Pregnant in Jail in Los Angeles

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

If someone you love is pregnant and in custody, you are probably frightened for two people. This guide explains what California law requires of a county jail, what the health concerns are, how to get her medical care flagged, and how a qualifying pregnant woman may get a bail bond with the premium waived.

The short answer

Pregnant women in a California county jail have legal protections. The state requires a pregnancy screen to be offered, prenatal care to follow medical guidelines, and limits on restraints. But jail is still a hard place to be pregnant, and families often want her home as soon as the law and the facts allow.

There are two ways she may get home. If she is charged with a lower level offense, Los Angeles County's pre-arraignment release rules may release her without any money. If bail is set, a bond may help. Jane Un Bail Bonds offers free bail for qualifying pregnant women, which means the bond premium is waived, subject to approval, with conditions listed below.

If you only remember one thing, call (213) 725-2815. A family member, friend or attorney can call for her. We are open 24 hours.

Why pregnancy in custody is a health concern

We are a bail agent, not a medical provider, so we will stick to what medical and legal sources say.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG, has a committee opinion on reproductive health care for incarcerated pregnant, postpartum and nonpregnant individuals. It says incarcerated patients should get reproductive health care that follows the same guidelines as people who are not incarcerated, with attention to higher rates of infectious disease and mental health conditions. It also calls for safe birthing environments and for care guided by the patient's own preferences.

A related white paper from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, endorsed by ACOG, notes that pregnancies in custody are often high risk because of poor nutrition, limited prenatal care, domestic violence, mental illness and drug and alcohol dependence.

ACOG also supports limits on shackling throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery, transport and postpartum recovery. It says shackling interferes with clinicians' ability to safely practice medicine and may put the health of the pregnant person and the fetus at risk.

None of this means every pregnancy in custody goes badly. It means pregnancy deserves attention, and a family member who speaks up can help make sure it gets it.

What California requires of a county jail

Several parts of the California Penal Code apply to pregnant people in custody. We read them and describe them here in plain terms. Laws change, so ask a lawyer about your situation.

Penal Code section 4023.8

This section covers a person in a county jail who is identified as possibly pregnant or capable of becoming pregnant. It requires the following, among other things.

• A pregnancy screen must be offered within 72 hours of arrival. It is voluntary.
• After a positive result, she is offered nondirective, unbiased options counseling about prenatal care, adoption and abortion.
• A confirmed pregnancy requires a medical exam within seven days to determine gestational age and due date, make a care plan and order labs.
• Prenatal visits follow guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and ACOG, unless more frequent visits are needed.
• Daily prenatal vitamins must be provided.
• In multitier units, pregnant people get lower bunks and lower tier housing.
• They may not be tased, pepper sprayed or exposed to other chemical weapons.
• Someone with a history of opioid use, or in methadone treatment, must be offered methadone or buprenorphine and told about withdrawal risks.
• Eligible people get notice of community based programs for pregnant, birthing and lactating incarcerated people.
• Labor is treated as an emergency. She is taken to an outside hospital in the least restrictive way, and can choose a support person during labor, childbirth and postpartum recovery at the hospital.
• A postpartum exam occurs within one week of childbirth and as needed for up to 12 weeks, and she gets at least 12 weeks of recovery before returning to normal activity.
• These rights must be posted where incarcerated people can see them.

Penal Code section 3407

This section bars leg irons, waist chains and handcuffs behind the body for an inmate known to be pregnant or recovering from delivery. It applies to adults and juveniles in state or local facilities. During labor, delivery and recovery, restraints by the wrists, ankles or both are not allowed except where needed for safety and security. The professional responsible for her medical care can require restraints to be removed when medically necessary. Once pregnancy is confirmed, she must be told about the standards that apply.

Penal Code section 4023.5

This section applies to people held in local detention facilities more than 24 hours. It lets them keep using menstrual and reproductive hygiene products at no cost, continue prescribed birth control on request, and receive information about family planning services.

A note on accuracy. Penal Code section 3408 covers pregnant people in state prison and, as published, is not written for county jails, so we do not rely on it here.

Where she may be held in Los Angeles County

Women in Los Angeles County custody are housed at Century Regional Detention Facility, 11705 S. Alameda St., Lynwood CA 90262. The Inmate Reception Center at 450 Bauchet Street handles county intake and is temporary holding with no visiting. If she was arrested by a city police department, she may be at that department's jail first.

To find her, search the Sheriff's Inmate Finder or call (213) 473-6100. Records are not available for bookings from the last 2 hours. Our guide on finding someone in jail in Los Angeles shows the steps. See also our jails page.

How to flag her pregnancy and health needs

• Tell the booking officer. The person herself should say she is pregnant and how far along, if she knows.
• Call the Sheriff's Medical Command Center at (213) 893-5544. The Sheriff's Department lists it for alerting staff about an inmate's medical or mental health condition. Have her full name and booking number ready.
• Tell staff about any medication, past complications, a high risk diagnosis and the name of her doctor.
• If she has bleeding, pain, fluid leaking or has noticed the baby moving less, staff should be told right away. This is general safety advice and not medical advice.

Could she be released without bail

Possibly. Since October 1, 2023, Los Angeles County has used a Pre-Arraignment Release Protocol. For many misdemeanors and non-violent, low level felonies, people are released before arraignment without money bail, either at the scene, after booking or after a magistrate review. Serious and violent offenses are not covered. The rules do not mention pregnancy as a factor, so we cannot say it changes the outcome.

Look up her booking first. If bail is $0, there is nothing to post. If bail is set, you can ask about a bond. Our guide on pre-arraignment release explains who is eligible. A defense lawyer can also tell the judge at arraignment about her pregnancy and ties to the community when asking for release.

Our free bail program for qualifying pregnant women

Jane Un Bail Bonds offers free bail for qualifying pregnant women. In plain words, the bond premium is waived. Here are the terms.

What is waived is the premium, which is normally 10% of bail. What it does not do is remove the cosigner, who signs the same agreement and takes on the same responsibilities. California rules allow some actual, necessary and reasonable expenses and collateral on a bond, so ask us exactly what, if anything, would apply to her case. We will tell you before you sign. See what a cosigner agrees to.

If you do not qualify, ask anyway. We are often able to help.

If she does not qualify, a regular bond may still work. The premium is 10% of the bail, or 8% when a private attorney is retained or the defendant or cosigner is a veteran. Bail Today, Pay Later® lets you start with 1% of the bail down on approved credit, with the balance on a monthly plan. See the full details on our free bail page for qualifying pregnant women.

How to ask for help

Call (213) 725-2815 and say that the person in custody is pregnant. A family member, friend or attorney can call for her. Please have these ready if you can.

• Her full name and date of birth.
• The jail and the booking number.
• The charge and the bail amount.
• How far along she is.
• The cosigner's name, and proof of the cosigner's income, such as a recent pay stub or employer contact information.

We ask the cosigner to bring proof of where they live too. Please note we cannot approve anything over the phone without checking the facts. Every case is reviewed.

California bail agents may not solicit business, which is why we ask that the family reach out to us. You will never get an unsolicited call from us about this.

Jane Un Bail Bonds is a licensed California bail agent, License #1843448. We are a private business and not a government agency. Read about Jane and see our license page.

After she comes home

Once she is out, make sure she has a plan for care and for court.

• Book a visit with her own doctor or midwife as soon as possible. Bring the jail's records if she can get them.
• Write down every court date. A missed date on a bond can lead to forfeiture. Read what to do after a missed court date if a problem comes up.
• If she was on a payment plan, keep up the payments. Phone payments work any hour at (213) 725-2815.
• Collect money left on her jail account. The Sheriff's Department says to bring a valid government photo ID and that accounts may be purged about 30 days after release.

If it would help her, ask your lawyer about community programs for pregnant and parenting women. The Penal Code says eligible people in county jail are given notice of those programs.