I Was Arrested but Released Without Charges in California. What Happens Next?

Hripsime Bagdasaryan

Hripsime Bagdasaryan's Answer

Criminal Lawglendale, USA8 years experience

Quick Answer

After being arrested and released without charges in California, you either receive a citation for a future court date or are free to go, but the investigation may continue without further action at this time.

💡 Every situation is different. Speak with a lawyer to understand your specific options.

Key risks of waiting too long

Potential Risk

Possibility of future charges even if released without a citation.

Potential Risk

Uncertainty during ongoing investigations.

Potential Risk

Failure to respond properly to a citation may lead to legal issues.

Full Transcript

Below is an AI-generated transcript of the video answer.

Arrested and released in California with no charges. What can happen next?

So either they gave you a citation for a future court date for, you know, whatever crime that you were arrested for.

What that means is they're going to do further investigation and then turn the case over to the district attorney

who will then decide whether or not they want to press charges against you.

So that's why you have that future court date.

Or if they didn't give you a citation and they just let you go, then that means their investigation yielded to no fruit

and there is nothing that they're going to do at this time.

I mean, it doesn't preclude them from doing their investigation separately on their own,

but it just means that at this time, nothing is going to, you know, move forward and you don't need to do anything on your end.

So one of two things, either you have a future court date because they gave you a citation or you don't and it ends there for now.