Legal Definitions - bench blotter

A bench blotter refers to an informal, preliminary record created by law enforcement officers at the time an individual is taken into custody. It serves as an initial log of basic information about an arrest, often kept at the police station's front desk or "bench" where arrestees are first processed. This record typically includes details such as the arrestee's name, the time and date of arrest, the charges, and the arresting officer's name. It is a foundational document that precedes the creation of a more comprehensive and formal arrest record.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a bench blotter:

• Example 1: A police officer arrests a driver for suspected driving under the influence (DUI) after observing erratic behavior on the road. Upon arriving at the precinct, the officer takes the individual to the booking area. The desk sergeant or booking officer immediately logs the arrestee's name, the charge (DUI), the time of arrest, and the arresting officer's badge number into a physical or digital logbook. This initial entry constitutes the bench blotter, providing a quick, immediate record of the incident before more detailed paperwork is completed.

• Example 2: During a large public demonstration, several individuals are arrested for disorderly conduct and failure to disperse. As each person is brought to the temporary holding facility or police station, their basic identifying information and the specific charges are quickly noted down in a running log. This rapid documentation, often done in a chronological order as arrests occur, serves as the bench blotter, ensuring that every person taken into custody is accounted for from the moment they arrive.

• Example 3: Following a report of a domestic disturbance, officers arrive at a residence and determine that one individual needs to be arrested for assault. Once the arrest is made and the individual is transported to the police station, the intake officer records the arrestee's name, the date and time of arrival, and the assault charge into the station's daily log. This immediate, front-line recording of the arrest is the bench blotter, establishing an official timestamp and basic details of the custody event before the formal booking process, fingerprinting, and detailed incident reports are completed.