NORWICH - The arraignment process for individuals picked up by police in Chenango County may be overhauled in the coming months as legal officials pursue a streamlined central arraignment program.

Chenango is one of the few counties in New York’s Sixth Judicial Court District without a centralized arraignment program (CAP) which sets specific times, often in 12 hour intervals, for arraignments. Advocates reason that having a CAP would create a more organized, more predictable arraignment process throughout the county.

“We’re working now on putting a plan together and figuring out where the kinks may be,” said Chenango County Public Defender Zachary Wentworth.

As it works now, a typical arraignment process in Chenango County starts with a court’s phone call to the public defender's office. An attorney is sent to that court, wherever it may be in the county, during whatever time the call is made. In some cases, this means an attorney might drive across the county for an arraignment during early morning hours, then drive to another court for an arraignment a few hours later. And in some cases, it may mean an attorney isn’t available at all.

The current arraignment process has also shown challenges for arresting officers who must stay with an arrested individual until arraignment. If a judge isn’t available, then the process takes longer, consequently keeping that officer from patrol duties.