Pretrial Events Booking

Criminal Procedure: Pretrial Events Booking

Introduction to Pretrial Events Booking

Once the suspect has been taken into custody and transported to a police facility, he or she is booked. Booking is the clerical process by which an administrative record is made of the arrest. The name and address of the person arrested (sometimes referred to as the arrestee), the time and place of arrest, the name of the arresting officer, and the arrest charge are entered in the police log. Booking can also involve searching, fingerprinting, photographing, and testing the arrestee for drugs and alcohol. If booked on a minor offense, the arrestee may be able to obtain release immediately by posting cash (known as station house bail) as security to ensure his or her appearance before a magistrate at a later date. If arrested on a serious offense, the accused will be placed in a holding facility to await the filing of an initial charging document (complaint) and a first appearance before a judge or magistrate.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Pretrial Events Booking in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Pretrial Events Booking

In this Section

Pretrial Events, Investigation and Arrest, Pretrial Events Booking, First Judicial Appearance, Bail, Preliminary Hearing, Arraignment on the Indictment and Preparation for Trial.