Booking and Release Process

Knowing how it works can help you avoid mistakes

Booking and Bail in California

Persons taken into custody by the Police Department will be held at either the Police Station Jail or will be transfered to the Los Angeles County Jail (IRC) and will be kept there until their first court date called the "Arraignment." Bail is allowed to be posted in either facility 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.

Before a bail bond is turned in, the person must pass a background check through "Live Scan", which is a machine that is linked to a national database. That database will notify the authorities of any possible holds, warrants, or aliases that might prevent release or increase the total bail amount. Once the results of the Live Scan come back, that person is then "cleared" to bond out.

From the time a bail bond is turned in, it takes between 30 minutes and 3 hours for a release. Release times do vary based on the workload of the jail's staff. Once out, a person will need to complete his or her part of the paper work, take a picture, and make sure to show up to each and every court date thereafter.