I. When a person is arrested with or without a warrant he or she may be committed to a county correctional facility, to a police station or other place provided for the detention of offenders, or otherwise detained in custody. The person shall be taken to appear before a circuit court, or a superior court in the case of felony complaints and misdemeanors and violation level charges that are directly related to those felonies, without unreasonable delay, to answer for the offense. All persons shall appear no later than 24 hours after arrest, or no later than 36 hours after arrest if arrested between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and the person’s attorney is unable to attend an arraignment on the same day, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays excepted.
II. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I, defendants detained under N.H. Rev. Stat. Chapter 173-B shall have timely access to a bail hearing by telephonic means or otherwise as determined by the circuit court or the superior court in the case of felony complaints and misdemeanors and violation level charges that are directly related to those felonies.

Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 594:20-a

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Arrest: is the taking of a person into custody in order that he may be forthcoming to answer for the commission of a crime. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 594:1
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Felony: is a ny crime that may be punished by death or imprisonment in the state prison. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 594:1
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies corporate and politic as well as to individuals. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:9