Legal Definitions - booking

Booking refers to the formal administrative process that takes place at a police station or jail after an individual has been arrested and brought into custody. It is the procedure where law enforcement officials record essential information about the arrested person and the alleged crime.

During booking, several standard steps typically occur:

• Information Gathering: Personal details such as name, address, date of birth, and the specific charges are recorded.
• Identification: The individual's fingerprints are taken, and a photograph (often called a "mug shot") is captured for identification purposes.
• Background Checks: Law enforcement may check databases for any outstanding warrants or prior criminal history.
• Personal Property Inventory: All personal belongings, including clothing, are collected, cataloged, and stored securely. The individual is typically given a standard uniform to wear.
• Search and Screening: The individual is searched for weapons or contraband. A basic medical screening may also be conducted to assess immediate health concerns for the individual or others in the facility.

This process ensures that a complete record of the arrest is created and that the individual is properly processed into the detention system before being held or released on bail.

Examples:

• Example 1: Shoplifting Arrest
  A person named Sarah is apprehended by store security for shoplifting and subsequently arrested by the police. When Sarah is taken to the police station, she will undergo booking. This involves officers taking her fingerprints and a mug shot, recording her personal details and the shoplifting charge, and inventorying her purse and other belongings before she is placed in a holding cell. This entire administrative procedure is the booking process.

• Example 2: DUI Incident
  Mark is pulled over for erratic driving and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) after failing a sobriety test. Upon arrival at the police station, Mark will be booked. His driver's license information will be recorded, his photograph and fingerprints will be taken, and his personal items like his wallet and phone will be cataloged and stored. A medical check might also be part of his booking to ensure he doesn't require immediate medical attention due to intoxication or any injuries from the arrest.

• Example 3: Public Disturbance with Warrant Discovery
  Emily is arrested for creating a public disturbance outside a bar. During her booking at the precinct, after her fingerprints and photo are taken and her personal information is entered, the officers discover through a database check that Emily has an outstanding warrant for a previous unpaid traffic ticket. This discovery, made during the routine administrative steps of recording her information and checking her background, is a direct outcome of the booking process.