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CLICK FOR 10/4 COUNTY BOARD MEETING VIDEO

Centralized-Arraignment 

System Being Considered

County Attorney Ellen Coccoma, right, tells the Otsego County Board of Representatives at its Wednesday, Oct. 4, meeting she has convened a committee to explore the creation of a “central arraignment center,” probably in Oneonta, that would require people arrested after hours to be held at the county jail (or Oneonta lock-up) until 8 a.m. the following morning so they could be ensured the attendance of a public defender. She said the change is being studied because of a lawsuit and legislation passed by the state Legislature in the spring. Now, people arrested are taken to the nearest town justice; if the new concept goes forward, they would be held overnight at the county jail, pending arraignment the following morning. She briefed the reps because former county rep. Alex Shields of Richfield Springs, during “privilege of the floor,”  questioned a new law making the county jail available for this purpose.   State Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, had the enabling legislation passed earlier this year. Many reps were hearing about this concept for the first time, but Coccoma said she planned to brief the county board’s Public Safety & Legal Affairs Committee when it meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the county office building. Coccoma’s briefing begins at 2:11:53 of the Youtube video.

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