What happens at a criminal arraignment in Mercer County

If you have been charged with a crime and are scheduled to appear in Mercer County, the first court date you face is called an arraignment. At the arraignment, which takes place in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer Vicinage—located at 175 South Broad Street in Trenton—you will be formally told what charges have been filed against you, you will be asked to enter a plea, and the judge will decide the conditions of your release while your case moves forward. Because New Jersey eliminated cash bail in 2017, pretrial release in Mercer County is based on a Public Safety Assessment risk score rather than the ability to pay money. Having an experienced criminal defense attorney present at the arraignment is critical for protecting your rights and presenting arguments that can keep you out of jail. To discuss your situation with Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel team, call (888) 437-7747. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. – Advocacy Without Borders.

Reviewed by Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder

Admitted in Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York

Practicing since 1997

Last reviewed: July 2026

On This Page

What a Criminal Arraignment Means in Mercer County

The arraignment is the first formal court appearance after an arrest or after charges are filed, and in Mercer County it follows a structure that is unique to New Jersey’s Criminal Justice Reform Act. At this hearing, the judge reads the charges—which may be disorderly persons offenses (misdemeanor-level) or indictable crimes (felony-level)—and you enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Unlike many other states, New Jersey does not set a money bail amount. Instead, the judge reviews a computerized Public Safety Assessment that considers factors such as the nature of the alleged offense, your prior record, and your ties to the community. The judge then decides whether you will be released on your own recognizance, placed under pretrial monitoring, or detained pending trial. Mercer County’s courts process these decisions at the Mercer Vicinage of the Superior Court, and the proceedings are guided by the rules and procedures outlined in the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice.

The arraignment also sets the stage for the rest of the case. The judge will inform you of your right to an attorney, and if you cannot afford one, the court may appoint a public defender or assign counsel. Your lawyer may raise issues about probable cause, challenge the sufficiency of the charges, or argue for more favorable release conditions. In Mercer County, a strong presentation at arraignment can influence the direction of your case, especially when it comes to avoiding pretrial detention and exploring diversionary programs such as Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) or conditional discharge. Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel team appear regularly at the Mercer Vicinage and understand how the local judges and prosecutors handle these early proceedings.

How Mr. Sris and His Of Counsel Handle Criminal Arraignment Cases

When you engage Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. for a criminal matter in Mercer County, the first priority is to prepare thoroughly for the arraignment. Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel team will review the complaint and the arrest circumstances, identifying any procedural defects or constitutional violations that can be raised immediately. They will gather information about your background, employment, family ties, and community involvement to present the strong $1 for release on your own recognizance or minimal pretrial monitoring. Because New Jersey’s pretrial release system relies on a risk assessment, the defense is given an opportunity to rebut the PSA score; the team knows how to assemble the evidence and arguments that judges in Mercer County find persuasive.

After the arraignment, the legal team continues to protect your interests at every stage. They will examine the evidence, interview witnesses, file motions to suppress evidence if your rights were violated, and negotiate with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office to seek a dismissal, a downgrade of charges, or a referral to a diversionary program like PTI. The goal is always to achieve favorable outcomes under the circumstances. Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring extensive combined legal experience to criminal defense matters. Results may vary.

About Mr. Sris and His Of Counsel Team

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., founded the firm in 1997 and has practiced criminal defense for decades. A former prosecutor, he understands how the state builds its cases and uses that insight to defend individuals charged with offenses in New Jersey and across the firm’s five-jurisdiction practice. Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova). His background includes a concentration in complex criminal and traffic matters, and he works alongside his Of Counsel team to provide thorough representation at arraignments and throughout the criminal process.

The Of Counsel attorneys engaged through the firm add significant trial experience and familiarity with local court practices. Together, Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring extensive combined legal experience to each case, and the team’s multi-state perspective—admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York—allows them to identify solutions that might not be apparent to a lawyer who practices only in one state. For your arraignment in Mercer County, you benefit from a team that knows the New Jersey system and is prepared to act from the very first court appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly happens at a criminal arraignment in Mercer County?

At a criminal arraignment in Mercer County, the judge reads the charges, you enter a plea, and the court decides your pretrial release conditions based on a risk assessment rather than money bail. The hearing typically takes place at the Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer Vicinage, at 175 South Broad Street in Trenton. If the charges are indictable (felony-level), the arraignment occurs after a grand jury returns an indictment; for disorderly persons offenses, it may happen in the municipal or superior court. New Jersey abolished cash bail in 2017, so the judge relies on a Public Safety Assessment to gauge whether you should be released, monitored, or detained. Having a lawyer at this stage is essential because the decisions made at arraignment can affect the entire case.

Is there cash bail in New Jersey?

No, New Jersey abolished cash bail in January 2017 under the Criminal Justice Reform Act. In Mercer County, as elsewhere in the state, pretrial release is determined by a computerized Public Safety Assessment that measures flight risk and danger, not by the defendant’s ability to pay. There are no bail bondsmen in New Jersey. The assessment considers factors such as the current charge, prior convictions, prior failures to appear, and age. Your attorney can challenge the PSA and present evidence to argue for release on your own recognizance or less restrictive monitoring. The court at 175 South Broad Street handles these decisions in Mercer County matters.

What is a disorderly persons offense in Mercer County, New Jersey?

A disorderly persons offense is New Jersey’s equivalent of a misdemeanor; it is an offense that carries a potential jail sentence of up to 6 months and a fine of up to $1,000. Cases are handled in the municipal and superior courts, including at the Mercer Vicinage. A petty disorderly persons offense carries a maximum of 30 days in jail and a fine. Even though these are less serious than indictable crimes, a conviction creates a criminal record, and it can affect employment, housing, and professional licenses. An experienced attorney can work toward a dismissal, a downgrade, or a diversionary program to protect your future.

What is Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) in Mercer County?

Pre-Trial Intervention is a diversionary program in Mercer County that allows first-time offenders charged with indictable crimes to avoid a criminal conviction by completing a period of supervision, typically 1 to 3 years. If you successfully finish the program, the charges are dismissed entirely. Applications are processed through the Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer Vicinage. PTI is not automatic; the prosecutor must consent and the judge must approve it. The program includes conditions such as community service, counseling, and regular reporting. For eligible defendants, PTI can be a valuable way to resolve a case without a trial or a permanent record.

Can I get my New Jersey criminal record expunged?

Yes, New Jersey law allows for the expungement of many criminal records after a waiting period: 5 years for most indictable offenses and 2 years for disorderly persons offenses, provided certain conditions are met. The state’s Clean Slate law expanded eligibility, and completion of PTI results in automatic dismissal that can form the basis for an expungement petition. A petition for expungement is filed in the Superior Court, Mercer Vicinage. The process involves gathering court records, preparing the petition, and serving notice on the appropriate agencies. An attorney can evaluate your record to determine whether you are eligible and guide you through the steps.

Should I hire a lawyer before my arraignment?

Yes, it is strongly advisable to have an experienced criminal defense lawyer before your arraignment, because decisions made at this early stage—including release conditions, probable cause challenges, and the plea you enter—can have lasting effects on your case. A lawyer can examine the complaint for defects, argue for a release on your own recognizance rather than detention, and begin building a defense immediately. In Mercer County, the court process moves quickly, and having counsel present from the very first appearance ensures your rights are protected. To discuss representation for your Mercer County arraignment, reach Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747.

Official New Jersey resources:
Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer Vicinage
New Jersey Criminal Code (Title 2C)
New Jersey Courts

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Attorney responsible for this advertising: Mr. Sris.

Results may vary.

Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case.