When criminal charges are filed, the defendant will be arrested or ordered to appear at a court hearing.

The defendant will be taken before a judge and advised of the charges being filed.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled within ten days. The arresting officer will notify the victim of when and where to appear for this next court date.

A judge sets the bond amount.

Bond (or bail) is the amount of money that the Defendant must pay in order to guarantee he or she will appear at the next court date. If the money is not paid, then the defendant will remain in jail and be transported by a sheriff to the next court date.

Charged with a crime? Call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.