This is a hearing in the Circuit Court where the specific charges in the General Information are read to the defendant and he/she enters a plea.

If the defendant pleads not guilty or stands mute, the case is scheduled for a pre-trial or set on the court's trial docket.

If the defendant pleads guilty, (defendants rarely plead guilty at the arraignment phase) the court will schedule a sentencing date at a time and order a pre-sentence investigation to be conducted by the probation department. This background investigation is required and will include information obtained from the victim regarding sentencing.

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