Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys): Bail, Booking & Attorney Guide

Managing an LAPD booking before arraignment

Verify that the client remains in LAPD custody

City of Los Angeles bookings can move from an arresting division to a regional jail, court or Los Angeles County custody. Before counsel sends a family member, investigator or bail agent, confirm the current jail, booking status, bail amount and any hold. The original LAPD division is not necessarily the place that will process release.

Prepare for a possible remand to LASD

If the court remands the client or LAPD transfers the booking into county custody, the release workflow changes. At that point, verify the new LASD booking and housing location before attempting to post or complete release processing. Do not rely on the LAPD jail's prior information after the receiving agency takes custody.

Bail and release timing in LAPD custody

Confirm a bondable amount and any competing hold

Before arranging bail, counsel should confirm the current court or booking amount and determine whether another warrant, court order or detainer prevents release. A bail amount by itself is not enough to establish that the client can be physically released once a bond is posted.

Give the bail agent the information that controls the handoff

The most useful information is the client's full legal name, date of birth, LAPD booking number if available, current jail, charges, case number or court date, and the bail amount shown in the current record. Reconfirm the jail immediately before the bond is prepared if arraignment or transfer is imminent.

A practical custody check for an LAPD arrest

Verify the booking in the order it can change

1. Confirm the client's identity, arresting LAPD division and booking number if available.
2. Determine whether the person is at a station, one of LAPD's regional jails, court or already in LASD custody.
3. Confirm bail, holds and the next court event with the agency that currently has custody.
4. Re-run the location check if arraignment or transport is imminent.

Do not carry old instructions into a new custody system

Once the client moves from LAPD to LASD, release and access instructions should be re-verified with LASD rather than carried over from the LAPD location.

Official LAPD and LASD custody resources

LAPD's Jail and Custody Information page identifies the department's current regional jail facilities and contact procedures. If the client has already been remanded into county custody, switch to LASD’s Inmate Information Center for the current booking and housing record.