bond conditions are reviewed and sometimes modified
A public defender may be appointed if you qualify
Protective orders or other conditions of release may be ordered by the judge
This is an important stage and absolutely necessary to appear for. The arraignment is the beginning of the case, often where the defense obtains copies of evidence, can begin negotiations, hear from the prosecutors about their opinions on the case, or understand what the victim’s side is.
Conditions of Release
The judge may impose conditions, including:
No contact with an alleged victim, or limited contact through a protective order
Travel restrictions
Alcohol or drug evaluation and treatment
Mental health evaluation and treatment
Employment or education requirements
GPS monitoring
Violating any of the conditions imposed on you can and most likely will result in new charges, on top of the original charges you were facing.
Arrested in Connecticut? Get Legal Help Now
If you’ve been arrested or believe charges may be coming, speaking with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible can make an enormous difference.
Do not wait to protect your rights.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
