If someone you love was arrested in Long Beach, the bail process comes down to five things: find out where they are held, learn the bail amount, choose between cash bail and a bond, complete the paperwork, and wait for the jail to process the release. You can start all of it by phone tonight. This guide walks through each step, explains what slows release down, and covers how the same process differs in Anaheim, Modesto and Stanislaus County.
TL;DR
- Confirm where the person is held first. Long Beach has its own city jail, and people can also be moved to county facilities.
- Bail follows the countywide bail schedule unless a judge or warrant sets a different amount. A bail reduction request is possible in some cases.
- A bail bond premium is 10% of the bail amount. Attorney clients pay 8% with us. A co-signer takes on responsibility for the defendant's court appearances.
- Release often takes hours, not minutes, and can take longer if the person is transferred or charges are filed first.
- Talk to a defense lawyer before any plea, especially on a felony.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Confirm where the person is being held
- Step 2: Find out how bail was set
- Step 3: Choose how to pay: cash bail or a bond
- Step 4: Do the paperwork and the co-signer's part
- Step 5: Release and the wait
- Perspective: what we tell families on the first call
- Need a bond in Long Beach tonight?
- How the process differs in Anaheim, Modesto and Stanislaus County
- After release: protect the bond
- FAQ
- Sources
Step 1: Confirm where the person is being held
Before you pay anything, make sure you know which facility has the person. Booking usually involves collecting personal information, fingerprinting, searching the person and taking personal items. The same source says people are typically allowed to contact someone within three hours of booking, so a call from the jail is often your first notice.
In Long Beach, the city police department runs its own jail. A Long Beach Police Department press release, for example, describes an arrestee from a neighboring city booked at Long Beach City Jail. Arrests by other agencies, such as the sheriff or California Highway Patrol, can end up in a different facility.
If you cannot find the person, contact the arresting agency or the district attorney's office to check on their status. Have the full legal name and date of birth ready, and a booking number if the person gave one.
Our Long Beach bail bonds page covers the city jail release specifically, and there is a page for the 90805 area of Long Beach.
Step 2: Find out how bail was set
Most people arrested on a standard charge are not in front of a judge yet. Bail is set from a schedule. California law says that, absent a warrant or a judge's bail order, bail follows the uniform countywide schedule of the county where the defendant must appear. Long Beach is in Los Angeles County, so the Los Angeles County schedule is the one that matters there.
Superior court judges in every county must prepare, adopt and annually revise that schedule. Amounts vary by offense, so look up the specific charge on the current schedule. We explain how to read one in our guide to what a bail schedule is.
The schedule is a starting point. When a judicial officer sets or changes bail, they weigh public protection, the seriousness of the offense, criminal history and the likelihood the person will return to court. That is why two people with similar charges can have different amounts.
Can bail be lowered?
Sometimes. Under Penal Code 1269c, an arrested person or their representative can apply to a magistrate for a bail reduction within eight hours of booking, as described by the Stanislaus County court. A defense attorney is the right person to make that request, and a lawyer can also argue for lower bail at arraignment. Bail may also be set at a higher amount when a warrant specifies it.
Step 3: Choose how to pay: cash bail or a bond
California law lets jail or court staff accept bail in cash or by a surety bond issued by a certified, admitted surety insurer. In practice you have two paths:
| Option | What you pay | What happens to the money |
|---|---|---|
| Cash bail | The full bail amount | Returned at the end of the case, subject to court rules |
| Bail bond | A premium, which is 10% of the bail | The premium is the fee for the bond and is not refunded |
On a $20,000 bail, cash bail means putting up $20,000 yourself. A bond at our 10% premium costs $2,000. Attorneys receive our 8% rate, which would be $1,600 on the same bail. You can see how we price it on our bail bond cost page.
Some people are released without posting bail at all, such as on a cite-and-release or when a judge orders release on conditions. A judge at arraignment considers public safety and whether the person is likely to miss a court date, so the outcome depends on the case.
Step 4: Do the paperwork and the co-signer's part
When you call a bail agent, expect to give:
- The defendant's full legal name and date of birth
- The jail where they are held, and the booking number if you have it
- The bail amount and the charge
- Your own information as the person signing (the co-signer, also called the indemnitor)
The co-signer is the person who guarantees the bond. That means you are agreeing the defendant will attend every court date. If they miss one, you may be responsible for the full bail amount. Only sign if you trust the person and can keep track of the dates with them.
We offer options for qualified co-signers, including payment plans and 0% down. Our $500 down bail bonds page explains the low-down-payment route. Approval depends on the co-signer, so ask us about your situation. The consultation is free and we answer 24/7.
You do not need to be at the jail. Our online bail bonds service lets the co-signer complete the process remotely, which helps when family lives in another county or state. For a general walkthrough, see how bail bonds work in California.
Felonies, misdemeanors and special holds
The process is the same in outline, but the amounts and the number of court hurdles are not. Felony bail is typically higher, so the premium is larger. Read our pages on felony bail bonds and misdemeanor bail bonds. If a person also has an immigration or federal matter, the bond type differs. We handle federal bonds in Los Angeles County and immigration bonds, as well as 1275 holds.
Step 5: Release and the wait
Once a bond is posted, the jail must verify it and process the release. Authorized personnel accept the bond, issue a release order and set the time and place of the court appearance. Do not expect a fixed clock. Release usually takes hours, and busy nights, shift changes and a full booking queue stretch it.
Things that cause delay:
- The person is not fully booked yet. A bond cannot be accepted until booking is complete.
- Charges have not been filed. In Orange County, for example, detainees may be held up to two court days or 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, and arraignment may occur before release if charges are filed.
- A transfer. Where someone is held can change. Always re-check the location before sending anyone to the jail.
- A hold. Warrants, immigration holds and 1275 holds can stop release even after a bond posts.
Where the person appears in court depends on the arrest location and the charge. For Los Angeles County, the LAPD notes that arraignment location depends on where the arrest happened and the type of charge. Our 48-hour family plan lays out arraignment and bail timing in more detail.
Perspective: what we tell families on the first call
We are practitioners, and there is no call center between you and us. On a first call the same three mistakes come up. Families wait until morning because it is late, when the jail is processing now. They pay the first bond quote they hear without asking what the premium and fees are. And they assume the bail amount is fixed when a lawyer may be able to change it.
Our advice: call quickly, get the bail amount and facility confirmed, and ask what you will owe in total. Bail premiums in California are set at 10%, and we have no hidden extras to add on top of the figure we quote. If an attorney is on the case, tell us, because our attorney discount of 8% is applied automatically. If the person is a juvenile, the process is different, and we have a page on juvenile bail bonds in Los Angeles County.
And please, before anyone pleads at arraignment, get legal advice. The California Courts self-help guide says people should consult a lawyer before pleading guilty or no contest, especially in felony cases. A criminal defense representation team can walk through plea options, evidence and next steps, and that matters as much as getting out.
— Jake
Need a bond in Long Beach tonight?
We post bonds from $1,000 to $1,000,000 across all 58 California counties, with bilingual support in Spanish, Hindi and Arabic. The first consultation is free, and the line is open around the clock. Start on our California bail bonds page, or look at what the 10% premium covers first.
How the process differs in Anaheim, Modesto and Stanislaus County
The steps above apply across California, because bail law is state law. What changes is the county: the schedule, the court, and the jail.
Anaheim (Orange County)
Anaheim is in Orange County, so the Orange County Superior Court schedule and arraignment rules apply. The court's own guidance covers how long someone can be held before arraignment and how family can check status. We also serve Orange County immigration cases through our Orange County immigration bonds page.
Modesto and Stanislaus County
Modesto is the largest city in Stanislaus County, and the county court publishes its own annual schedule. The current Stanislaus County bail schedule took effect January 1, 2026, and it also explains the eight-hour reduction request under Penal Code 1269c.
To find someone, families can check the Stanislaus County Sheriff's website or call the jail. Those facilities also screen arrivals for mental illness and other health concerns, which can add time to booking. If the person has a medical or mental health need, tell the jail and the attorney.
Across every county, the order stays the same: locate, confirm bail, pick cash or bond, sign, wait for release, and make every court date. For a neighboring example of how county rules can delay release, read our guide to San Luis Obispo County bail rules.
After release: protect the bond
A bond only works if the defendant shows up every time. Put every date in two phones. Confirm the courtroom, since location can depend on the case. Keep your agent's number handy, and call before a court date if there is any problem such as illness or no transportation. We offer personal guidance through every court date, which is the simplest way to keep a co-signer from losing money over a missed hearing.
FAQ
How long does the bail process take in Long Beach?
Usually a few hours once a bond is posted, but there is no guaranteed time. Delays come from incomplete booking, shift changes, transfers or holds. Call as soon as you know where the person is held and the bail amount.
How much does a bail bond cost in California?
The premium is 10% of the bail amount. Our attorney discount is 8%. On a $10,000 bail, that is $1,000 at 10% or $800 at 8%. See our bail bond cost page for how it works.
Can I bail someone out without going to the jail?
Yes. The co-signer can usually complete the paperwork online or by phone with the agent, and the agent handles delivery to the jail. You still need the defendant's full name, date of birth, and the facility.
What if the bail amount is too high?
Ask a defense attorney about a bail reduction. In some counties a request can be made to a magistrate within eight hours of booking, and a judge can revisit bail at arraignment. A payment plan on the bond premium can also help while that is pending.
What happens if the defendant misses court?
The court can forfeit the bond, and the co-signer may be responsible for the full bail amount. Contact your bail agent right away if a date is missed or at risk, because there may be steps that can fix it.
Sources
- Court Appearance, Superior Court of California, County of Orange
- What Happens After an Arrest, ACLU San Diego and Imperial Counties
- Stanislaus County Superior Court Bail Schedule
- Criminal Bail Schedule, Superior Court of California, Santa Clara
- California Penal Code 1269b
- The arraignment, California Courts Self Help Guide
- Long Beach Police Department press release
- Jail and Custody Information, LAPD