At a Providence District Court arraignment, the judge reads the charges, advises you of your rights, accepts your plea (typically not guilty at this stage), and sets bail. The arraignment usually happens within 24 to 48 hours of arrest at the J. Joseph Garrahy Judicial Complex. You have the right to a lawyer at arraignment, and you should not enter a guilty plea or make statements about the case at arraignment without consulting counsel first. The next court date for pre-trial conference is set at the arraignment, typically four to six weeks out.
