San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles
Chatsworth Bail Bonds, Far West Valley Help
By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.
Chatsworth sits at the very edge of the San Fernando Valley, against the Santa Susana mountains. When a family here gets that awful late night call, the jail can feel a world away. It is closer than you think, and we can guide you.
I am Jane Un, a licensed California bail agent. We are open 24 hours, and most of the bond process can happen from your kitchen table by phone and online. Our Los Angeles office is on Avila Street, but you do not have to come downtown to start.
Chatsworth at a glance
| LAPD Area | Devonshire |
|---|---|
| LAPD station | Devonshire Community Police Station, 10250 Etiwanda Avenue, Northridge, CA 91325 |
| Usually booked at | Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys Station) |
| Courthouse, usually | Van Nuys Courthouse East, 6230 Sylmar Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91401 |
| ZIP codes | 91311 |
| Women | Century Regional Detention Facility, Lynwood |
Devonshire Area, and a station in Northridge
Chatsworth is in the LAPD Devonshire Area. Despite the name, the Devonshire station is not in Chatsworth. It is on Etiwanda Avenue in Northridge, a few miles east. Our Devonshire station page has the address and phone.
The station is where officers start the paperwork. For many Valley arrests, the person is then held at the Valley Jail Section next to the Van Nuys station. LAPD does not publish a list of which neighborhood goes to which jail, so we say usually, and we ask you to call 213-473-6100 to confirm.
Our Valley Jail page lists the address on Sylmar Avenue and the visiting rules.
Driving or riding east to Van Nuys
From Chatsworth, the trip to Van Nuys is a long one on surface streets. Most people take the 118 Freeway east and the 405 south, or Devonshire Street and Sepulveda Boulevard if the freeways are jammed. Give yourself at least 40 minutes, and more in rush hour.
If you cannot drive, the Metro G Line busway ends at the Chatsworth station and runs east across the Valley. From there you can transfer to buses that reach Van Nuys. Metrolink also stops in Chatsworth, although the schedule is thin late at night.
Near the Valley Jail, street parking on Sylmar Avenue fills quickly. Look for nearby lots instead of circling.
Parks, trails and weekend arrests
Chatsworth has a lot of open space. Chatsworth Park, the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park and the trails above Topanga Canyon Boulevard draw hikers, riders and families on weekends. Good weather means more people out and about, and some calls to us start with a weekend outing that ended badly.
Others begin at home, on Topanga Canyon Boulevard, near the industrial blocks east of Canoga Avenue or after a late party. Whatever started it, the first steps are the same.
Not every arrest in the hills is by LAPD. The California Highway Patrol handles freeway incidents on the 118, and the county or neighboring agencies cover some canyon roads. If you are not sure who arrested your family member, the locator and the information line can help.
Cost, with real numbers
Premium is 10% of the bail, or 8% when a private attorney is retained or the defendant or co-signer is a veteran. We never call 1% the price. On approved credit, 1% down starts the bond and the rest of the premium is paid monthly through Bail Today, Pay Later.
If bail is $45,000, the premium at 10% is $4,500 and the first payment is $450. If an attorney is hired, the premium at 8% is $3,600. Use the calculator to try your own number.
Many families here own homes or have steady jobs, which can help with approval, but approval is never guaranteed and it is never based on just one thing.
Court in Van Nuys
Valley criminal cases are generally heard at Van Nuys Courthouse East on Sylmar Avenue, close to the jail. The court date is printed on release papers. You can also look it up on the Los Angeles Superior Court site.
Arrive early, dress neatly and bring photo ID. If a lawyer cannot be afforded, see our free resources directory for public defenders and legal aid.
If you cannot get there, call the lawyer or the clerk before the date, not after. Our guide to missed court dates explains the risks.
If a pregnant woman is in custody
Qualifying pregnant women, 8 months or more along, with bail of $50,000 or less on a non-violent charge and a working co-signer with proof of income, may receive free bail with the premium waived, subject to approval. If she does not qualify, ask anyway, we are often able to help. Women arrested in the Valley may be moved to the women's jail in Lynwood. See our pregnancy bail page for the details.
1% down is a down payment on approved credit, not the price of the bond. The premium is the rate on file with the California Department of Insurance, 10% of the bail amount, or 8% when a private attorney is retained or you or the defendant is a veteran. The balance goes on a payment plan.
Questions people ask
Is there a police station in Chatsworth?
Chatsworth is covered by LAPD Devonshire, and that station is in Northridge on Etiwanda Avenue. Call the station before you drive over.
Which jail do Chatsworth arrests usually go to?
Usually the Valley Jail Section on Sylmar Avenue in Van Nuys, though LAPD can move people. Call 213-473-6100 to confirm.
Can I handle this from home?
A lot of it, yes. You can call us and apply online in about 4 minutes. We will tell you which steps need a signature and how to handle them.
What if the CHP arrested them on the freeway?
CHP arrests may be booked in a different facility than LAPD arrests. Call the CHP office or check the LASD locator to find out where the person is.
Do I need a lawyer before I call?
No. Call us first or at any time. A private attorney can lower the premium rate to 8%, so tell us if you hire one.
Nearby neighborhoods
More in San Fernando Valley, or see every Los Angeles neighborhood.