Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys Station)
What Happens After Bail Is Posted at the Valley Jail Section?
By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.
LAPD jails take bail 24 hours a day. At the Valley Jail Section that can be cash, a surety bond, a cashier's check or a money order. After the bond is accepted, the jail handles release. We cannot promise a time. Ask the watch commander where and when to pick up your person.
From bail posted to the door
- Bail is postedA bond, cash or other LAPD approved payment goes to the Valley Jail Section.
- Jail checks the paperworkStaff confirm the bond and the person's booking record.
- Release is processedThe jail finishes its own steps. No official page gives timing.
- Property is returnedAsk the jail what they hold and how you get it.
- PickupAsk the watch commander where and when to meet your person.
How is bail accepted at the Valley Jail Section?
LAPD says its jails take bail around the clock. It accepts cash, a valid surety bond, a cashier's check from a California bank payable to the Los Angeles Police Department's Bail Account, and Western Union or US Postal money orders.
For most Valley families, cash on hand is not the issue. A surety bond lets you pay a premium instead of the whole bail. Our 1% down page explains the payment plan, which starts with 1% down on approved credit. The premium itself is not 1%.
Release does not happen the instant a bond is posted. The jail still has steps to finish.
What do I need to give the bail agent?
When you call (213) 725-2815, we ask for the full name, date of birth and booking number if you have it. We can start the paperwork with less. Our online application is a quick way to begin.
If a co-signer is needed, they should be reachable by phone. Quick answers help us avoid delays on our side, though the jail sets its own pace.
Not sure a bond is even needed? Some arrestees are released on a promise to appear. See our guide to pre-arraignment release.
Where do they walk out?
LAPD's pages do not say which door people leave through at 6240 Sylmar Ave. LASD says that when someone will be released directly from a city jail, you should ask the Watch Commander for the time and place to pick them up.
So do that. Call (818) 374-9645, say you are picking someone up after a bond, and ask where to wait. Do not guess and stand outside the wrong door at night.
Bring the person a ride home and a charged phone. Bring ID for yourself. We cannot say what the jail will return, since LAPD does not publish its property steps.
What if the person is moved to county custody first?
LAPD says anyone still in custody after arraignment is remanded to the Sheriff's Department. Then the location changes and so do the pickup steps. Men usually go through the Inmate Reception Center. Women go to Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood.
LASD lists a release line for IRC at (213) 893-5347, but gives no hours, and no official page we read states how long release takes. Check before you drive. Bail can still be posted after a move.
What happens after they are out?
The person must go to every court date. Missing court can lead to a bail forfeiture. Read our guide on whether bail money is returned so your family knows what to expect. Premium on a bond is not refunded when the case ends.
If you ever have questions about next steps, our team can explain them plainly. We are a private licensed agent and not part of LAPD or the courts.
What should Valley families expect at the jail?
Van Nuys is an LAPD jail inside a police facility, so the pace depends on what else is going on. Expect to wait, and stay reachable by phone. Do not go to the jail until you have called.
If the person has medical needs, tell the jail and bring a list of medicine names. Keep the booking number, the bond paperwork and the court date together in one place. Bring all of it when you pick the person up, so nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
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
Can bail be posted at night in Van Nuys?
LAPD says its jails take bail 24 hours a day. Release timing still depends on the jail.
How long does release take?
No official page gives a time, so we do not promise one. Call the jail and ask the watch commander.
What if they were moved to county jail?
Bail can still be posted. Where and how they leave changes, so call before traveling.
What do I bring for pickup?
Bring your own ID, a ride, and a charged phone. Ask the watch commander where to wait.
Do I always need a bond?
No. Some people are released with no bail under the county's pre-arraignment rules.
More about Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys 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.