Guides for families
Finding someone
How to Find Someone in a Southern California Jail
A step-by-step guide to finding a loved one in county or city custody anywhere in Southern California.
County Jail vs. State Prison vs. Federal Custody
Learn the difference between county jails, California state prisons and federal facilities, and where to search for each.
Who to Contact for an Update After Court
How families can find out what happened at a court hearing, from online court case searches to the defense attorney.
Visiting and mail
Visiting Someone in a Southern California Jail
What to expect when you visit a county jail: scheduling, ID, dress codes and video visits.
Sending Mail to Someone in Jail
How to address letters, what you can and can't send, and why mail gets returned.
Parking and Arriving for a Jail Visit
What to expect when you drive to a Southern California jail for a visit: parking, arrival times, what to leave in the car and accessibility.
Money and commissary
How to Send Money to Someone in Jail
How commissary and phone accounts work in Southern California jails, and how to avoid fees and scams.
How Jail Commissary Works
How commissary ordering works in Southern California county jails: what people can buy, schedules, limits and help for people without money.
How to Release Money From an Inmate's Account
How a person in custody can release funds to family, and what happens to the money on their books when they're released or transferred.
Release, property and vehicles
What Happens After an Arrest in Southern California
A timeline from arrest to booking, first court date and release, so families know what to expect.
Picking Someone Up After Release From Jail
How jail release timing works in Southern California, where people come out and how to plan a safe pickup, including late at night.
How to Pick Up an Inmate's Property
How to collect someone's clothing, wallet, keys and phone from a Southern California jail, including the release forms and ID you'll need.
Getting a Car Back After an Arrest: Impounds in Southern California
What happens to a vehicle after an arrest, how to get a vehicle release from the arresting agency and what tow yard fees to expect.
The First 24 Hours After an Arrest in Southern California
A step-by-step guide for families: locate a loved one, understand booking and release options, prepare for court, and avoid rushed financial decisions.
Health in custody
Medical and Mental Health Care in County Jail
How medical care works for people in Southern California county jails, how families can share health concerns and what privacy rules apply.
Prescriptions and Medications in Jail
Whether jails accept outside medications, how prescriptions are verified, and how to get medications at release in Southern California.
Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses and Dentures in Jail
How Southern California jails handle eyeglasses, contacts, dentures and hearing aids, and what to do if they're lost or broken.
Legal help
Free and Low-Cost Legal Help in Southern California
Where families can find free or affordable legal help, including legal aid, law school clinics, bar referral services and court self-help centers.
Working With a Public Defender: What Families Should Know
How public defenders are appointed in California, how families can reach them and what information they can and can't share.
Hiring a Private Criminal Defense Attorney: Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of hiring a private defense lawyer instead of using a public defender, how fees work and how to check a lawyer's license.
Bail
Bail Basics in California
A plain-language overview of how bail, release on your own recognizance and arraignment work in California.
How to Post Cash Bail in Southern California
Where and how to pay cash bail at Southern California jails and courts, what ID you'll need, and how the money is refunded.
Bail Bonds: When to Call a Bail Agent, and the Pros and Cons
How bail bonds work in California, when it makes sense to contact a bail agent, the pros and cons, and how to check a bail agent's license.
How Immigration Bail Bonds Work and How ICE Detention Differs From County Jail
A plain-language guide for Southern California families: how ICE detention differs from city and county jails, how to find someone, and how immigration delivery bonds are set, paid and refunded.