Westside, Los Angeles
Sawtelle Bail Bonds, Japantown and the VA Campus
By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.
If someone was arrested in Sawtelle or near the West Los Angeles VA campus, call Jane Un Bail Bonds at (213) 725-2815. We are a licensed California bail agent, CDI License #1843448, and we answer around the clock.
Sawtelle is a compact West Side neighborhood with deep roots. Sawtelle Japantown, with its small shops, noodle counters and old buildings along Sawtelle Boulevard, is its most recognized street. Sepulveda Boulevard cuts through it, and the huge Veterans Administration West Los Angeles campus lies to its north. ZIP codes 90025 and 90064 cover it. Brentwood, Westwood, Palms and Rancho Park surround it.
The VA campus gives Sawtelle a twist you will not find elsewhere, and it matters if an arrest happens near it.
Sawtelle at a glance
| LAPD Area | West Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| LAPD station | West Los Angeles Community Police Station, 1663 Butler Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025 |
| Usually booked at | Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) |
| ZIP codes | 90025, 90064 |
| Women | Century Regional Detention Facility, Lynwood |
The West Los Angeles station
Most Sawtelle streets are covered by the LAPD West Los Angeles Area. The station is on Butler Avenue, and the front desk number is 310-444-0701. Our West Los Angeles station page lists the address.
After the station, the person is usually taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. Usually is the right word, because LAPD can move people for medical clearance or space. Confirm with the inmate line at 213-473-6100 or at app.lasd.org/iic before you drive.
When the VA campus is involved
The VA campus is federal property. People arrested on the grounds may be held by federal officers or by VA police, and the case could be handled in federal court, not in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The rules, the bail process and the paperwork are different.
If the arrest happened on or near the campus, tell us. We will help you work out who made the arrest and where the person is. If the case is federal, we will tell you honestly whether we can help. Our guide on how bail works in Los Angeles covers the usual state court process.
The drive from Sawtelle to downtown
Many Sawtelle residents live in small apartments and older homes on narrow streets, and parking is hard even on a quiet night. Foot traffic is heavy around Sawtelle Boulevard on weekends, with restaurants and shops full of visitors from across the city. Arrests near the busy blocks often involve visitors, not neighbors, and the person's family may live far away.
Take the 405 south to the 10 east, or Santa Monica Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard east. The Metro E Line runs near Sawtelle along Exposition Boulevard and goes all the way to downtown, which is easier than parking near the jail at night. Service hours vary, so check the schedule before you count on it.
The jail is on Los Angeles Street. Parking is scarce there. A rideshare may be easier for a tired driver.
Money, in a few lines
Premium is the bond fee. It is 10% of bail at the filed rate, or 8% if a private attorney is retained or the defendant or co-signer is a veteran. That veteran rate matters here, because many people near the VA campus have served. Bail Today, Pay Later lets you start with 1% down on approved credit and pay the balance monthly.
For a $20,000 bail, the premium at 10% is $2,000 and the 1% down payment is $200. At 8% for a veteran, the premium is $1,600. Approval is required. We explain the whole total before anything is signed.
Students, workers and families
Sawtelle is home to long time families, newer renters, workers at nearby hospitals and offices, and students from Westwood. A student arrested after a night out may not have a co-signer in town. A parent in another state can often sign with remote paperwork. Ask us how.
The co-signer promises the defendant will come to every court date, and could owe the full bail if the defendant misses one. That promise is serious. Read the co-signer guide with your family.
Courts and next steps
Downtown bookings go first to the Central Arraignment Courthouse on Bauchet Street, with felony cases moving to the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on Temple Street. The paperwork on release shows the right court and date. Other West Side cases may be heard in different courthouses depending on the charge.
If the arrested person is a veteran, tell the court and your lawyer or public defender, because some courts and programs offer help to veterans that others do not. We do not give legal advice, but we would hate for a family to miss a resource that was available to them.
If the person cannot pay for a lawyer, a public defender may be appointed at arraignment. Our resources directory lists free and low cost legal and court help. We do not give legal advice.
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
What is the West Los Angeles station phone number?
310-444-0701. For booking information, call 213-473-6100.
Is the VA campus patrolled by LAPD?
Not always. The VA has its own police on the campus. Tell us where the arrest happened.
Do veterans pay less?
The premium can be 8% when the defendant or co-signer is a veteran. Tell us when you call.
Can I start the application online?
Yes. The application takes about four minutes.
Can I ask for help in another language?
Ask for a Spanish speaking agent when you call, or tell us the language you need. We cannot promise every language, but we will do what we can.
Nearby neighborhoods
More in Westside, or see every Los Angeles neighborhood.