Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)

What Happens After Bail Is Posted at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)?

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

LAPD takes bail at MDC 24 hours a day. Once a bond or other payment is accepted, jail staff process the paperwork and release the person. We cannot promise a time, because the last steps belong to the jail. Call MDC at (213) 356-3400 for the pickup spot, or ask the watch commander.

From bail posted to the door

1. Bail is postedA bond, cash or a cashier's check goes to MDC. LAPD takes bail 24 hours a day.
2. The jail checks the paymentStaff confirm the bond or funds and check for any other holds.
3. Release paperworkThe jail completes the release forms and returns property.
4. PickupAsk the watch commander where and when to meet the person.
5. After releaseKeep the bond statement and go to every court date.

How is bail paid at MDC?

LAPD says its jails take bail around the clock. It accepts cash, a valid surety bond, a cashier's check made out to the Los Angeles Police Department's Bail Account and drawn on a California bank, and Western Union or US Postal money orders.

Few families have a large amount of cash ready. A surety bond is how most people do it. A licensed bail agent signs the bond for a premium, and the family pays that premium instead of the full bail. Our 1% down page shows how a payment plan works. Start with 1% of the bail down on approved credit. The premium itself is 10% of the bail, or 8% in certain cases, and the rest goes on a plan.

What are the steps after we call a bail agent?

First you give the agent the full name, date of birth and booking number. If you have no booking number, see our MDC inmate search page. The agent confirms the bail amount and the charge. Then you fill out an application, and the person who signs is the co-signer. Our online application takes about 4 minutes.

When the agent has the bond, it goes to the jail. Jail staff check it and start the release. A bond that is posted is not the same as a person walking out. Staff still have to finish paperwork and, in some cases, hold checks.

Where does my person walk out of MDC?

LAPD does not say where released people leave MDC or where families should wait. LASD's guidance for city jails is to ask the watch commander for the time and the place to pick the person up. That is a good rule here too. Call (213) 356-3400 and ask.

Have a ride ready. Downtown is busy, and a person may be released late at night. Bring a charged phone and, if you can, a jacket and a way to pay for the trip home. Their property is returned in the bag it was stored in.

Can someone still be held after bail is posted?

Yes. A person can have another hold, a warrant from another case, or a rule that stops release. Bail on one charge does not clear a different one. A person on probation or parole may also be handled differently. Ask the jail if you are unsure.

The court also has magistrates available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, which matters for people who are waiting on a decision before release. Read about pre-arraignment release if the charge is a lower level one.

What if they go to county custody first?

MDC is a short stay. LAPD says people still held after arraignment are remanded to the county sheriff. Men are usually processed at the Inmate Reception Center and may be housed at Men's Central Jail. Women are held at Century Regional Detention Facility. A bond can still be posted after the move. The bail amount does not change, but the building does. Call before you drive.

When bail is posted, our agent hands you a numbered written statement of the bond. Keep it. It lists the payments and the court dates.

What should I bring to pick them up?

Bring your own photo ID, a charged phone and a ride home. A jacket helps for a late night release. Keep the bond paperwork and note each court date.

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.

More about Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)

• Bail at Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)
• Inmate search
• Visiting
• Mail
• Phone calls
• Bail amount

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.