This is a question I get from family members of my clients all the time. In general, when a person is arrested in Harris County, they’ll be transported to the Harris County Jail for processing and arraignment.
The arraignment process is the court appearance that occurs immediately following the arrest.
At this time, formal criminal charges are filed against you. This is the first time you will appear in front of a judge regarding your case. During this part of the process, the judge will confirm your identity as the person charged with the crime and ensure you understand your criminal charge. You may be given an opportunity to enter a plea. It is not recommended that you enter a plea until you hire an attorney or enter a not guilty plea and consult with your attorney about your plea after you post bail.
Once bail is set, you’ll be processed into the jail pending bail or until your court date, whichever comes first. Processing entails identifying the arrestee, fingerprinting and photographing them, processing and storing their personal belongings, and assigning them to a jail cell or pod.