This procedure, known as the "Cite Out", involves the issuance of a citation by the arresting officer to the arrestee, informing the arrestee that he or she must appear at an appointed court date.
The Cite Out
usually occurs immediately after an individual is arrested. As a
consequence of the failure to follow complete booking procedures,
the true identity and background of most individuals released on
citation is never established. This results in the release of
numerous arrestees who may have outstanding bench warrants pending
or who may present a significant danger to society.
Accordingly, in those cases involving Cite Outs, the arrestee may never
be placed in custody, and like the own recognizance release, such an
arrestee's appearance in court depends exclusively upon the
integrity of the alleged felon and his or her voluntarily returning
to court.
