被告被大陪审团指控后，法官正式当面告知被告政府对他的刑事指控。这个程序上，被告必须认罪（plead guilty）或者不认罪（not guilty）。

During the arraignment, a judge shall formally explain to the defendant the specific criminal charges brought against him by the government. During this procedure, the defendant will either plead guilty or not guilty.

柳治平说：

“这个程序象征意义大于实质。几乎没有被告会不行使其抗辩权利、庭审权利，不争取辩控交易，而照单全收认罪伏法的。”

“This procedure is more symbolic than substantive. A defendant usually will not plead guilty to all the charges, because by doing so he will lose the right to an open trial where he can assert any potential defenses, and lose the opportunity for any plea bargain.”

过堂之后，庭审之前，如果双方同意，被告可以认更轻的罪，或者同意给予政府某种配合（比如作为政府证人帮助政府控告其他情节更严重的嫌疑人），换取更轻的惩罚，这叫辩控交易（plea bargain）。

After the arraignment but before the trial, if both parties agree, the defendant may plead guilty to some lesser charges by agreeing to cooperate with the government, for example, to serve as a witness for the government against co-conspirators. This is called a “plea bargain.”

柳治平说：

“双方讨价还价，实际效果类似于坦白从宽，抗拒从严。被告如果认罪的话，被告失去庭审的权利，不得上诉。”

“If the defendant pleads guilty, then the defendant loses the right to a trial and to an appeal.”

“事实上美国90%以上的刑事案件都通过辩控交易结案的。对于被告来说，不接受合理的辩控交易的风险是：要面对庭审，之后如果被定罪，一般将面临更高处罚。对于检察官来说，不给予被告合理的辩控交易的风险是：进入庭审之后如果被告没有被定罪，那检察官的职业声名受损，特别是案子已经受到公众关注。”

“In fact, over 90% of all criminal cases in the United States have been settled through plea bargains. The defendant assumes significant risk if he does not accept a reasonable plea bargain, such as facing higher penalties if he goes to trial and gets convicted. On the other hand, the prosecutor assumes significant risk if he does not offer a reasonable plea bargain. For one, his reputation will suffer, especially for cases that have aroused public attention.”

如果没有达成辩控交易，下一步是庭审。