What Happens When I Am Booked in to Jail?

After you are booked in to custody, it is unlikely your first hearing will occur that very same day. It’s also unlikely your lawyer is going to come crashing through the doors of the police station once you arrive at the jail, even if you are hiring your own criminal defense attorney rather than relying on a public defender. Even if your attorney was there, it wouldn’t make much difference at that point.

Those first few minutes in jail aren’t the intimidating questioning process you’ve seen on television. The booking process is something else entirely.

When a suspect is booked, the booking officer literally has to document the alleged crime and the suspect’s name in a book. The “book” may now be a computer file, but the idea is the same.

Another word for booking is “processing,” and during this time a police officer will note the details of what happened.

That includes getting the suspect’s personal information including name, date of birth, and any physical characteristics. To get that information, the officer may ask for identification which you are required to provide if asked. Contact information including home address and phone number will also be gathered.

The officer will also take fingerprints, a photograph (that’s where the mug shot comes from) and a strip search or full body search of the suspect will happen to recover any contraband such as drugs or weapons. Depending on the type of criminal case, the arrestee may be requested to provide a DNA sample or take a blood test. State laws differ on whether an arrestee is required to provide these samples so wait for your attorney before you consent.

Any personal items such as a purse, keys, wallet, or a cell phone will be confiscated. This personal property isn’t gone forever. It will be returned upon release. There’s also usually a phone nearby to make that “one phone call” to a family member or your attorney.

Besides the information the suspect provides, this is the time when the police officer writes down the alleged crime and reasons for arrest. The suspect’s name and fingerprints will be used to determine if the person has a prior criminal record. This will include any outstanding warrants the suspect may have as well as any gang affiliations that law enforcement is aware of.

For minor offenses, booking may be your first and last stop in county jail and you’ll be on your way with just a citation. If the charges are more serious you will stay in a holding cell until a bail hearing can be held and a bail amount is set. At that hearing you could be released on your own recognizance (which means no bail) or you may be held until posting bail. If you cannot afford the bail you or your loved ones can hire a bondsman to put up a bail bond on your behalf.It’s not until police start asking you questions about what happened at the scene of arrest or put you in a lineup with other suspects that you definitely need to have an experienced criminal defense attorney present. If you are under arrest, the police officer must advise you of your Miranda rights (which are the ones you are familiar with from t.v.) before questioning you. Whether or not you are read your rights, it’s appropriate (and recommended) to say you want to speak to an attorney and refuse to participate in further questioning until your criminal defense lawyer arrives.

If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge (traffic related or otherwise), immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.