What to do when a loved one is arrested.

In California, someone in custody must be brought before a judge within 48 hours of arrest, not counting weekends and holidays (Penal Code 825). If the DA hasn't filed charges by then, they have to be released. Charges can still be filed later.

Use the inmate search for the county where they were arrested, listed above. Search by full legal name and date of birth. If they don't show up, they may not be booked yet, may already be released, or may be in another county's jail.

Booking can take several hours, so check again later. Try other spellings and their full legal name. They may have been cited and released, held at a city jail before transfer, or taken to a different county than you expect.

Usually, yes. Most county inmate searches list the booking charges and bail amount. Those are the arrest charges. The DA can file different charges, or none, before arraignment.

Pay the full bail in cash at the jail, or hire a licensed bail bond agent who posts a bond for a fee. You'll need the person's full name, date of birth and booking number, plus your photo ID. Before you pay, ask a lawyer whether release without bail is possible.

Bail bond agents in California usually charge a premium of about 10% of the bail amount. That fee is never refunded, even if the case is dismissed. A $50,000 bail usually costs about $5,000 through a bond.

Cash bail is returned after the case ends, as long as every court date was kept. It can take several weeks. A bond agent's premium is not returned.

Ask a lawyer to request a bail hearing. Under In re Humphrey (2021), California judges must consider whether a person can afford the amount, and can release them on their own recognizance (O.R.) or with conditions.

Often, yes. Many lower-level arrests are cited and released, and courts can grant O.R. or supervised release through pretrial services. The rules differ by county, which is why each county card above has its own notes.

Yes, by phone and through scheduled visits. Every jail call is recorded, except calls with their lawyer, and prosecutors listen to them. Talk about logistics only, never about what happened.

You don't have to answer police questions about your loved one's case. Family members are often called as witnesses, so anything you say can be used. Be polite, say you'd like to speak with a lawyer first, and call us.

Yes. Families often hire and pay for the lawyer. The person arrested is still the client, so the lawyer takes direction from them and keeps their conversations confidential, but we can update you with their permission.

With your loved one's permission, yes. Without it, the lawyer can't share confidential details, even with the family member who is paying.

No. In California the DA decides whether to file or dismiss charges, not the alleged victim. This comes up most in domestic violence cases. What the victim wants can still matter, and a lawyer can present it to the DA.

At arraignment, the judge reads the charges, the defendant enters a plea, and the court decides release or bail and sets the next date. If they can't afford a lawyer, a public defender can be appointed. A private lawyer can be hired at any point.

Yes. Every county jail has an inmate account for phone calls and commissary. Deposits are usually made online, by phone or at a lobby kiosk. Check the county sheriff's website for the method.

Most jails don't accept medication from family. Call the jail and ask for the medical unit, tell them about any condition or prescription, and have the prescribing doctor's information ready.

The judge can issue a bench warrant, and any posted bail can be forfeited. Missing court can also lead to a separate charge. If a court date was missed, call a lawyer right away. It's often possible to fix it before an arrest.

No. The county where the arrest happened decides the jail, the court, the bail schedule and which DA files the case. A San Jose resident arrested in Oakland has an Alameda County case.

They are usually booked where they were arrested, then held for the county that issued the warrant. That county's court handles the warrant, so you may be dealing with two counties at once. Call us and we'll sort out which one controls release.

Search the county court's case portal, listed for each county above. If nothing shows yet, the DA may not have filed. Cases can be filed weeks or months after an arrest.