What Happens After an Arrest in Maricopa County

The first 24 hours: the initial appearance

After booking, an arrested person must be brought before a judicial officer for an initial appearance without unnecessary delay — in practice, within 24 hours. The judge advises you of the charges, addresses counsel, and sets release conditions: release on your own recognizance, a secured or unsecured bond, or supervised release, often with conditions such as no-contact orders or travel limits. For people booked into the Maricopa County jail system, initial appearances run around the clock.

The single most important thing to know before that hearing: you are not required to explain, justify, or talk your way out of anything — to police, detention officers, or anyone else. Anything you say can be used in the case against you. Ask for a lawyer and say nothing else about the facts.

Where your case goes

Misdemeanors are prosecuted in the municipal court of the city where the offense allegedly happened — Phoenix Municipal Court for most of our clients — or in a Maricopa County justice court. Felonies go to the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County. The State begins a felony case either by a preliminary hearing, where a judge decides whether probable cause exists, or by grand jury indictment.

Arraignment and the pretrial phase

At arraignment you enter a plea — almost always not guilty at this stage, which preserves every option. Then the case enters the pretrial phase: the defense obtains the State’s evidence (police reports, video, 911 recordings, witness statements), interviews witnesses, files motions to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence, and negotiates with the prosecutor. Most cases resolve here — by dismissal, a diversion program, a plea to a reduced charge, or a plea agreement — and only a small share go to trial.

How long it takes

Arizona’s speedy-trial rule generally requires trial within 150 days of arraignment for a person in custody and 180 days for a person who is out of custody, though both sides can extend deadlines for good cause. Misdemeanors often resolve in a few months; complex felonies can take a year or more.

Every step above has decisions inside it that shape the outcome — release conditions can be modified, charges can be challenged before trial, and early negotiation is often where cases are won. That is the work of a Phoenix criminal defense attorney, and the earlier one is involved, the more options stay open.