If you’re arrested in Orange County, California, a trip to a local jail is a sure thing. Where you end up and how long you stay there depends on various factors, including the location of your arrest and how quickly you can see a judge.
The gist is that the judge will determine whether you’re eligible for bail or a flight risk, and will then set an amount that you must pay for release. If you don’t have the money, a bail bond is worth considering, as it ensures that you’re out of jail in a matter of hours, rather than having to stay behind bars while awaiting your trial.
Here’s what you should know about some of the jails in Orange County and how bail bonds can prevent you from having to spend more time than necessary in one.
Costa Mesa Jail
When your arrest takes place in Costa Mesa, you’ll likely end up in the Costa Mesa Police Department cells. This jail is located at 99 Fair Drive, across the street from the local Fairgrounds, and has 32 beds for short-term inmates waiting to see a judge or awaiting their release.
You’ll generally get out of the Costa Mesa Jail quickly after posting bail because the facility is small enough that they can process you in a matter of minutes.
Santa Ana Jail
Just north of Costa Mesa is Santa Ana, and if you’re arrested in this jurisdiction, your first stop is the Santa Ana Police Department and its jail. This facility is larger than the one in Costa Mesa and has a central location near Santa Ana Stadium, City Hall, and the Orange County Central Men’s Jail.
Orange County Bail Bonds has an office across the street, too, allowing us to get a bail bond agent to you in a hurry.
Newport Beach Jail
Over in Newport Beach, arrested parties will visit 870 Santa Barbara Drive and the Newport Beach Police Department. It’s an easy-to-find location near Newport Central, so family members can get there quickly after bailing you out.
The Newport Beach Jail is also open 24 hours per day. As a result, you can immediately receive your release after sending bail because one fewer night in a cell is always a good thing.
Laguna Beach Jail
Arrested parties in Laguna Beach will have to visit the Laguna Beach Police Department and its jail. This facility typically allows for your release in about half an hour after receiving your bail payment – good news because you won’t have to wait for hours to get out of there.
The Laguna Beach Jail is on Forrest Avenue, not far from Main Beach. It’s easy to find, so once you come up with bail, you can have someone there to pick you up in no time at all.
What Happens If You Don’t Make Bail?
We know that making bail gets you out of a city jail at a local police detachment within minutes, but what happens if you’re unable to come up with the money?
Well, it depends.
You’ll probably end up at a local prison while awaiting your trial since there isn’t enough space in these smaller facilities for long-term inmates.
In many cases, this involves spending some time at the Orange County Central Men’s Jail or the Orange County Central Women’s Jail, depending on your gender. Both of these facilities are in Santa Ana and are maximum-security prisons.
The men’s jail houses up to 1,428 people at any given time, while the women’s prison has 386 inmates. Once you’re in these prisons, you can still make bail, but it’ll take hours to complete the process. These county jail facilities are also far more dangerous, so it’s in your best interest to pay your bail before you’re transferred.
The facility also has the Intake/Release Center (IRC), where you’ll start and end your time at the Central Men’s Jail. You’ll usually spend some time in the IRC while awaiting your arraignment or before officials assign you a cell block.
If you’re considered high-risk, you might end up at the Theo Lacy Jail Facility, another maximum-security prison in Santa Ana. This jail has 3,111 beds and can isolate inmates who require time away from the general population for various reasons.
Those who don’t make bail but are low risk and are awaiting arraignment on a non-violent offense could end up at the James A. Musick Jail in Irvine. This facility is low-security and accommodates both male and female prisoners.
Getting the Help You Need
Of course, you can prevent yourself from spending any longer than you need to at any of these facilities by posting bail as quickly as possible. The faster you can have a bail bondsman on your side and posting your bail, the less time you’ll have to spend in any jail in Orange County.
Start the process by getting in touch with an agent at Orange County Bail Bonds. From there, we’ll give you the information you need to make the right decision on whether or not to continue with the process.
If you continue, we’ll deliver your bail bonds direct to ensure that you’re out of jail as quickly as possible. As we’ve mentioned, city jails often complete their processing in about half an hour. We’re available to help you in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, and throughout the Los Angeles area.
