Criminal Law: The Booking Process

As you are probably aware, if you watch crime dramas, the booking process usually happens shortly after a suspect has been arrested, and can take several hours to complete. Often, suspects have already been arraigned before they have finished the booking process, and even if they can post bail immediately, they must complete booking before they are released on bail.

Following is a description of the booking process:

The Booking Process Step #1: Recording of Information

When you first stand before the desk clerk, you will be asked an array of questions about yourself, including your name, birth date, social security number, driver's license number, address, telephone number and emergency contact information. This part of the booking process usually takes ten-to-fifteen minutes, depending on your ability to answer the questions quickly and truthfully.

The recording of information is almost always done on a computer, and the desk clerk will type the information as you deliver it.

The Booking Process Step #2: Mug Shot

The infamous mug shot will be taken second, and is guaranteed to be worse even than your driver's license photo. Mug shots are used to distinguish individuals with the same name and to provide an accurate portrayal of the suspect at the time of arrest.

The Booking Process Step #3: Collection of Property

Most of a suspect's property will be confiscated at the time of arrest, including anything in the pockets, any jewelry and any bags or purses. The suspect should receive a receipt for all items that are confiscated so that he or she can collect everything upon release. The only items that will not be returned to the suspect are contraband (illegal material, such as drugs) and evidence involved in the commission of a crime (such as stolen property).

The Booking Process Step #4: Fingerprinting

Fingerprints are taken for two reasons: (1) For comparison to any prints left at a crime scene; and (2) To be entered into the FBI database. Fingerprints are done in several different ways; sometimes using fingerprint ink, and sometimes by laser, depending on the equipment housed by the jail.

The Booking Process Step #5: Body Search

Often notoriously referred to as a "cavity search" is the invasive and sometimes humiliating strip search that will be conducted by an officer of the same gender as the suspect. Body searches are usually only conducted on suspects that will remain in jail, and are meant to discover any contraband that the suspect might have brought to jail with him or her. The extent of the body search can depend on any number of factors, and is usually uncomfortable.

The Booking Process Step #6: Health Screening

The health screening is meant to protect jail officials as well as other inmates from communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis and AIDS. The health screening may consist of x-rays and blood work.