The reading of charges against a suspect is referred to as?

The reading of charges against a suspect is referred to as?

• A. Indictment
• B. Arraignment
• C. Hearing
• D. Complaint

Answer: (B)

Arraignment is the stage in criminal procedure where the defendant first appears before a judge after being charged and the charges against them are read aloud. This moment is when the person learns exactly what they’re accused of and must enter a plea—guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Indictment refers to a formal charge brought by a grand jury, which can precede an arraignment in felony cases, but the act of reading the charges to the defendant and obtaining a plea happens at arraignment. A complaint is a charging document used to start a case in many jurisdictions, and a hearing is any court session, not the specific charging step.

Arraignment is the stage in criminal procedure where the defendant first appears before a judge after being charged and the charges against them are read aloud. This moment is when the person learns exactly what they’re accused of and must enter a plea—guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Indictment refers to a formal charge brought by a grand jury, which can precede an arraignment in felony cases, but the act of reading the charges to the defendant and obtaining a plea happens at arraignment. A complaint is a charging document used to start a case in many jurisdictions, and a hearing is any court session, not the specific charging step.