small book
nounEtymology Coined in the mid-20th century; a reference to the literal logbooks or "small books" officers use at the station.
1
Historical Synonym of logbook.
2
Law Archaic A process by which someone is to be detained or held on investigation without an official charge being filed; suspects placed in it were routinely held incommunicado (denied phone calls and visitors) while detectives aggressively interrogated them for confessions without formally charging them.
- a prisoner is being placed/held on the small book