What the custody record tells you
| What you see | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| A dollar bail amount | Scheduled bail is set | A bond can be posted now |
| $0 or "no bail" | Either a zero-bail release or a no-bail hold | Read zero bail vs no-bail holds |
| "Cited out" / released pending | No custody, court date issued | No bond needed |
| Hold noted (probation, parole, other agency) | Another authority controls release | Bond will not open the door yet |
| 1275 hold | Court wants proof funds are lawful | See 1275 hold bail bonds |
Where to check
Start with our inmate search, which points at the LA County Sheriff and San Diego County Sheriff custody systems. Booking records typically appear within a few hours; a name that returns nothing usually means booking is still in progress, not that the person was released.
If the person is at a city station rather than a county facility, they may be transferred before release — the LA County jail directory shows which stations hold and which transfer.
When a bond is the right answer
- The bail number is more than the family can hand over in cash — a bond costs 10% of it.
- You want the money movement to stay simple: cash bail is refunded to whoever posted it at the end of the case, a premium is not.
- The arraignment is days away and waiting in custody costs a job.
- You need someone at the window at 3 a.m., which is a bail agent's job, not a court clerk's.