What Happens at Arraignment in Riverside County? A Guide to the Riverside Hall of Justice

Q: Can my lawyer go to my Riverside County arraignment without me?

For most misdemeanors, yes. Penal Code section 977, subdivision (a), allows a misdemeanor defendant to appear through counsel unless the court orders personal presence, and Riverside County judges often require presence in domestic violence cases so the protective order can be served. Felony defendants must appear personally under Penal Code section 977, subdivision (b), unless the court accepts a written waiver.

Q: Should I plead guilty at my arraignment to get it over with?

Almost never. A guilty plea at arraignment gives up the right to see the evidence, to file a suppression motion under Penal Code section 1538.5, to negotiate for a reduced charge or diversion, and to challenge weak proof. A not guilty plea costs nothing and preserves every option, and the case can still resolve quickly at the first pretrial conference if the offer is right.

Q: What if the DA has not filed charges by my court date?

Check the case index, and keep your address current. If no complaint has been filed, the clerk may have nothing on calendar. The District Attorney can still file later, subject to the statute of limitations, and will mail a notice with a new date. Missing that later date leads to a bench warrant, so verify the status on the Riverside Superior Court website and consider having counsel monitor the filing.

Q: Will the judge issue a protective order at a domestic violence arraignment?

Usually, yes. In domestic violence cases the court addresses a criminal protective order under Penal Code section 136.2 at arraignment, using form CR-160. The order may be no contact or peaceful contact. Violating it is a separate crime under Penal Code section 273.6, and a full no-contact order can affect where you live and your custody schedule, so raise those issues with counsel before the hearing.

Q: Which courthouse will my Riverside County case be in?

It depends on where the alleged offense occurred. Western county cases from Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Jurupa Valley, and Perris are generally heard at the Riverside Hall of Justice; Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore cases at the Southwest Justice Center; Coachella Valley cases at the Larson Justice Center in Indio; and Pass-area cases at the Banning Justice Center. Confirm the location on your paperwork and on the court's website.

Daniel Gramling, Esq.

17 hours ago

13 min read

The short answer: arraignment is the first court appearance in a Riverside County criminal case. The judge tells you the charges, confirms you have a lawyer or appoints one, takes your plea (almost always not guilty at this stage), decides whether you stay in custody, post bail, or go home on your own recognizance, and sets the next date. For most people charged in Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Jurupa Valley, Perris, or Eastvale, that first appearance happens at the Riverside Hall of Justice in downtown Riverside. Cases from Temecula, Murrieta, Hemet, and Lake Elsinore are usually heard at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, desert cases at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, and Pass-area cases at the Banning Justice Center. Confirm your assigned courthouse on the Riverside Superior Court website before you go.

Why the first date matters. Arraignment is short, often a few minutes, but the decisions made there shape the whole case. Custody status, a criminal protective order, and the early tone with the prosecutor all get set at this hearing. This guide walks through what happens at a Riverside County arraignment step by step, how misdemeanor and felony arraignments differ, and the mistakes we see people make before they ever call a criminal defense lawyer.

When Is the Arraignment in Riverside County?

If you are in custody. County of Riverside v. McLaughlin (1991) 500 U.S. 44, a United States Supreme Court case that started in this very county, requires a judicial probable cause determination within 48 hours of a warrantless arrest. Penal Code section 825 separately requires that a person arrested be taken before a judge without unnecessary delay and within 48 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays. In practice, someone arrested on a Friday night in Riverside is typically arraigned early the following week. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department runs the jails, including the Robert Presley Detention Center in downtown Riverside, and custody arraignments are calendared by the court and the jail, not by the defendant.

If you were cited and released or bailed out. Most misdemeanor arrests end with a citation and a promise to appear under Penal Code section 853.6, or a release on bail with a court date written on the bail paperwork. That date is usually weeks out. The catch is that the District Attorney does not always file the complaint by the date on the citation. If no case has been filed when you show up, the clerk may tell you there is nothing on calendar, and the DA can still file later and send a notice by mail. Keep your address current with the court and check the case index on the Riverside Superior Court website before each date. Our guide on what happens if you miss court in California explains what happens when a date slips through the cracks.

If the DA filed by complaint and you got a letter. Some Riverside County cases start with a letter from the District Attorney or the court telling you a complaint has been filed and giving an arraignment date. That is common for DUI cases where blood results came back weeks after the arrest, for theft cases built from store video, and for domestic violence cases where the arresting agency submitted the report for review. Read our article on what prosecutors look at before filing charges to understand the filing decision.

What Actually Happens at a Riverside County Arraignment

Step one: the charges are read or waived. Penal Code section 988 defines arraignment as reading the complaint to the defendant, giving the defendant a copy, and asking how the defendant pleads. In a real Riverside courtroom, defense counsel almost always waives a formal reading and acknowledges receipt of the complaint. You will get a copy of the complaint, which lists each count, the code section, and whether it is charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.

Step two: counsel is confirmed or appointed. Penal Code section 987 gives every defendant the right to a lawyer and requires the court to appoint one if the defendant cannot afford one. In Riverside County that is the Public Defender, or conflict counsel if the Public Defender has a conflict. If you retain a private attorney before arraignment, the attorney files a notice of appearance and handles the hearing. The judge will ask whether you want time to hire your own lawyer, and a short continuance for that purpose is commonly granted under Penal Code section 1050 for good cause.

Step three: the plea. Penal Code section 1016 lists the pleas available, including guilty, not guilty, and nolo contendere. At arraignment the standard plea is not guilty. A not guilty plea is not a claim of innocence; it is the procedural step that preserves every defense, triggers discovery under Penal Code section 1054.1, and starts the speedy trial clock under Penal Code section 1382. Pleading guilty at arraignment, without seeing the police report, the body camera footage, or the lab results, is almost never in a defendant's interest. Our guide on whether you should take a plea deal explains why timing matters.

Step four: custody, bail, or own recognizance release. The judge decides whether you are released on your own recognizance under Penal Code section 1270, released on bail, or held. Penal Code section 1275 directs the court to consider public safety, the seriousness of the offense, your record, and the likelihood you will come back to court. Under In re Humphrey (2021) 11 Cal.5th 135, the court must consider your ability to pay before setting money bail and must consider less restrictive alternatives such as supervised release, check-ins, or an ankle monitor. For certain serious, violent, and domestic violence offenses, Penal Code section 1270.1 requires a noticed bail hearing before the court can release you on OR or reduce bail below the schedule, so the prosecutor is heard first.

Step five: protective orders in domestic violence cases. If the charge is domestic battery under Penal Code section 243, corporal injury under Penal Code section 273.5, criminal threats under Penal Code section 422, or a related offense against a spouse, partner, or family member, the court will address a criminal protective order under Penal Code section 136.2 on form CR-160 at arraignment. The order can be a full no-contact order or a peaceful contact order, and the judge decides which one based on the report and the prosecutor's request. Violating that order is a separate crime under Penal Code section 273.6. Because a CPO can keep you out of your own home and away from your children, this is one of the most important issues to prepare for before the first date. See our companion article on what counts as criminal threats under Penal Code 422 and our family law page on domestic violence restraining orders.

Step six: the next date is set. In a misdemeanor case the court usually sets a pretrial conference or trial readiness conference several weeks out. In a felony case the court sets a felony settlement conference and a preliminary hearing. Penal Code section 859b requires the preliminary hearing to be held within 10 court days of the arraignment or plea if you are in custody, unless you waive time, and within 60 days in any event unless waived. Our article on what actually happens at a preliminary hearing explains that hearing in detail.

Do You Have to Appear in Person at the Riverside Hall of Justice?

Misdemeanors. Penal Code section 977, subdivision (a), lets a defendant charged with a misdemeanor appear through counsel for the arraignment and most other hearings, so a retained attorney can often handle a misdemeanor arraignment while the client is at work. There are exceptions. The court can order personal presence, and in misdemeanor domestic violence cases the court commonly requires the defendant to be present so the protective order can be served and explained. Confirm with your attorney before assuming you can skip the date.

Felonies. Penal Code section 977, subdivision (b), requires the defendant to be personally present at a felony arraignment, at the time of plea, at the preliminary hearing, at trial, and at sentencing, unless the defendant signs a written waiver that the court accepts. Riverside County judges expect felony defendants in the courtroom at arraignment. Showing up late or not at all leads to a bench warrant.

Remote appearances. California expanded remote criminal appearances during and after the pandemic, and Penal Code section 977 now contains provisions allowing certain appearances by video with the defendant's consent and the court's approval. Riverside Superior Court publishes its own remote appearance rules and they change, so check the court's website for the current policy and the technology it uses before assuming you can appear by video.

Misdemeanor Versus Felony Arraignment in Riverside County

Misdemeanor arraignments move fast. A misdemeanor calendar at the Riverside Hall of Justice can hold dozens of cases. The prosecutor often has an initial offer ready at arraignment, sometimes written on the file. Judges also screen for diversion eligibility. Misdemeanor diversion under Penal Code section 1001.95 lets the judge, over the prosecutor's objection, divert many misdemeanors for up to 24 months with terms, and a successful diversion ends in dismissal. Drug possession cases may qualify for pretrial diversion under Penal Code section 1000, mental health diversion under Penal Code section 1001.36 is available for qualifying defendants with a diagnosed condition, and military diversion under Penal Code section 1001.80 is available to current and former service members with service-related conditions. Read our guide on how to expunge a criminal record in California for what happens after a case ends.

Felony arraignments set the bail and the prelim clock. A felony arraignment in Riverside County is where the bail fight happens. The Riverside County bail schedule sets a presumptive amount by charge, and the defense can ask for OR release or a reduction with an ability to pay showing under Humphrey. The prosecutor may ask for an increase based on prior record or the facts in the report. If you are held, the ten court day preliminary hearing clock under Penal Code section 859b starts. If you are released, defense counsel will usually waive time to obtain discovery, investigate, and negotiate before the preliminary hearing. Felony cases can also be reduced to misdemeanors later under Penal Code section 17, subdivision (b), if the charge is a wobbler.

Wobblers and charging decisions. Many common Riverside County charges, including corporal injury under Penal Code section 273.5, criminal threats under Penal Code section 422, grand theft under Penal Code section 487, and drug sales offenses, are wobblers that the District Attorney can file as a felony or a misdemeanor. The arraignment complaint tells you which one the DA chose. That choice is not final; a good defense presentation at the felony settlement conference or preliminary hearing often leads to a misdemeanor resolution. Our article on how prosecutors build criminal cases explains the charging process.

Which Riverside County Courthouse Handles Your Case?

Riverside Hall of Justice. The Hall of Justice in downtown Riverside is the main criminal courthouse for the western part of the county. It handles felony and misdemeanor arraignments, in-custody calendars connected to the Robert Presley Detention Center, and trials for cases arising in Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Jurupa Valley, Eastvale, Norco, and Perris. Cases investigated by the Riverside Police Department, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the Corona Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol's Riverside area office generally land here.

Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta. Cases from Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Canyon Lake, and often Hemet and San Jacinto are typically arraigned at the Southwest Justice Center. The courthouse sits next to a county jail, so custody arraignments for the southwest part of the county happen there.

Larson Justice Center and Banning Justice Center. Coachella Valley cases from Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, Cathedral City, La Quinta, and Coachella are generally heard at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Cases from Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, and the San Gorgonio Pass are generally heard at the Banning Justice Center. Courthouse assignments change with the court's calendar, so confirm the location printed on your citation, bail receipt, or notice, and check the Riverside Superior Court website for the current department and time.

Common Mistakes Before a Riverside County Arraignment

Talking to the police or the alleged victim. Between arrest and arraignment, detectives sometimes call to "get your side." Anything you say is evidence. Read our guide on what not to say to police in California and whether you can talk your way out of charges. In a domestic violence case, contacting the protected person before arraignment, even by text, even to apologize, can violate an emergency protective order and can become a new charge under Penal Code section 273.6. Text messages are routinely pulled from phones, as we explain in can the police use your text messages against you.

Missing the DMV deadline after a DUI arrest. If you were arrested for DUI under Vehicle Code section 23152 in Riverside, Corona, or Temecula, the DMV suspension is separate from the court case, and you have only 10 days from the arrest to request a DMV hearing under Vehicle Code section 13558. The arraignment date is often weeks after that window closes. Our companion article on how the DMV hearing works after a DUI and our page on fighting a DUI in Riverside County cover that process.

Showing up unprepared. Bring your citation or bail paperwork, a government ID, and, if you are seeking OR release or a bail reduction, proof of employment, residence, and community ties. If you are asking for a continuance to hire counsel, be ready to say so clearly. Dress as you would for a job interview. Judges at the Hall of Justice see hundreds of defendants and notice the ones who take the process seriously.

Waiting to hire a lawyer until after arraignment. The most useful work in many Riverside County cases happens before the first appearance: preserving surveillance video before it is overwritten, gathering the medical records or the text thread that undercuts the report, and contacting the assigned deputy district attorney before the offer is written. Our article on what to do if you were arrested last night in the Inland Empire lists the first 72 hours of steps. Daniel Gramling, Esq. offers flat-fee criminal defense so clients know the cost before the first court date.

What Happens After Arraignment?

Discovery and investigation. After the not guilty plea, the prosecution must disclose the police reports, witness statements, recorded statements, and physical evidence it intends to use under Penal Code section 1054.1. The defense reviews body camera footage, dispatch logs, lab records, and witness credibility, and evaluates suppression issues under Penal Code section 1538.5. See our guides on 1538.5 motions, car searches in California, and what makes a criminal case weak.

Pretrial conferences and negotiation. Riverside County prosecutors typically make an initial offer at or shortly after arraignment and revise it as the defense presents mitigation or exposes weaknesses. Offers tend to improve when the defense shows a real trial risk, and they can get worse after a preliminary hearing if the DA adds charges. A defendant who pleads guilty on a felony must do so with counsel present under Penal Code section 1018, and a felony plea is usually taken on form CR-101, which lists every right being waived.

Trial timing. Penal Code section 1382 requires a misdemeanor trial within 30 days of arraignment if you are in custody and within 45 days if you are out of custody, and a felony trial within 60 days of arraignment on the information, unless you waive time. Most defendants waive time so counsel can prepare, but the clock is a tool. Read Charged in California? What Happens Next for the full timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my lawyer go to my Riverside County arraignment without me?

For most misdemeanors, yes. Penal Code section 977, subdivision (a), allows a misdemeanor defendant to appear through counsel unless the court orders personal presence, and Riverside County judges often require presence in domestic violence cases so the protective order can be served. Felony defendants must appear personally under Penal Code section 977, subdivision (b), unless the court accepts a written waiver.

Should I plead guilty at my arraignment to get it over with?

Almost never. A guilty plea at arraignment gives up the right to see the evidence, to file a suppression motion under Penal Code section 1538.5, to negotiate for a reduced charge or diversion, and to challenge weak proof. A not guilty plea costs nothing and preserves every option, and the case can still resolve quickly at the first pretrial conference if the offer is right.

How is bail set at a Riverside County arraignment?

The judge starts with the county bail schedule and then applies Penal Code section 1275 and In re Humphrey. The court must consider public safety, the charges, your record, and your ties to the community, and under In re Humphrey it must consider your ability to pay and nonfinancial conditions before setting bail you cannot afford. For offenses listed in Penal Code section 1270.1, the court must hold a noticed hearing before releasing you on OR or lowering bail below the schedule.

What if the DA has not filed charges by my court date?

Check the case index, and keep your address current. If no complaint has been filed, the clerk may have nothing on calendar. The District Attorney can still file later, subject to the statute of limitations, and will mail a notice with a new date. Missing that later date leads to a bench warrant, so verify the status on the Riverside Superior Court website and consider having counsel monitor the filing.

Will the judge issue a protective order at a domestic violence arraignment?

Usually, yes. In domestic violence cases the court addresses a criminal protective order under Penal Code section 136.2 at arraignment, using form CR-160. The order may be no contact or peaceful contact. Violating it is a separate crime under Penal Code section 273.6, and a full no-contact order can affect where you live and your custody schedule, so raise those issues with counsel before the hearing.

Which courthouse will my Riverside County case be in?

It depends on where the alleged offense occurred. Western county cases from Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Jurupa Valley, and Perris are generally heard at the Riverside Hall of Justice; Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore cases at the Southwest Justice Center; Coachella Valley cases at the Larson Justice Center in Indio; and Pass-area cases at the Banning Justice Center. Confirm the location on your paperwork and on the court's website.

Talk to a Riverside County Criminal Defense Lawyer Before Your First Date

Gramling Law Group defends misdemeanor and felony cases at the Riverside Hall of Justice, the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, the Larson Justice Center in Indio, and the Banning Justice Center, and throughout the Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Southern California. Daniel Gramling, Esq. offers flat-fee criminal defense and limited-scope options so you know the cost before your arraignment. Call (909) 654-4575 or contact us through this website for a consultation.

This article is educational and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It addresses California law only.