Booking

[هيثم الفقى]

After arrest (http://criminal.findlaw.com/crimes/criminal_stages/criminal_arrest/), a criminal suspect is usually taken into police custody and "booked," or "processed." During booking, a police officer typically:


Takes the criminal suspect's personal information (i.e., name, date of birth, physical characteristics);

Records information about the suspect's alleged crime;

Performs a record search of the suspect's criminal background;

Fingerprints, photographs, and searches the suspect;

Confiscates any personal property carried by the suspect (i.e., keys, purse), to be returned upon the suspect's release; and

Places the suspect in a police station holding cell or local jail.

(Note: persons arrested for minor offenses may merely be given a written citation and released, after signing the citation and promising to appear in court at a later date.)
For criminal suspects who are placed in jail, the first priority is usually getting out. Except when very serious crimes are charged, a suspect usually can obtain pre-trial release through bail or "own recognizance" release.
from (http://criminal.findlaw.com/crimes/criminal_stages/stages-booking-bail/booking.html)