Criminal Case
Division Court Appearance
Arraignment
Your first appearance in court is for the arraignment. You will be informed of the charges filed against you and asked by the judge if you understand these charges. A ‘yes’ answer means you understand what charges have been filed, not that you are guilty of these charges, simply that you understand what the charges are and what they mean.
If you do not have an attorney and cannot afford to hire one, you may ask the Court to appoint one for you at your arraignment. If you plead not guilty, you will be given another date and time for a pre-trial conference. Before your next court date, you will have met with your attorney and your attorney will return to court with you.
You may enter one of the following pleas
- Guilty
- Not Guilty
- No Contest
- Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity
If you plead not guilty, your case will be set for trial (court or jury) for a later date. If you plead guilty or no contest, your case will be sent to probation for a pre-sentence report.
Failure to Appear
If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or felony and you do not appear on your court date, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest. If a bench warrant is issued, you need to report to the court for felony/misdemeanor warrant surrender (call for day and time), or turn yourself into local law enforcement.
Public Defender
The Public Defender may be appointed to represent defendants involved in a criminal case who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Eligibility is determined by established financial guidelines. The Court appoints the Public Defender.
District Attorney
The District Attorney’s Office represents the People of Glenn County and is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in Court. The Office of the District Attorney is located at 125 S. Murdock Ave., Willows, CA 95988 and can be reached at (530) 934-6525.