Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)
How Much Is Bail for Someone at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)?
By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.
Bail at MDC comes from the Los Angeles County bail schedule, based on the charge. The felony schedule for 2026 took effect January 1, 2026. Some people qualify for release with no bail before arraignment. To find the amount, call (213) 473-6100 or MDC at (213) 356-3400 with the full name and date of birth.
Work out the 1% down payment
How is bail set at MDC?
When someone is booked into MDC, the charge is matched to the county bail schedule. The Los Angeles Superior Court publishes a felony schedule, the 2026 edition, which took effect January 1, 2026. Each charge has a base amount, and extra amounts are added for certain facts in the case.
Charges not listed on the felony schedule default to $0 bail. Wobblers, which can be a felony or a misdemeanor, are covered by the misdemeanor schedule. We could not confirm the current misdemeanor schedule link, so ask the jail or the court. Our guide to bail in California explains the numbers.
How do I find the bail amount?
Ask. Call the custody line at (213) 473-6100, which LAPD says covers both LAPD and LASD jails, or call MDC at (213) 356-3400. Have the full legal name, date of birth and booking number. We could not confirm that the online lookup shows bail, so do not count on it.
You can also read the schedule on the court's site and look up the charge. The schedule PDF has a worksheet. It is easy to miss a line, so check the answer with the jail. Our MDC inmate search page shows how to get the booking number first.
Can the person be released with no bail at all?
Sometimes. Since October 1, 2023, a county protocol decides whether an eligible person is released with no conditions, released with conditions, or held until arraignment. The offenses fall into three groups. Cite and release and book and release mean release on a promise to appear, with $0 bail. The third group goes to a magistrate.
Some charges never qualify, including capital offenses and certain listed serious offenses. People on felony probation, parole or PRCS, or with 3 or more recent missed court dates, are sent to a magistrate. Read our guide to pre-arraignment release for the full picture.
Can bail be lowered before the first court date?
Yes, in many cases. Under Penal Code 1269c, a lawyer, friend or family member may ask a magistrate for a lower bail, or release on the person's own promise. You do that by calling the court's Pre-Arraignment Support Unit at (213) 633-6350 within two hours of booking. The unit answers 24 hours a day. The magistrate considers every timely request.
This is not open for every charge, and police may ask to raise bail in the same two hours. The amount set before court does not bind the judge at arraignment. Arraignment usually happens within 48 hours of arrest, unless there is a weekend or holiday.
What if bail is too high for us?
You have choices. A bond lets you pay a premium instead of the full bail. On 1% down, you start with 1% of the bail on approved credit, and the premium is 10% of the bail, or 8% for a retained private attorney or a veteran. Use the calculator on this page to see your numbers. You can also ask the judge at arraignment to review the amount. A court has to weigh more than ability to pay, according to the schedule's own citation of In re Humphrey.
After a person is moved to county custody, bail stays the same, but jail changes. See the Inmate Reception Center page or call us at (213) 725-2815.
If you are not sure which schedule applies, call us and we will walk through it with you. We are a private licensed bail agent, so we can explain the numbers but cannot change them.
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
Does MDC set bail itself?
Jail staff apply the county schedule. A magistrate or judge can change the amount.
What if the charge is not on the schedule?
Unlisted felonies default to $0 bail and release on a promise to appear.
Does the bail amount change after arraignment?
It can. The judge at arraignment is not bound by the amount set before.
Is bail returned?
Read our guide on whether bail money is returned. A bond premium is generally not refundable.
What if my person is on probation or parole?
They may be sent to a magistrate for a decision and not released on a promise. Tell the jail and the lawyer, and ask what bail is set for the new charge.
More about Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)
Sources
Jane Un Bail Bonds is a private bail agent licensed by the California Department of Insurance, License #1843448. We are not part of LAPD, LASD or the courts. Rules change, so check the official source before you go.