Valley Jail Section Bail Help, Van Nuys

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

The Valley Jail Section is the LAPD jail on Sylmar Avenue in Van Nuys, next to the Van Nuys police station. We are a private licensed bail agent, not part of LAPD, and this page explains how bail works for people held here.

Visiting

• LAPD's page lists visiting Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to noon and from 1 PM to 2:30 PM.
• On Saturday, Sunday and holidays LAPD lists visiting from 8 AM to noon.

What the Valley Jail Section is

The Valley Jail Section sits at 6240 Sylmar Ave. in Van Nuys, California 91401. LAPD's Custody Services Division runs it. It is the booking jail for the San Fernando Valley, so people arrested by the Valley Bureau are usually brought here. That covers areas like Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Reseda, Northridge, Pacoima and Canoga Park. LAPD does not publish an area to jail chart, so say "usually" and call to confirm. Officers can send an arrestee to another jail.

It also takes people for medical clearance. NBC Los Angeles reported in October 2026 that arrestees from other parts of the city were being driven to the Van Nuys jail when their own jail had no medical staff on duty. So a person arrested far from the Valley can still end up here for a short time.

How booking and release work here

Booking here follows the usual order. Officers record the charge, fingerprint the person, check their health and store their belongings. A bail amount is then set from the county schedule, or the person may be released under the county's pre-arraignment rules if the charge qualifies. Our guide on pre-arraignment release explains the lower level cases.

We do not promise release times. They depend on how many people are being processed, the person's health and record, and how fast the jail completes each step. If you want to look the person up, use the LASD Inmate Information Center or call (213) 473-6100, which LAPD says covers its jails.

How bail is posted at the Valley Jail

LAPD says bail can be posted at its jails around the clock. It accepts cash, a valid surety bond, a cashier's check to the LAPD Bail Account from a California bank, and Western Union or US Postal money orders. For most families a surety bond is the practical choice.

When you call, we need the full name, date of birth and booking number if you have it. We prepare the bond and take it to the jail. The jail checks it and handles the release. We cannot control that last step. The Van Nuys courthouse is on Sylmar Avenue as well, so your loved one may be close to court at their first hearing. Check the county court site for the exact courtroom. Our guide to what to do after an arrest lists the next steps.

Visiting, money and mail

Weekday visiting windows are short and break for lunch, and weekends are a half day. Bring a government photo ID. Dress modestly and leave bags in the car. Attorneys and bail agents have their own access rules, so ask the jail.

Parking along Sylmar Avenue can be tight on busy court mornings. The Valley is spread out, and the drive from places like Sylmar, Canoga Park or Chatsworth can take a while on the 405, 5 or 101. Plan extra time. For deposits or mail, call (818) 374-9645 first. LAPD's page we reviewed does not list mail rules for this jail, and the person may be moved before a letter arrives.

Medical and mental health notes for families

If the person needs daily medicine, has diabetes, is pregnant, or is in a mental health crisis, say so when you call the jail and tell their attorney. Keep a list of medicine names and doses. Pregnant women may want to read our guide on pregnancy in jail and learn about our program for qualifying pregnant women, which is subject to approval. If they do not qualify, ask anyway, we are often able to help.

If your loved one is moved to county custody.

After arraignment, a person who stays in custody is remanded to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Men are processed downtown at the Inmate Reception Center, then housed at Twin Towers or Men's Central Jail. Women go to Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood. Bail can still be posted after the move, but the location changes. Call before you travel.

Many Valley families also ask whether the jail will call them. Sometimes it does not, so do not wait by the phone. Write down the jail number, the person's full name and any booking number, and keep them together. If the person is released on their own signature or under the county's pre-arraignment rules, you may not need a bond at all. Call us anyway. We will tell you plainly whether a bond is needed.

How 1% down works for a Valley arrest

On 1% down, here is how it works. Bail Today, Pay Later lets you start with 1% of the bail amount down on approved credit, and the rest of the premium goes on a monthly plan. The premium itself is 10% of the bail, which is the filed rate, or 8% when a private attorney is retained or the defendant or co-signer is a veteran. 1% down is the start of a payment plan, not the price. You can use the calculator or start the online application, which takes about 4 minutes and asks for no SSN online.

Families in the Valley often ask about the 1% down page and the Bail Today, Pay Later program. We are a licensed private agent, California Department of Insurance License #1843448, open 24 hours at (213) 725-2815. Popular nearby pages include Van Nuys, North Hollywood and Sylmar.

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.

Neighborhoods served

• Arleta
• Canoga Park
• Chatsworth
• Chatsworth Reservoir
• Encino
• Granada Hills
• Hansen Dam
• Lake Balboa
• Lake View Terrace
• Mission Hills
• North Hills
• North Hollywood
• Northridge
• Pacoima
• Panorama City
• Porter Ranch
• Reseda
• Sepulveda Basin
• Shadow Hills
• Sherman Oaks
• Studio City
• Sun Valley
• Sylmar
• Tarzana
• Toluca Lake
• Valley Glen
• Valley Village
• Van Nuys
• West Hills
• Winnetka
• Woodland Hills
• Sunland
• Tujunga

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.