Let’s start at the beginning: You, or a family member, are arrested and taken to jail…What happens next?? The first step in the criminal justice system is called video arraignment. It takes 48 to 72 hours to be arraigned. Through video technology you will be brought before a judge who will tell you what you are being charged with, what your bond amount is, possibly appoint the Public Defender, and give you your next court date. If you are without papers you will not receive a bond, unless you have hired a private attorney who specifically asks the judge to set a state bond. The next step depends on whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. A misdemeanor is a less serious crime and carries a maximum sentence of one year in Tulsa County Jail. If you are without papers, you may still be allowed to stay in the country if the criminal misdemeanor case is handled properly. A felony is much more serious because it potentially carries multiple years of prison incarceration, as well as almost guaranteeing deportation for anyone without citizenship.

If you are charged with a misdemeanor, then your next court date will be approximately three weeks later and it is called a Status Conference (STC). This is when your attorney will discuss with an Assistant District Attorney (ADA) what they would offer you as a penalty if you were willing to plea guilty. If you accept the offer, and it does not include jail time, you will be released, or transferred to ICE if you are without papers. If you choose to fight the charges, then an Allen Hearing date will be set approximately four weeks into