The average arrest-to-arraignment time on the weekend in all city courts was just over 26 hours.
During the Republican convention, protesters were detained for 40 to 50 hours in violation of a judge's order and the 24-hour guideline for arrest-to-arraignment time.
Legal Aid lawyers said that abiding by the 24-hour arrest-to-arraignment time limit was especially important in light of the large number of people arrested for minor infractions that rarely result in prosecutors' seeking jail time.
He will also "identify issues that may affect the arraignment process and modify, develop and implement procedures to maximize effectiveness in reducing arrest-to-arraignment times," the statement said.
On Wednesday, Mr. Tsarnaev's younger brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, the surviving suspect in the bombings, appeared in court for arraignment, the first time he had been seen by the public since he was discovered, covered in blood, hiding in a boat in a Watertown, Mass., backyard.
The arraignment was the first time since 2008 that the five high-profile Qaeda detainees had been seen in public.
Under Vermont bail laws, judges have the power, at the time of arraignment, to require defendants to participate in treatment programs if it's necessary to protect the public or ensure that defendants appear at future court proceedings.
Mr. Nowak, who works with Robert Spector, an assistant United States attorney, on the safe neighborhoods program, said he has seen a "significant number" of state gun cases resolved within a month or two of arraignment with lengthy prison time.
Today, about 45,000 people are remitted to Rikers each year only because they can't post bail at the time of arraignment, and 1,500 of the about 9,000 inmates currently at Rikers have been there for more than a year without a trial.
At his arraignment, Mr. Johnson, who at times appeared solemn, pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Feinblatt has been urging the court system since last month to schedule more time for arraignments.
