Central L.A., Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles Bail Bonds, Minutes From the Jail

By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.

If someone was arrested in Downtown Los Angeles, you are closer to the jail than almost anyone in the city. Our office at 900 Avila St sits a short walk from the booking jail on Los Angeles Street.

You can call us at (213) 725-2815 any hour, day or night. A family member, friend or attorney can call for the person. Tell us the name, the jail and the charge if you know it, and we will explain the next step in plain words. This page covers where downtown arrests go, how the court works, and how 1% down on approved credit can fit the bail amount you are facing.

Downtown at a glance

Where a downtown arrest usually goes

Downtown is covered by LAPD Central Division, with its station at 251 E. 6th Street. The station is a front desk and a holding point. The person is usually booked at the Metropolitan Detention Center at 180 N. Los Angeles St. LAPD can move people between facilities, so always call to confirm before you drive anywhere.

The Central station phone is 213-486-6606. The 24 hour inmate line at 213-473-6100 covers LAPD and county jails. You can also search online on the LASD Inmate Information Center at app5.lasd.org/iic. Details are on our Central station page.

Arrests near Crypto.com Arena, Union Station and the Music Center

Downtown has big event crowds, busy transit and a lot of nightlife. Arrests near Crypto.com Arena, around Union Station or outside Grand Central Market often involve people who live far away. A visitor from the Valley or Orange County is booked the same way as a downtown resident.

That matters for families. If your son was arrested after a game or a concert, do not assume he is at a station near where you live. Start with the downtown jail, then check the locator. We can help you search while you talk to us.

Getting to the jail and parking

Most families walk or take Metro. Union Station is a short walk from the jail, and the B and D Lines stop at Civic Center and Pershing Square. If you drive, take the 101 or the 110 into the center of town. Street parking near Los Angeles Street fills up and is metered. Expect a paid lot.

Bring a photo ID. Visiting is limited, and a bail agent can usually see the person when a family member cannot. Our agent can meet you near the jail so you are not figuring out the building alone at 3 AM.

Which courthouse and how to find the date

People booked downtown are usually arraigned at the Central Arraignment Courthouse, 429 Bauchet St., close to the jail. Felony cases then move to the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center at 210 W. Temple St. Misdemeanor cases can be sent to other courts depending on where the incident happened.

The first date is on the booking paperwork and the bail receipt. If you lost it, call us. Missing a date can cost the whole bond, so read our guide on missed court dates before the day arrives.

What 1% down looks like on common downtown bail amounts

Bail in Los Angeles follows a county schedule, and the amount depends on the charge. Premium is 10% of the bail, the filed rate. It drops to 8% when a private attorney is retained or the defendant or co-signer is a veteran. We offer 1% down on approved credit through Bail Today, Pay Later, with the balance on a monthly plan. Jane started that program in 2004.

Say the bail is $25,000. The premium at 10% is $2,500, and the down payment is $250 on approved credit. Use the calculator for your own number.

If the person might not need bail at all

Los Angeles has a pre-arraignment release system for some lower level charges, and some people are cited out. Read how pre-arraignment release works before you spend money. If you are unsure, call us. We will tell you honestly whether a bond is needed.

Women who are pregnant may qualify for our community program. See the pregnancy program for the rules. Qualifying applicants only, subject to approval.

Neighbors that book at the same jail

People from Chinatown, Boyle Heights and Historic South-Central often end up in the same downtown process. The steps above apply to them too.

Downtown is also home to Skid Row, the Fashion District, Little Tokyo, the Arts District and the towers of Bunker Hill. Residents range from office workers to people sleeping outside, and the arrest scenes are just as varied. Whoever the person is, the same booking jail, the same arraignment court and the same bail rules apply. If a loved one has no phone or ID on them, tell us when you call. We can often still find the booking record from a name and birth date.

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.

Nearby neighborhoods

• Boyle Heights
• Central-Alameda
• Chinatown
• Echo Park
• Historic South-Central
• Lincoln Heights
• Pico-Union
• University Park
• Westlake

More in Central L.A., or see every Los Angeles neighborhood.