In the criminal justice system, what is often a goal of the arraignment process?

The goal of the arraignment process in the criminal justice system is to formally charge the defendant and ensure that they are aware of the charges against them. During this process, the defendant is typically asked to enter a plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest) in response to the charges. A crucial part of the arraignment often involves setting a trial date, which allows the judicial process to progress and establishes a timeline for the upcoming legal proceedings.

While other aspects of the criminal justice process, like exchanging evidence or conducting jury selection, are necessary for a fair trial, those steps occur later in the process and are not the primary aim of the arraignment itself. Counseling defendants is more aligned with legal representation or support services rather than a direct goal of the arraignment. Thus, setting a trial date stands out as a key objective of the arraignment process, facilitating the movement towards resolution of the case.