When it comes to getting booked in LA for a crime, this is a crucial distinction in the law because once somebody is booked, the police will attempt to get the prosecutors—whether it be the City Attorney or District Attorney—to charge the person with a crime, a process that can have serious implications. 

The way it works is that the police get their hands on somebody, bring them to the police station, and if they decide to book them, take their fingerprints; typically, palm prints are taken. 

They are probably put in a DNA database. A lot of these law enforcement agencies – which I think is impermissible – sometimes try to take people's DNA, their photographs, so now there's a record of the person being booked for a crime in Los Angeles, and that's the type of record that's very difficult – if not impossible – to get off your record.

So, when it comes to booking, that's kind of the dividing line between there being a record of you coming through the police station and there being no record of it. A lot of times what happens is prosecutors get their hands on a case.

They look at it and decide not to file any charges. So, as long as the police didn't book the person, there's going to be no record of a crime. If the police in Los Angeles booked the person, then other things can be done to avoid having that record, but it just depends on the circumstances.

There are now mechanisms in place that have recently been passed. If you're booked and the prosecutors don't file a charge against you, you can attempt to get that booking out of there.

A lot of times, also, I see a person come in contact with the police, and the police cite them in court, but they don't arrest them. They don't book them, so there's no record.

The prosecutors and judge realize that, and they make that part of any resolution that the person has to go in and get booked, which is kind of a borough because now they're going to get a record, and it's going to go into the DOJ database showing them getting booked.

Depending on what you get booked for, you could get booked for a serious crime, but in reality, you really weren't good for that. You might end up with some lesser crime or even a dismissal, but that booking is still there.

The Booking Process

The booking process in LA can be really easy if the police are cooperative, but sometimes, they need to be more cooperative and make the booking process hard. I have people—especially in the Orange County Jail system—go in for a simple booking.

All they have to do is take your picture and take their fingerprints and let them go, and they keep them in there overnight. But, typically, in Los Angeles County, as far as booking goes, you're usually going to be in and out of there.

You get proof that you got booked, and you're done, or the police arrest you, book you, and allow you to post bail, or even sometimes they can arrest you, book you, and cite you out. 'Citing out' is a process where the police release you from custody with a citation, which is a notice to appear in court at a later date. So, the booking process in LA is an interesting one.

There are all kinds of different things going on, and this is one thing that I'm good at doing – having done this for twenty-five years – once the police get their hands on somebody – trying to track the person and figure out when they're going to court, what they're getting booked for, what they're bail is going to be – is not always the easiest thing. 

So, if you've been booked or processed for a crime or a loved one of yours is in the process of being booked for a crime, you want to get a skilled attorney on your side right from the beginning. You have to get a lawyer in there right away.

A lot of times, if it's the right case, such as a serious crime or a complex legal situation, I'll go in and try to talk to the person while they're in custody so they don't say anything that can incriminate themselves.

So, if you've been booked for a crime, you must get a great criminal defense attorney by your side who can preserve your rights, your freedom, and your reputation. Having a skilled attorney can provide a sense of security in such a challenging situation. 

We discuss our strategy and try to make the right moves for you or your loved one so they are in the best possible position when they are booked in Los Angeles.

And remember, just because you get booked for a crime in LA doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get charged for the crime. The prosecutors who are the lawyer like me – they have to look over the case. They have to see whether or not the police have actually done their job, done a proper investigation, and have the evidence necessary to charge a person with a crime.

So, there are a lot of people out there who have been booked for a crime in LA, and they never get any crime filed against them, a fact that offers a glimmer of hope in a potentially distressing situation.

Either the police ultimately let them go because some higher-level police officer realizes they have no evidence on the person, or the prosecutors get their hands on it. They review it and realize—you know what—we're not filing this case. We'll never be able to prove it. A good defense attorney is going to take us apart.