Release after a confession without a charge (9,4)

I believe the answer is:

admission free

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'without a charge' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'release after a confession' is the wordplay.
'release' becomes 'free' (synonyms).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'a confession' becomes 'admission' (I've seen this before).
'free' after 'admission' is 'ADMISSION FREE'.

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I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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