Expert: Chris Wagoner - 8/28/2008

Question
Hi:
In my story, the officer brings in the handcuffed suspect in front of the desk Sergeant. What is police procedure? Does the cop lock him up or someone else? Do you fill out forms, first? Unfortunately, I've never been locked up so I wouldn't know.
Thanks.

Answer
Hi Demetrius,

It really depends on the department. But generally procedure for booking someone is that you bring them in and they go in a holding cell, while you complete the paperwork needed to book them in. You turn in their property and get a receipt and once the booking paperwork is done, and the property turned in, you can leave then and write the report later.

Here this is from the police recruit text book on what to do:
After the officer arrives at the detention facility and secures his or her weapon(s), the
officer must process the prisoner. Many agencies use booking or intake officers (law
enforcement or correctional officers) at the county jail to perform some or all functions
for the arresting officer. These facilities have their own policies and procedures, and
officers must know and follow them.
The officer should inform the correctional officer of the charges against the prisoner, any
injuries the prisoner has, if the prisoner was contaminated with subject control spray, or
if an electronic control device was used. The transporting officer needs to give the
booking officer personal property, not including contraband, removed from the prisoner
and bagged at the scene. Then the transporting officer should transfer custody of the
prisoner to the booking officer.
After the transfer, the booking officer processes the prisoner. The transporting officer
may complete the arrest affidavit, the charging document. The detention facility
needs the arrest affidavit before the transporting officer leaves.
Booking
Most agencies use booking or intake officers at the county jail to book, fingerprint, and
photograph prisoners. Before beginning, the booking officer performs another full,
detailed search of the prisoner. Next, the officer should try to confirm the prisoner’s
biographical information by asking for verbal identification and then requesting legal
identification. Photo identification such as a driver’s license or immigration visa is
preferred. If the prisoner cannot or will not provide identification, he or she should be
processed as John Doe or Jane Doe. Important information such as medical conditions
should then be obtained. If the prisoner has a physical and/or mental illness that may
require attention, appropriate facility personnel should be alerted.
The officer should make sure that the prisoner understands the charge(s) and determine
his or her ability to do so. If the person does not understand, the officer may have
to adjust the level of communication or contact an interpreter (LE101.3.C.). During
this part of intake, the transporting officer or the booking officer may ask dispatch or
the warrants section to run a FCIC/NCIC check for the suspect’s name and
outstanding warrants.
The officer should inventory and describe in a written report all property belonging to
and removed from the prisoner. The officer must itemize, tag, or otherwise properly
identify all items taken. Different agencies and/or detention facilities can require
different information. All items should be placed in a property container and secured
in a designated depository.Taking accurate inventories and properly securing a prisoner’s
property protects an officer and the agency from theft charges, and it maintains the
chain of custody for items that are evidence. A narrative report and a booking form or
both, depending on the facility’s procedures, should be completed as needed or required.

Hope all that helps, that what we teach to police recruits.