Defendants in Brevard County, Florida make their first court appearances after being arrested before a judge at the Brevard County Jail Court. Watch live in the player above starting at 1:15 pm ET.
This is where defendants will make their first court appearances after being arrested, and where a judge will determine whether there was probable cause for the arrest, and whether to set bond, let the defendant go free until trial, or have them remain incarcerated.
In making their decisions, judges will typically weigh the nature of the crime charged, a defendant’s criminal record, their ties to the community or other reasons why they may or may not be a flight risk, as well as their ability to pay bond.
Hundreds of cases could end up before the judge in a given day, ranging from minor offenses to violent felonies. Attorneys for the defense and the prosecution will each make their case to the judge for the charges, and whether bond should be set.
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