How to Bail Someone Out of L.A. County Jail
Los Angeles has two separate custody systems that hand off to each other, which trips people up: the LAPD holds people right after arrest within city limits, and custody is then transferred to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) for anyone who isn't released or arraigned quickly. If the person was arrested outside LAPD's jurisdiction (by the Sheriff's Department directly, or another city police department in the county), they may go straight into LASD custody instead.
Step 1 Find out where they're being held
If the arrest was in the City of Los Angeles (LAPD): Call the LAPD's inmate locator line: 213-473-6100, available 24 hours a day. You'll need the person's full legal name and date of birth.
LAPD jail facilities include:
- Metropolitan Detention Center — 213-356-3400
- 77th Street Regional Jail — 323-786-5541
- Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys) — 818-374-9645
If the arrest was elsewhere in the county, or they've been transferred to county custody: Use the LASD's online Inmate Information Center to search by name and date of birth. If the person was arrested very recently, allow a few hours for booking before they'll show up in any system.
Step 2 Check the bail amount against the county bail schedule
Los Angeles County's Superior Court publishes separate felony and misdemeanor bail schedules, updated annually (effective January 1 each year) — always confirm you're looking at the current year's version before relying on a dollar figure, since schedules do change. Most standard charges are set by this schedule; certain charges (domestic violence, some drug offenses — see the linked cluster articles) may instead require a judge to set or review bail at a hearing rather than the schedule applying automatically.
Note: Los Angeles County's pretrial release policies have shifted more than once in recent years, including periods of emergency zero-bail policy for lower-level offenses during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Don't assume the rules you remember from a past arrest still apply — check the current schedule and ask the jail directly whether any zero-bail or pre-arraignment release policy currently applies to the specific charge.
Step 3 Pay bail
At LAPD facilities, bail can be posted 24/7 by cash, surety bond, cashier's check drawn on a California bank, or money order (Western Union or USPS). Confirm accepted payment methods directly with the specific facility holding the person, since this can differ between LAPD and LASD facilities.
Step 4 If you need a bail bond agent
California allows commercial bail bonds, with the premium rate regulated by the state (see the cost article on this site for how the percentage works generally). Any agent should be licensed with the California Department of Insurance — ask for their license number and verify it before paying anything.
Visiting and other logistics
LAPD jail visits are generally limited to one visit per day per friend or family member during designated hours; attorneys, bail bond agents, and clergy are typically allowed to visit at other times. Confirm current visiting hours with the specific facility, as these can change.