After processing, a person is either detained or released on bond or Appearance ticket for a court appearance that day or the next, depending upon the time processing is completed. A person may only be held five days on such a misdemeanor complaint, and unless he waives, he cannot be forced to trial on such an instrument. Prosecutor's Information is a written accusation filed by the District Attorney, either at the discretion of a Grand Jury, the direction of a local criminal court, or at the District Attorney's own instance. Felony Complaint is a complaint charging a felony. An arraignment is merely a formal reading of the accusatory instrument, together with a setting of bail.
Provision is made to give the defendant an opportunity to get a lawyer or appointment of one.
Defendant is also given statutory warnings as to counsel, etc. Usually persons arraigned on a misdemeanor charge or less have their case adjourned to a second arraignment. Here the court makes sure the defendant has an attorney. After arraignment, misdemeanor cases are then adjourned to the Conference Part of the District Court. Felony cases go from arraignment to felony conference or felony examination.