What is your Initial Appearance?

Do you or a family member have an initial appearance? An “initial appearance” is the first appearance in court within a reasonable amount of time after arrest. There, the judge tells a person about their rights, makes sure they understand the charges against them, and gives them a criminal complaint if they don’t have one already. A criminal complaint is the document that lists a version of events the State is using to charge someone with a crime(s). At the initial appearance, the judge can also set a bail amount and the conditions that come with it. From there, a person can enter a plea of “guilty”, “not guilty”, or “mute”. This is called the “arraignment”. The arraignment for a felony charge happens after the next preliminary hearing, which is an additional date in Racine, Wisconsin. The court will schedule the next hearings from there. 

In Racine criminal courts, a defense attorney is very important! An attorney can assist at the initial appearance by making an argument for lower bond, determining conditions, and advising about entering a plea. Criminal defense lawyers know and understand the laws about bond amounts, elements of a charge, and court procedure. Thus, the defense attorneys can assist in the fight against a criminal charge from the very beginning. Make sure you and your family have an advantage from the beginning: the initial appearance!