Inmate Reception Center (IRC)

How Do Phone Calls Work for Someone at the Inmate Reception Center (IRC)?

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

After an arrest, California law says a person gets at least three completed calls, right at booking and no later than three hours after arrest, free if local. After that, LASD uses an outside phone vendor. People who have no housing assignment yet cannot get calls, so the first hours at the IRC may be quiet.

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What calls does someone get after arrest at the IRC?

Under California Penal Code 851.5, an arrested person gets at least three completed phone calls. They should be offered right when booked and no later than three hours after arrest, unless it is physically impossible. Calls within the local calling area are free. Calls outside it are at the person's own expense. Calls to a lawyer are not monitored.

They can call an attorney, a bail agent or a relative or other person. Those are the rules in the statute, as posted on a public copy of the law. LAPD's own custody plan says the same notice must be posted at its jails.

A parent with custody of a child may ask for two more free local calls to arrange child care.

Why did I not get a call from the IRC?

There are a few honest reasons. The person may have used the calls on someone else. The call may have gone to a number that did not answer, or to a phone that blocks unknown callers. Your loved one might not know your number by heart. Many people do not, because phones store contacts.

Check your voicemail and your spam calls. Then look the person up on the IRC lookup page. Hold on to a few phone numbers in writing for a family member who might be arrested someday.

Why can't I call a person at the IRC?

LASD does not publish a number families can use to reach someone inside the IRC. People call out. LASD also says people who are unclassified, with no permanent housing yet, cannot receive calls. Classification can take two weeks to a month.

What you can do is call LASD at (213) 473-6100 for the person's location. The IRC booking line is (213) 893-5327. They can tell you where the person is held.

How do later calls from the IRC and housing jail work?

After the first calls, LASD uses an independent vendor for inmate phone service. LASD links to GTL, also called ViaPath ConnectNetwork, from its inmate services page. We could not confirm the steps for setting up a prepaid account or the per minute rates, so we will not guess. Check the vendor link on the LASD inmate services page.

Do not mail a prepaid phone card. LASD rejects them. If you want to put money on the account for other uses, see sending money at the IRC.

What should I say when the IRC call comes in?

Stay calm and keep it short. Get the booking number, the facility name and what the person needs. Do not talk about the case. Only calls to a lawyer are protected. Ask the person to give your phone number to the jail lawyer if they have one.

If you decide to look into a bond, you can ask the person for the bail amount and the charge. Our guide on how much bail costs in California helps you plan.

If bail is set and your family needs help with it, you can start with 1% of the bail amount down on approved credit. The premium is set by our filed rate, and the rest goes on a payment plan. Read how 1% down works or start an application. We are a licensed private bail agent, not part of LASD. A family member, friend or attorney can call for the person.

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

How many calls do they get after arrest?

California law says at least three completed calls, at booking and no later than three hours after arrest unless impossible.

Are the first calls free?

Calls within the local calling area are free. Calls outside it are at the person's own expense.

Can I call someone at the IRC?

LASD does not publish a way to reach people inside. LASD also says unclassified inmates cannot receive calls.

Who runs the phones after the first calls?

LASD links to an independent vendor, GTL or ViaPath. Check the LASD inmate services page for details.

More about Inmate Reception Center (IRC)

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.