Your First Week After an Arrest in Traverse City

If you were just arrested in Traverse City, your mind is probably racing: What do I do now? When is court? Who do I talk to? At True North Legal Group, we help good people when bad things happen in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties. Most of our clients are first-time defendants facing the criminal justice system for the first time. Our job is to steady the moment, explain what each step means, and help you make clear, informed choices—not rush you into decisions.

We’re a boutique, selective-docket firm focused only on the 86th District Court and the 13th Circuit Court in these two counties. We prepare every case as if it may go to trial. That doesn’t mean every case will end up there; it means we organize the early days so nothing important gets missed and you keep your options open.

This guide walks through what usually happens in the first week after an arrest in Traverse City and how your case typically starts in the 86th District Court. We’ll cover three early milestones—arrest, booking, and arraignment—and explain how bond and bond conditions fit in. No predictions, no scare tactics—just a straightforward orientation so the next few days feel a little less overwhelming.

Where the Case Happens

In Grand Traverse County, the 86th District Court is the starting point for almost every criminal case. All misdemeanors live there from start to finish. Felony cases also begin there for the first steps. If a felony keeps moving after those early hearings, it can be sent (called a “bind-over”) to the 13th Circuit Court for later phases, including any felony jury trial.

Why does this matter in your first week? Because your first appearance—arraignment—happens in the 86th District Court. That’s where the judge makes sure you understand the charge, explains your rights, takes an initial plea so the case can move forward, and sets bond and bond conditions. Knowing the court’s role helps you know what to expect—and what not to expect—at each date.

Step-by-Step: The First Week After an Arrest in Traverse City

1) The Arrest: What it is, what it isn’t

An arrest is law enforcement taking you into custody because they believe there is probable cause that a crime occurred. Think of probable cause as a basic threshold—enough facts to justify moving the case into the court system. It’s far below the proof needed for a conviction at trial. An arrest is not a finding of guilt.

What you may experience:

• You’re detained, questioned to some degree, and transported.
• You may be held for a period of time or, in some situations, released with a notice to appear.
• Personal items are collected temporarily, and you’re moved toward booking.

What to keep in mind:

• You can feel like everything is spinning fast. That doesn’t mean your entire case is decided. This is simply the gate into the process.
• It’s normal to leave the arrest phase with more questions than answers. That’s okay—orientation comes next.

2) Booking: Getting you into the system

Booking is the administrative step that organizes your information so the court can act. It usually includes:

• Recording your biographical details
• Taking fingerprints and a photograph
• Creating the initial paperwork that identifies the charge and your first court date (if known)

What booking is not:

• It’s not punishment or a verdict.
• It’s not where arguments about guilt or innocence are decided.

How this feels for first-timers:

• Impersonal and quick. You may not get a lot of explanation in the moment.
• You might get paperwork you don’t fully understand yet. Keep it. It’s your roadmap for the next few days.

3) Arraignment in the 86th District Court: Your first court date

Arraignment is your introduction to the court. It’s usually brief but important. Here’s what typically happens:

• The judge makes sure you know what you’re charged with and explains your rights.
• An initial plea is entered (most people plead “not guilty” at this stage so the case can move forward and information can be gathered).
• The court sets bond and decides any bond conditions.

Let’s unpack two terms that cause a lot of stress in the first week:

Bond
Bond is about whether you stay in the community while your case is pending and what’s required to make that happen. Sometimes it includes money; sometimes it doesn’t. The court is considering two big ideas—will you come back to court, and is the community safe while your case is pending?

Bond Conditions
Conditions are rules to follow while your case is open. Common examples include no contact with certain people, alcohol or drug testing, travel limits, or check-ins. They’re not punishments; they’re guardrails the court uses while the case is moving.

What arraignment is not:

• It’s not a trial.
• It’s not the day the judge decides your future.
• It isn’t the moment to expect detailed argument about evidence—that comes later, after both sides exchange information.

After Arraignment: The very next steps

Once arraignment is done and you understand your bond and conditions, the case shifts into scheduling:

• Misdemeanor cases in the 86th District Court usually head to a pre-trial conference. That’s a status date for the attorneys to talk about evidence, what’s contested, and what needs to happen next. It’s administrative and planning-focused, not a mini-trial.
• Felony cases typically move to a probable-cause conference, where the parties discuss whether to hold a preliminary examination. The preliminary exam is a limited hearing to decide if there’s enough evidence to keep the case going. If the judge finds enough to continue—or if the exam is waived—the case can be bound over to the 13th Circuit Court. None of this decides guilt; it’s about thresholds and process.

You do not need to have all the answers in week one. Your job is to understand the next date on the calendar, follow any bond conditions, and start gathering your own information (more on that below).

What’s Actually at Stake for First-Time Defendants

It’s normal to worry about jail in the first week, but the bigger picture includes much more:

• Work and background checks: Current and future employers may see records. Understanding what’s public and what isn’t is part of planning.
• Professional licenses: If you’re licensed—healthcare, education, trades—think long-term and ask early questions about reporting requirements.
• Driver’s license (in driving-related or alcohol cases): The practical impact on your commute and family is often the first real stress point.
• Reputation in a close community like Traverse City: People worry about how this looks. That’s understandable. The legal process is a series of steps, not a label. Early choices can protect how the story is told later.

We won’t predict outcomes. We will say this: the first week is when you build good habits—organization, compliance with conditions, careful communication—that reduce unnecessary risk.

Why Trial-Readiness Matters in Grand Traverse County (even in week one)

Our perspective is simple: We prepare every case as if it may go to trial. That approach influences how we handle the earliest days:

• We collect and review reports, video, audio, and testing with the seriousness of people who expect to use them in a courtroom.
• We look for gaps and assumptions, not with drama, but with discipline.
• We keep decisions flexible. If a case later resolves by agreement, fine—but we want that to be an informed choice, not a rushed reaction.

In our experience, local prosecutors often overcharge, and when cases are forced to trial, the evidence can look very different than it does on paper. That’s not a prediction for your case; it’s a reminder to take the early steps seriously. Preparation creates leverage and protects options, even if you ultimately choose a path that doesn’t involve a jury.

How We Help in the First Week

We’re hyper-local—just Grand Traverse County and Leelanau County, and only the 86th District Court and 13th Circuit Court. A focused footprint lets us keep the first week calm and purposeful. Here’s how we typically organize it:

1) Orientation before the first court date
We walk through the charge, the rights the judge will explain, and the bond/conditions conversation so arraignment doesn’t feel like a pop quiz. You’ll know where to go, what to wear, who speaks when, and what documents to bring.

2) Early evidence awareness
Paper reports often read like the last word. They aren’t. We request and review what’s available—reports, recordings, lab work—and flag what matters now versus what can wait. We keep you grounded in the difference between allegations and proof.

3) Constitutional screening
Without making promises, we look at how the case started: the stop, the contact, any search, any statement. The point is to identify issues for later motions if they’re appropriate—not to assume the answers on day one.

4) Clear communication
First-time defendants do best when they know what’s coming next and why. We set a predictable rhythm for updates, explain each hearing’s purpose, and answer the questions that actually keep people up at night (work, family, license, and reputation).

5) Trial-forward posture
We are not a high-volume plea mill. We prepare for the possibility of a jury from the beginning, because that mindset shapes how carefully we collect facts, how seriously we test assumptions, and how thoughtfully we evaluate any offer later.

• Arrest: Police take you into custody because they think there’s enough to start a case. It is not a conviction.
• Booking: The administrative intake—identity, fingerprints, photo, paperwork—so the court can schedule your case.
• Arraignment (86th District Court): First court date. You hear the charge, your rights are explained, an initial plea is recorded, and bond/conditions are set.
• Bond: The framework for staying in the community while your case is pending. May or may not involve money.
• Bond conditions: Rules while the case is open (for example, testing or no-contact). Not punishments—guidelines set by the court.
• Pre-trial conference (misdemeanors): A scheduled check-in for the lawyers to discuss evidence, narrow issues, and plan next steps.
• Probable cause: A basic threshold to move a case along—not the high standard required to convict at trial.
• Preliminary examination (felonies): A limited hearing to decide if there’s enough to continue the case. If so, the case can be sent to the 13th Circuit Court.
• Bind-over: The transfer of a felony case from the 86th District Court to the 13th Circuit Court after that threshold is met or the exam is waived.

1. How often are you in the 86th District Court, and how do you prepare first-time defendants for arraignment there?
2. What should I expect at arraignment—specifically about bond and bond conditions—without getting into predictions?
3. When do you request and review police reports, body-camera, in-car video, or lab results, and how do you share that with me?
4. Do you prepare every case as if it may go to trial? How does that change your first-week plan?
5. How do you explain the difference between a pre-trial conference and a jury trial so I’m not mixing them up?
6. If my case is charged as a felony, how do you approach the probable-cause conference and the decision about a preliminary examination?
7. What communication should I expect week to week? Who do I contact with urgent questions?
8. How do you help me think through work, licensing, driving, and reputation while the case is pending?
9. What does a “selective caseload” actually mean for responsiveness and preparation in my case?

• Collect your paperwork. Keep anything you received during arrest or booking in one place—ticket, complaint, notice to appear, bond sheet. The dates and courtroom information matter.
• Calendar the arraignment. Note the time, location, and plan your route/parking so morning-of stress doesn’t snowball.
• Follow bond conditions exactly. If the court gives you rules, follow them to the letter. Even small slip-ups create unnecessary problems.
• Keep conversations limited. Avoid discussing the facts of the case with anyone besides your lawyer. Texts and DMs have a way of resurfacing.
• Write down what you remember. Times, locations, who was present, what was said—these details fade quickly and can be useful later.
• Stay practical. If driving or work logistics will be affected, start planning alternatives now so life remains stable while the case moves.

The 86th District Court and the 13th Circuit Court: How they fit together

For misdemeanors, the 86th District Court handles everything—arraignment, pre-trials, motions, and any trial. For felonies, the 86th District Court handles the early stages (arraignment, bond, probable-cause conference, preliminary exam). If there’s enough to continue, the case can be bound over to the 13th Circuit Court for the later phases and any felony jury trial. In week one, you’re focused on the District Court. If your case moves beyond that, we’ll map out what changes and why.

Final Thoughts for First-Time Defendants in Traverse City

It’s completely normal to feel off-balance in the first week after an arrest. You’re not alone, and this moment does not define you. The path forward is a series of steps—arrest, booking, arraignment—each with a clear purpose. Understanding those steps, following any bond conditions, and staying organized gives you control when it doesn’t feel like you have much.

Our firm is built for this exact moment. We are hyper-local to Grand Traverse County and Leelanau County, and we limit our practice to the 86th District Court and 13th Circuit Court. We prepare every case as if it may go to trial because preparation creates good choices later—whether that’s a motion, a negotiation, or a jury. We’re here for good people who made a bad decision and are now navigating something they never expected to face.

If you’re facing charges in the 86th District Court or 13th Circuit Court in Grand Traverse or Leelanau County, you can schedule a confidential strategy session using our online calendar at https://calendly.com/tnlg/30min or call (231) 800-8654. After scheduling, you will receive a calendar confirmation with details for the meeting.