If this is your first time arrest, you will probably be offered 30 days Community Service,(i.e., Cal Trans- freeway cleanup) a fine and 3 years Probation, You may qualify for a deferred entry class and have the charge dismissed. You should consult an attorney. We have been quite successful with the classes. You may not be so successful on your own.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 9/2/2010

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

The first court date is your arraignment. At that time you will find out what the charges are against you and what your legal rights are. You will then enter your plea. You can enter either guilty or not guilty. You may decided to continue the arraignment for time to hire an attorney. At that time you can have your attorney with you to help you out and to explain all the charges and your options. If you plead not guilty the court will set a date for a pre-trial. You will have some say in when this date will be. If you want to know what your options are contact me and we will go over the facts of your case.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 9/1/2010

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Your first date is an arraignment where you will plead not guilty and set a hearing date for Pre-Trial and negotiations with the DA. Later a trial date will be set if the case is not settled with a plea bargain. You are facing charges that could carry 6 months or more in jail, so you should consider hiring an attorney to represent you, unless you know how to effectively do so yourself against a professional prosecutor seeking to convict you. If serious about doing so, feel free to contact me.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 8/31/2010

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.