What to Do After an Arrest in Los Angeles

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

The phone rings late at night. Someone you love is in custody and you are scared and unsure where to start. Take a breath. This guide gives you the next steps in order, written for the first few hours and the first few days.

First, a short checklist

If you read nothing else, do these in this order.

1. Get the person's full legal name, date of birth and where they were arrested.
2. Find out which jail or station holds them and get the booking number.
3. Write down the charge and the bail amount, if one is set.
4. Ask a lawyer for advice about the case. We do not recommend any one lawyer.
5. Decide how bail would be paid, if bail is set at all. Call a licensed bail agent before you pay anyone.
6. Write down the next court date.

The rest of this guide explains each step.

Find where the person is

In Los Angeles County a person might be held at a city police station, a Sheriff's station or a county jail. Start with the Sheriff's Inmate Finder on app5.lasd.org. Search with the full legal name and date of birth. The Sheriff's Department says the same information is available by phone at (213) 473-6100.

The Department also says records are not available online for bookings from the last 2 hours. If you do not find the person, wait a little and look again. If you are sure they were arrested by a city police department such as LAPD, call that station and ask for the watch commander. The person may still be there and not yet in the county system.

Women held in county custody are housed at Century Regional Detention Facility, 11705 S. Alameda St. in Lynwood. The Inmate Reception Center at 450 Bauchet Street in Los Angeles is a temporary holding facility, and the Sheriff's Department says it does not allow visiting.

The step by step lookup is in our guide on finding someone in jail in Los Angeles. You can also see our list of jails.

What happens at booking

Booking is the intake process. The person is searched, photographed, fingerprinted and entered into the system. They get a booking number. Medical and mental health screening happens too. It can take hours.

During this time the person may be placed in a holding cell. Families often cannot speak with them until they are moved or released. Do not be alarmed if the first call does not come right away.

The Sheriff's Department notes that a person listed as unclassified cannot receive phone calls or visits until classification is complete, which it says can take from two weeks to a month. If they tell you the person is unclassified, ask about the next step rather than assuming something is wrong.

If the person has a medical need

If your loved one takes medication, is pregnant, has a chronic condition or has a mental health condition, tell the jail. The Sheriff's Department lists a Medical Command Center at (213) 893-5544 for alerting staff about an inmate's medical or mental health condition. Have the person's name and booking number ready.

What to say and what not to say

This part is for the person who was arrested, and for the family member helping them. It is general information and not legal advice.

• Give your real name, date of birth and address. That is normal and expected.
• You have the right to stay silent about the facts of the case. Many people feel they have to explain themselves to the officers. It is wise to wait and speak to a lawyer first.
• Do not argue with officers, resist or run. It can add charges and raise bail.
• Do not sign anything you do not understand.
• Be careful on jail phones. Many jail calls are recorded. Do not talk about the facts of the case on the phone. Ask your lawyer what to say.
• Tell family only what they need to know to help, such as the name, the jail and the booking number.

Family members should do the same. Do not post about the case on social media. Do not contact the other people in the case. A message you think is helpful can be used against your loved one.

Calling a lawyer

A criminal defense lawyer can explain the charges, speak up on bail and tell you what to expect. If you have a lawyer, call now. If you do not, ask people you trust and check any lawyer you are thinking of hiring. We do not recommend any specific attorney, and a bail agent should not either.

If the person cannot afford a lawyer, the California Courts self help guide says the court will appoint one for free. At arraignment the judge typically appoints a public defender when someone cannot afford a lawyer. The same guide says the person should talk to their lawyer before entering a plea of guilty.

One practical money point. At Jane Un Bail Bonds the premium goes from 10% to 8% when a private attorney has been retained, so let us know if you hire one.

Does the person need bail at all

Not always. Los Angeles County uses a Pre-Arraignment Release Protocol, in effect since October 1, 2023. For many misdemeanors and non-violent, non-serious felonies, the person is released with no money bail before arraignment. Some are released at the scene, some after booking, and some after a magistrate reviews the case. Serious and violent offenses are not covered, and neither are certain offenses with enhancements.

So the first useful question is whether bail has been set. Look up the person and see. If the amount is $0, there is nothing to post. If an amount is listed, then you have a decision to make. Read the guide on pre-arraignment release for the full picture.

Do not rush to pay anyone before you know whether bail is set. Call us at (213) 725-2815 and we will tell you honestly if a bond is needed.

If bail is set, here are your options

You can pay the full amount in cash to the court, pledge property, or use a bail bond. Our guide on how bail works compares them. If you use a bond, the premium is a fee paid to a licensed bail agent.

• At Jane Un Bail Bonds 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 of the premium on a monthly plan.
• To qualify, you or your loved one needs a job. Bring a recent pay stub or employer contact information and proof of where you live.
• If the person is a qualifying pregnant woman, ask about our program. It is subject to approval.

Look at the 1% down plan and the calculator for numbers. When you call, say who the person is, which jail has them, the charge and the bail amount if you know it.

The person who signs for the bond is called the cosigner. They promise to see that the person goes to court. Read what a cosigner agrees to before you sign for anyone.

The first court date

The first court appearance is the arraignment. Los Angeles court documents describe it as typically happening within 48 hours of arrest, unless there is a weekend or holiday when the court is closed. At arraignment the judge reads the charges, explains rights and takes a plea. If the person is still in custody, the judge can release them, set conditions, set bail or deny release.

If the person does not speak English, the court must provide an interpreter at no cost. Ask for one.

The judge's decision on bail can differ from what the schedule said. A defense lawyer can speak to ties to the community, work and family. Under the California Supreme Court's Humphrey decision, judges must consider ability to pay and less restrictive options. See how much bail is in California for how amounts are set.

Staying in touch and watching out for scams

If the person stays in custody, you can send money for phone calls and commissary. The Sheriff's Department says deposits are made online through Access Corrections, or by mail with a certified cashier's check or postal money order for no more than $200, payable to the person's name and booking number. General population inmates get at least two 30 minute visits a week, either in person or by video. Visits can be delayed by daily operations.

Protect yourself while you are stressed.

• Check any bail agent's license with the California Department of Insurance. Ours is #1843448.
• California bail agents may not solicit business. The bail request has to come from the arrested person, their lawyer of record, or an adult friend or family member. A stranger who calls you first is a red flag.
• Do not wire money or buy gift cards for someone who says they can get the person out.
• Jane Un Bail Bonds is a private licensed business. We are not a government agency and we do not work for the court or the jail.

Call (213) 725-2815 any hour. A family member, friend or attorney can call for the person in custody. Read more about Jane or see how we serve Los Angeles.