Central L.A., Los Angeles
Westlake Bail Bonds Near MacArthur Park
By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.
If the call came from Westlake, you may be standing near Alvarado Street or MacArthur Park right now with your heart racing. Please breathe. We can help, and the downtown jails are close.
My name is Jane Un, a licensed California bail agent. Our Avila Street office is a short trip from the jail area, and we are open 24 hours. If you prefer Spanish, ask for a Spanish speaking agent and we will work to connect you.
Westlake at a glance
| LAPD Area | Rampart |
|---|---|
| LAPD station | Rampart Community Police Station, 1401 W. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 |
| Usually booked at | Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) |
| Courthouse, usually | Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, 210 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
| ZIP codes | 90057, 90017, 90026 |
| Women | Century Regional Detention Facility, Lynwood |
Rampart is your station
Westlake belongs to the LAPD Rampart Area, with the station at 6th Street and Union Avenue. See our Rampart station page for the address and phone number.
That station does the first paperwork, but most people arrested here end up downtown at the Metropolitan Detention Center, often within hours. LAPD may send someone elsewhere for medical clearance, so confirm with 213-473-6100 before you travel.
Why Westlake is the easiest trip in the city
This is one of the closest neighborhoods to the jails. The Metro B and D Lines stop at Wilshire and Alvarado, right by the park, and carry you east to Union Station in minutes. From there it is a short walk or bus ride to Los Angeles Street.
If you drive, 6th Street leads toward the Harbor Freeway, and the Hollywood Freeway is just to the north. Our MDC page shows the address and where families usually park.
Ask a neighbor to ride with you if possible. Waiting rooms are easier with company.
Money, plainly
Many Westlake families work hourly jobs, send money home and do not have thousands lying around. We built our payment plan for exactly that.
The premium is 10% of the bail, or 8% when a private attorney is retained or the defendant or co-signer is a veteran. On approved credit you can begin with 1% down and pay the rest monthly. On a $25,000 bail, the premium is $2,500 and the first payment is $250.
A co-signer is needed. A relative, a friend or a coworker can sign if they are approved. Before they do, they should read what a co-signer is responsible for.
Around MacArthur Park, what an arrest can mean
Westlake is dense. Apartment buildings stack up along Alvarado Street, Wilshire Boulevard and 6th Street, and the park draws crowds for the lake, the markets and the music. A busy place means a lot of police contact, and a lot of it is for small things that grow into bigger ones when paperwork is missing or a name is misspelled.
If your relative was cited for a minor charge, they may be released with a notice to appear and no bond is needed. If they were booked, bail is usually set from the county schedule based on the charge. A bond lets you cover that bail for a premium instead of the full amount.
Street vending, driving without a license and fights between neighbors are common stories we hear. We do not judge any of them. We only need the name, the booking details and a co-signer who can be approved. A co-signer in a crowded building might be an aunt two floors down, and that works fine if the documents are in order.
Keep copies of anything the jail gave the person, including the property receipt. It helps later.
What happens the first morning
After booking, the person is usually brought before a judge within a couple of days. For downtown cases that is generally the Central Arraignment Courthouse on Bauchet Street. At that hearing a judge may keep bail as scheduled, lower it or release the person without bail in some cases.
Because some release rules changed over the years, read our short page on pre-arraignment release in Los Angeles. It explains what the county does and does not do.
Language and help
Many families here speak Spanish at home. We cannot promise any language on any shift, but we will try. You can also ask for printed forms to take to a relative who does not use a computer.
For a free lawyer or court self help, use our resources directory. If you can apply online, the application takes about 4 minutes.
If a pregnant woman is in custody
Qualifying pregnant women may be eligible for free bail, subject to approval. The woman must be 8 months or more along, with bail of $50,000 or less on a non-violent charge, and a working co-signer must show proof of income. We have a dedicated page on pregnancy bail. She may be held at the women's jail in Lynwood, and we will explain how that works when you call.
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 the Rampart station the same as the downtown jail?
No. Rampart is a neighborhood station. Most arrests are moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center downtown.
Can I call even if I do not speak English well?
Yes. Ask for a Spanish speaking agent. We will work to connect you with someone who can help in your language.
How do I find a booking number?
The jail information line at 213-473-6100 can help, and the LASD inmate locator lists current inmates once they are in the system.
What if the person has an immigration question?
We are a bail agent, not an immigration lawyer. Ask the family to speak with an attorney, and our resources page lists legal aid.
Do I have to be in the room to sign?
Not always. Many parts of the process can be done by phone and online, and we will tell you which parts need an in person signature.
Nearby neighborhoods
More in Central L.A., or see every Los Angeles neighborhood.