What happens at arraignment
Arraignment is the court appearance where a person is formally told what they are charged with and answers the charge.
What happens
Arraignment is usually brief. The court states the charge, confirms the person understands what they are accused of, addresses the question of a lawyer if that is still open, and takes a plea.
It is not a trial. No evidence is heard, no witnesses testify, and nobody argues about what happened.
The pleas
- Not guilty. The person denies the charge. The case is set for a later date and moves toward being resolved or tried.
- Guilty. The person admits the charge. The case typically moves to sentencing.
- No contest. The person does not contest the charge. Whether this is available depends on the court and the offense.
A not-guilty plea is not a claim that nothing happened. It is the normal way of saying the case is not resolving today, so evidence can be reviewed and a lawyer can be involved.
What comes after
After a not-guilty plea, the court sets the next date. Depending on the court, that may be a docket for reviewing evidence and discussing resolution, or a date set directly for trial.
How many dates fall between arraignment and trial, and what each is called, is local case management. Two Benton County courts can handle it differently.
If you have an arraignment date
Your paperwork lists the court, the date and the time. If any of that is unclear, contact the clerk's office for the court named on the document. Court locations are listed here.
Arraignment docket days in Benton County
From the county's administrative plan, effective 1 January 2026. Local scheduling, which the plan notes can vary for judicial conferences and holidays.
| Rogers District Court |
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|---|---|
| Siloam Springs District Court |
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| Benton County West District Court |
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Courts not listed hold arraignments within their general criminal and traffic sessions rather than on a separately named docket.
Where this sits in the process
- 1Citation or arrestA case usually starts either with a citation telling someone to appear in court, or with an arrest.
- 2First appearance and bondA judge tells the person what they are accused of, addresses their right to a lawyer, and decides conditions of release.
- 3ArraignmentYou are hereThe formal court appearance on the charge, where the person enters a plea.
- 4Plea and discoveryThe defense reviews the evidence, and the two sides discuss whether the case can be resolved without a trial.
- 5TrialIf the case does not resolve, a judge hears the evidence and decides whether the State has proved the charge.
- 6SentencingIf there is a guilty plea or a finding of guilt, the judge imposes a sentence allowed by law for that offense.
- 7AppealA district court judgment may be appealed to circuit court, subject to the applicable procedure and deadline.
Sources: Arkansas Judiciary (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: September 16, 2026