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In Poughkeepsie, accused individuals can once again be arraigned during evening and weekend hours in city court. This change follows a directive from the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) that had previously halted after-hours arraignments due to a lack of scheduled court officers for security. The pause had required police to transport defendants to neighboring towns for arraignments, straining local resources.
The city court judges have now started holding these arraignments in the Common Council chambers, allowing law enforcement officers to provide security during the brief proceedings. This adjustment enables officers to quickly return to their duties without lengthy travel for arraignments, improving efficiency for the police departments.
The court officer union had initially demanded overtime pay for officers to cover these sessions, but the OCA refused. By using the Common Council chambers, the city has circumvented the need for additional court officers, allowing the resumption of off-hours arraignments.
The return of evening and weekend arraignments is expected to streamline the judicial process in Poughkeepsie, benefiting both law enforcement and the community. For more details, visit Mid Hudson News.