Interviewer: When someone’s arrested for DUI and charged what’ll happen to them? What’s the sequence of events and what’s the time scale and what do they have to start getting a handle on defending themselves?

You Will Be Issued a Bond to Procure Your Release at the Police Station

Steve Tomeo: Once, they’re arrested and they’re taken to the police station then somebody there at the police station is going to set bond. Sometimes it’ll be the patrol officer himself or the officer in charge, the desk officer.

Typically, You Will Also Receive a Summons That Indicates Your First Court Date

They’ll set a bond and more often than not it’s a non-surety bond so they’ll say $500 non-surety bond. A non-surety bond is generally a promise to appear. Then, they’ll have the individual sign the bond form and on that bond notice form they give them their court date. Sometimes they’ll give them a misdemeanor summons, which is like the standard traffic ticket that indicates the first court date.

Some People Do Not Hire an Attorney Until After Their First Court Appearance

Then, if the individual says, “Well, I don’t really know what to do. I want to get my bearings here.” A lot of times they’ll go in the court themselves and they’ll say to the prosecutor, “Well, I think I’d rather have an attorney.”

Then, the prosecutor or the judge will continue the case to give them sufficient time to hire an attorney. It depends on what court you are in at the time. Sometimes the prosecutor will say, “Go ask the judge” and sometimes the prosecutor will say, “Okay I’ll give you an administrative continuance for 30 days and when you come back the next time you come back with your attorney.”

Once You Retain an Attorney, He or She Will Sign the Fee Agreements and File a Written Appearance

Then, when you come back with your attorney and in Connecticut, the attorney is required to sign fee agreements. Once the fee agreement is signed and all those details are worked out then the attorney will file a written appearance. He’ll send the appearance to the clerk of the court where you have to appear and a copy of the appearance to the prosecutor. Most courts they won’t really deal with you unless there’s a copy of the appearance in their file.