Law enforcement can't hold a suspect indefinitely without the filing of charges.
Updated 5/08/2024
Why Trust Us?
Fact-Checked
Nolo was born in 1971 as a publisher of self-help legal books. Guided by the motto “law for all,” our attorney authors and editors have been explaining the law to everyday people ever since. Learn more about our history and our editorial standards.
Each article that we publish has been written or reviewed by one of our editors, who together have over 100 years of experience practicing law. We strive to keep our information current as laws change. Learn more about our editorial standards.
Being arrested comes with a lot of uncertainty, which can include not knowing the exact charges being filed against you. The authorities can't wait forever to inform you of the charges, but they also don't have to tell you immediately.
For suspects who are in custody (jail), some kind of court appearance (usually an "arraignment" or "initial appearance") must typically occur within two or three days. At that court appearance, the government presents the charges against the defendant. The charges are normally subject to change, though. For example, a prosecutor might not make a final decision on charges until after a preliminary hearing, which can take place more than a month after arrest.
Copyright ©2025 MH Sub I, LLC dba Nolo ® Self-help services may not be permitted in all states. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Consumer Health Data Notice.
Your Privacy Choices