Arrested in East LA? Here’s What to Do First

Step 1: Stay Calm and Cooperate with Law Enforcement

For guidance about station processing, booking and posting bail following an East Los Angeles arrest, see our East LA Sheriff’s Station bail information .

• Do not resist arrest, even if it feels unfair.
• Exercise the right to remain silent.
• Politely ask for an attorney and avoid speaking about the case to police or others in custody.

Staying calm and respectful during arrest and booking helps avoid further charges or delays in bail processing.

Step 2: Gather Key Arrest Information

As soon as possible, gather or ask for this vital information:

• Full legal name of the person arrested
• Date of birth
• Booking number
• Location of the detention facility (East LA Sheriff’s Station, Twin Towers, Men’s Central Jail, etc.)
• Charges filed
• Bail amount (if set)

Having this information ready helps a bail bondsman start the process immediately — even in the middle of the night.

Step 3: Determine Which Agency Made the Arrest

East Los Angeles is an unincorporated community, which means most arrests are handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department rather than a city police department. However, arrests may also be made by:

• Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) — East LA Station
• California Highway Patrol (CHP)
• LAPD, if the arrest occurred near a city boundary
• LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center for certain LAPD arrests
• Other state or federal agencies

Knowing which agency made the arrest helps you identify the correct facility and inmate search system to use.

Step 4: Locate the Person in Custody

Once someone is booked, their information is entered into the Los Angeles County inmate database. You can search for them using the Los Angeles County inmate search or the California inmate search locator.

Most people arrested in East LA are initially processed at the East LA Sheriff’s Station before being transferred to a larger county facility such as:

• Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) — 441 Bauchet St., Los Angeles
• Twin Towers Correctional Facility — 450 Bauchet St., Los Angeles
• Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF) — women’s facility in Lynwood

See the Los Angeles County jails directory for a full list of facilities and contact information.

Step 5: Understand the Booking Process

After an arrest, the person goes through a booking process that typically includes:

• Recording personal information (name, date of birth, address)
• Photographing and fingerprinting
• Recording the alleged offense
• Conducting a health screening
• Searching and inventorying personal property
• Placing the person in a holding cell or housing unit

Booking can take anywhere from a few hours to over 24 hours depending on the facility, the charges, and how busy the jail is at the time of arrest.

Step 6: Find Out If Bail Has Been Set

For most misdemeanor and many felony charges, bail is set according to the Los Angeles County bail schedule — a predetermined list of bail amounts by charge. This means bail may be set automatically at booking without waiting for a judge.

For more serious charges, bail may be set at an arraignment hearing, which typically occurs within 48 to 72 hours of arrest. In some cases, a judge may deny bail entirely.

Once bail is set, a bail bondsman can begin the process of posting bond and securing release.

Step 7: How Bail Bonds Work in Los Angeles County

A bail bond allows a defendant to be released from custody while their case proceeds through the court system. Here is how the process works:

• A licensed bail bondsman charges a non-refundable premium — typically 10% of the total bail amount as set by the California Department of Insurance.
• The bondsman posts the full bail amount with the court or jail on behalf of the defendant.
• The defendant is released and must appear at all scheduled court dates.
• If the defendant fails to appear, the bond may be forfeited and a warrant issued.

For a full explanation of the process, see How Bail Works and How Does the Bail Bonds Process Work?

Common charge types that result in arrests in East Los Angeles include DUI, domestic violence, felony charges, and outstanding warrants.

Step 8: Call Post It Bail Bonds — East LA’s Local Bail Expert

Post It Bail Bonds is the only locally owned and operated bail bonds company based in East Los Angeles. That means:

• Faster response time
• Deeper knowledge of local jails and court systems
• Personal service you will not get from corporate or out-of-town agencies
• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — including nights, weekends, and holidays
• English and Spanish spoken — Hablamos español

Once we have the arrest details, we can verify the charges and bail amount, explain your options, and begin the bail posting process immediately. We offer flexible payment plans and accept all major forms of ID.

Visit Los Angeles County Bail Bonds for more information about our services throughout LA County.

Step 9: Prepare for Court

After release on bail, the defendant will receive a court date and must comply with all bail conditions. It is important to:

• Appear at all scheduled court dates without exception
• Stay in contact with your bail bondsman
• Consult with a licensed California criminal defense attorney
• Comply with any conditions of release set by the court

Failure to appear in court may result in a bench warrant, bail forfeiture, and re-arrest. See court bail bonds for more information about what happens when a court date is missed.

Why Someone May Not Appear in an Inmate Search

It is common for a recently arrested person to not immediately appear in an online inmate search. Common reasons include:

• Booking is still in progress. It can take several hours for booking information to be entered into the database after arrest.
• Transfer between facilities. If the person is being transported from the East LA Sheriff’s Station to a county jail, they may temporarily not appear in either system.
• System update delays. Inmate databases are updated periodically, not in real time.
• Name or date of birth discrepancy. A misspelling or incorrect date of birth in the search may return no results even when the person is in custody.
• Federal hold or ICE detainer. In some cases, a person may be held under a federal detainer and not appear in county search systems.

If you cannot locate someone through an online search, call Post It Bail Bonds at 1-855-479-4345. We can help you locate the person and determine the correct facility.

Frequently Asked Questions