What Happens at Arraignment for a Sex Crime in Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, rape, and more.
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Interview Transcript
Scott Michael Dunn: What happens at arraignment for a sex crime in Illinois?
Joshua Boardman: So, an arraignment for sex crimes is similar to an arraignment of any type of crime, which is where a judge is going to advise you of the charges that are being levied against you, ask you if you understand those charges, ask you whether you plead guilty or not guilty to those charges. Basically, create an awareness and advise the defendant of their rights and also what they’re being charged with.
Christopher Combs: And often times if you have private counsel, you’re going to waive arraignment because who’s going to stand in front of a judge and have the judge just read you the charges, ask you if you understand them, and give you the range of punishment. I mean, that’s what we’re here for, right? So, often times an arraignment is a hearing that we waive and enter a plea of not guilty on your behalf.
Dunn: Always?
Combs: Yes.
