Who has the authority to release a person arrested for public intoxication?

The authority to release a person arrested for public intoxication typically rests with a magistrate. This is because magistrates are judicial officers who handle initial court appearances for individuals who have been arrested. They have the power to make determinations regarding bail and custody and can decide whether an individual should be released or held in custody until a hearing.

The other individuals listed have different roles. For instance, a police chief oversees the police department and manages law enforcement operations but does not have direct authority over individual arrests and releases. Judges are responsible for overseeing court proceedings and making rulings in cases, but they usually become involved after an arraignment and not at the initial arrest stage. A district attorney prosecutes criminal cases but does not have the authority to release individuals who are arrested. Therefore, the magistrate is indeed the correct and most appropriate authority in this context.