An arraignment is a court hearing where a person accused of a crime is formally told the charges and asked to plead guilty or not guilty. It is an early, important step in the legal process.
From Old French “araignement,” related to “araigner” meaning “to call to account.” It names the event created by the act of arraigning.
The arraignment is like the opening scene of a legal drama: the accusation becomes public, and the defendant’s first answer is recorded. From that moment on, everything that happens is officially on the legal record.
Arraignment occurs within criminal justice systems that have shown gendered patterns in arrest, charging, and bail decisions. Women and gender‑nonconforming people have often faced particular vulnerabilities and stereotypes at this stage.
Use "arraignment" descriptively and, when relevant, discuss how arraignment practices may affect people differently based on gender and other identities.
["initial court appearance","formal charging hearing"]
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