Hi <<Goes By Name>>,
Being arrested is a stressful experience — but an arrest does not automatically mean that criminal charges have been filed. In many cases, a person is arrested, booked, and then released without any formal charges. Here's what Missouri law allows, and what to expect in the days and weeks that follow.
Booking and Release
If you're arrested, you’ll likely be taken to a police station for booking — fingerprints, a mugshot, and paperwork. From there, there are several possibilities:
You may receive a citation with a scheduled court date.
You may receive a citation without a court date. The “Court Date” field on the citation will say “TBD” for “to be determined” or “TBN” for “to be notified.”
You may be released “PAW,” which stands for Pending Application of Warrant. This means law enforcement is completing its investigation and will submit the report to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.
At that point, the prosecutor decides whether to file charges, and if so, which charges to file. In the meantime, you’ve been released, but the investigation may still be very much active.
What Is the 24-Hour Rule?
If you’re arrested without a warrant, Missouri law requires that you be released within 24 hours unless charges are filed and a judge issues a warrant.
Why the Delay?
Many people are surprised by the gap between the date of the arrest and the date charges are actually filed. Often, when people are booked and released PAW, they believe their legal problems are over – only to be surprised months later when charges get filed and a warrant issued. But this is common in Missouri, especially in cases involving:
Lab work (e.g., drug testing, DNA, ballistics)
Additional witness interviews
Surveillance video collection
Prosecutors have up to one year from the date of the offense to file most misdemeanors, and up to three years for most felonies. So the process can take time — sometimes months.
