Going to Court for
your Criminal or Traffic Citation

Arraignments

“I didn’t think I was going that fast, deputy.”

“I’m pretty sure I stopped for that stop sign back there.”

“Officer, that light was still yellow when I went through the intersection.”

Have you said these words, or something like them, in the past few months? If you have, you probably received a citation, right? You probably also have made an appearance in court to resolve that citation.

If not, and your day in court is still ahead of you, knowing some of the following things when you arrive for your arraignment at the Scott County Government Center may help relieve some of the angst you may be feeling.

When you arrive at the Government Center you should check in at the Court Administration office, located on the first floor of the Justice Center (Room JC115).

There, you will receive a statement of rights sheet and instructions on which courtroom you should report to. You will need to fill out the statement of rights sheet completely and be prepared to turn that in when you make your appearance in court.

Once in the courtroom, the judge will likely review everyone’s constitutional rights.

A prosecuting attorney from the Scott County Attorney’s Office, the Scott Joint Prosecution Association, or the New Prague City Attorney will make some announcements concerning their role in the resolution of your case. At this point you will be asked to make some decisions about your case.

• Do you want to speak with the prosecutor and perhaps work out a deal which both sides can live with?
• Do you want to enter a not guilty plea and get a court trial date in the future so you can argue your case?
• Is just entering a plea of guilty with an explanation to the judge the best way to proceed?
• Do you want more time to consult with or hire an attorney?

There most likely will be a number of other people appearing in court on the same day and time as you.

This may mean you will be spending a little more time at the courthouse than you initially expected. Spending that extra time now may save you another trip to the courthouse for further proceedings, so be patient. To help pass the time, bring someone with you for company or an activity that you can work on quietly, such as a book or a crossword puzzle.

If your matter is resolved:

Resolution may involve the payment of a fine, court costs, prosecution costs, or restitution. If you are prepared to pay those costs immediately, you may do so in the form of cash, personal check, or Visa or MasterCard charge cards. If you aren’t prepared to pay, you may also be able to arrange a payment schedule. Once again, you will need to check in at Court Administration to make that payment or set up a payment schedule.

If you have questions, find a bailiff, clerk, or other court personnel. We will make every effort to answer your questions and get you on your way as soon as possible.