Central Community Police Station
What Happens After an Arrest at Central Station?
By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.
After an arrest by Central Station, a person is usually booked at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. LAPD takes bail there around the clock. If the person stays in custody, they see a judge, typically within about 48 hours, then move to LASD county jail. Call to confirm where they are, because LAPD can move people.
From arrest to booking and bail
- ArrestCentral Station officers arrest the person and take them to a jail.
- BookingUsually at MDC downtown. Staff record the charge and bag belongings.
- CallsThe person gets at least three completed calls within three hours of arrest.
- Bail postedLAPD takes bail around the clock. Release follows jail paperwork.
- ArraignmentTypically within 48 hours unless a weekend or holiday gets in the way.
- County jailIf still held, the person moves to LASD custody.
What happens first after an arrest at Central Station?
Central Station is at 251 E. 6th St. Its official area covers Downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Civic Center, the Fashion District, the Financial District and several smaller districts. Officers who arrest someone here take them to a jail for booking. They do not usually process the person at the front desk.
Booking is the jail's intake. Staff create the record, write down the charge and put the person's belongings in a property bag. LAPD says a person must be allowed at least three completed phone calls, right after booking and no later than three hours after the arrest. The calls can go to a lawyer, a bail agent or a relative.
Which jail takes people arrested by Central Station?
Usually it is the Metropolitan Detention Center at 180 N. Los Angeles St. in downtown Los Angeles. The station and the jail are both downtown, so a family in the area can reach either one fast. That does not mean you should drive over right away. Say "usually" and mean it, because LAPD does not publish a chart that matches each station to a jail. A person can be sent to another LAPD jail, for a medical check or for space.
The jail's number is (213) 356-3400. You can also call (213) 473-6100, the county line for anyone held at an LAPD or LASD jail. It is open 24 hours a day. Records do not show a new booking for about 2 hours, so a blank result in the first hours does not mean the person is lost.
When can bail be posted after a Central Station arrest?
LAPD says its jails take bail 24 hours a day. 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. Most families use a bond. Read what happens after bail is posted at the MDC for the steps after the paperwork is in.
Not every arrest has a bail amount that works the same way. Some lower level arrests end with release on a promise to appear and $0 bail. Others go to a magistrate, and some serious charges need money bail or a hold until arraignment. For the amount and the schedule, see how bail is set at the MDC.
What happens at arraignment and the move to county jail?
Arraignment is the first court date. The court's felony schedule says it typically happens within 48 hours of arrest unless there is a holiday or a weekend. LAPD says the court location depends on where the arrest happened and on the charge, so ask the jail.
If the person is still in custody after arraignment, LAPD says they are remanded to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Men are usually processed at the Inmate Reception Center and women are held at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood. Bail can still be posted after the move, but the building changes. LASD does not notify families about transfers, so call (213) 473-6100.
What should a Central Station family do now?
- Write down the person's full legal name, date of birth, the time and place of the arrest, and any booking number.
- Call the jail or the county line and ask where they are held and what the charge is.
- Ask whether bail is set. Call within two hours of booking if you want to ask a magistrate for a lower amount, at the court's Pre-Arraignment Support Unit, (213) 633-6350.
- Call a licensed agent if you need a bond. We can be reached at (213) 725-2815, and the 1% down option on approved credit lets you start with 1% of the bail down, with the rest of the premium on a plan. The premium is 10% of the bail, or 8% in certain cases.
For more on this area, go back to the Central Station page. If you are still looking for the person, our guide to finding someone in jail can help.
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
Will Central Station tell me where my person was taken?
The front desk may help, but the county line at (213) 473-6100 is the surest way. Have the full name and date of birth ready.
Can I post bail at Central Station?
Usually not. Bail is usually posted at the jail where the person was booked, which is usually the Metropolitan Detention Center. Call to confirm first.
How long until my person goes to court?
The court says arraignment typically happens within 48 hours of arrest unless there is a holiday or a weekend. We cannot promise a time.
Does posting bail mean they walk out right away?
No. The jail still checks the bond and finishes paperwork, and it may find another hold. We cannot say how long that takes.
More about Central Community Police Station
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.