
What happens after your arrest depends in part on whether you are charged with a felony or a misdemeanor. In either case, you will be arraigned soon after your arrest, and given a chance to plead “guilty,” “not guilty,” or “no contest” to the charges.
There are two ways that a felony can be charged. For some felonies, a “probable cause” hearing will be held within a “reasonable time” after the arraignment: 10 days if you are in jail, and 30 days if you have been released. Criminal defendants can decide to waive a probable cause hearing.
At a probable cause, or PC hearing, the state has to show that there is probable cause to believe you committed the offense in order to move forward with their case. Criminal defense lawyers Amy Beaton and Larissa Kiers have handled numerous New Hampshire probable cause hearings. They know when it is to their clients’ advantage to waive a PC hearing or proceed; if they go forward with the hearing, they have an excellent track record countering the state’s assertion that there is probable cause to move forward.
For certain other types of felonies, such as capital offenses and other serious crimes, a grand jury makes the decision whether to move forward with a case; this is called charging by direct indictment. Amy and Larissa have decades of experience representing clients in these serious felony cases as well.
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