Was I "wrong" to release a frog that had been captured by my cousins?

I got yelled at because I let a frog go that they had kept in a little habitat thing all day and were planning on keeping in there overnight. I didn't see any water or food in the tank and I think it may be illegal to take wild frogs in New Jersey anyway? Also, it is pretty mean to keep it enclosed like that for basically 24 hours, yet I get yelled at for doing that? Thoughts?