Wayne County’s Centralized Arraignment Court Streamlines Justice System, Enhances Public Safety

CAP Court ensures that any arrest made within the county is processed promptly at either 7 a.m. or 7 p.m.

Wayne County’s Centralized Arraignment Part (CAP) court, in operation since 2019 and housed within the county jail, has significantly improved judicial efficiency and public safety, local officials say. The model now has streamlined arraignments, allowing for a more organized and effective legal process.

Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan and Sheriff Robert Milby spoke with Rochester news agency, 13WHAM, about the impact of CAP court on the local justice system. Callanan explained that CAP court handles off-hour arraignments, ensuring that any arrest made within the county is processed promptly at either 7 a.m. or 7 p.m.

“We utilize this for off-hour arraignments,” Callanan told 13WHAM. “Basically, any arrest that happens within Wayne County, a defendant gets arraigned here either at 7 a.m. or 7 p.m. on those charges.”

Previously, arraignments took place in the town or village where an arrest occurred, often leading to delays and logistical hurdles, particularly during overnight hours.

“It used to be that if it was off-hours, you would have to try and find a judge in your town or village to be available at 2 a.m., 3 a.m.,” Callanan told 13WHAM. “But now that we have a standing standard schedule, everyone knows exactly where they're going, what time the arraignments happen, and the judges have a rotating schedule along with the attorneys to make sure that people are always present here to move cases along.”

Sheriff Milby emphasized the efficiency gains for law enforcement, explaining that corrections officers now handle CAP court operations, reducing the need for deputies to leave their patrol areas for extended periods.

“Officers would have to go back to that original place of jurisdiction, whereas now, when we bring people in to process them, do the paperwork that we need to do, we don’t necessarily have to go back out to that township,” Milby told 13WHAM. “So, it really has streamlined, not only the cost of fuel, but time and energy spent taking those deputies off the road when they could be out there protecting the public.”

Beyond logistical improvements, CAP court also allows for the swift implementation of protective orders, an important step in ensuring community safety.

“That has really been a benefit as well to community safety, is that we get those orders in place as quickly as possible before the case proceeds any further,” Callanan noted.