Los Angeles County bail amounts
Los Angeles County Bail Amount Lookup
Why most Los Angeles County arrests no longer carry a dollar figure at all, where the current schedules actually live, and how to find the number when there is one.
Los Angeles County is the one place in Southern California where “what’s the bail?” often has no dollar answer. Since 1 October 2023 the Superior Court’s pre-arraignment release protocols replace money bail for a large share of arrests, and the schedules now mark those offences CR, BR or MR instead of a figure. This page shows you how to tell which situation you are in, and where the current documents actually are — because the copies most websites still link to are years out of date.
First, check which of the three you are looking at
| A dollar amount | Money bail applies. Domestic violence, nearly all serious or violent felonies, and certain constitutionally excluded felonies still carry a figure. |
| CR — Cite and Release | Cited at the scene and released on a promise to appear. $0 bail unless an exception applies. |
| BR — Book and Release | Booked into a facility, then released on a promise to appear. $0 bail unless an exception applies. |
| MR — Magistrate Review | A magistrate, available around the clock, reviews the case. Bail is $0 but non-financial conditions may be imposed. |
The full explanation of how the three tracks work, and what the exceptions are, is on Los Angeles County pre-arraignment release.
Where the current schedules actually are
This is worth reading carefully, because it trips up almost everyone. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County now publishes at lacourt.ca.gov. The older lacourt.org address still serves bail schedule PDFs, and those copies carry 2022 cover dates. If you have been sent a link to a felony or misdemeanour schedule, check the edition on the document in front of you before you rely on a number from it.
The court’s live bail page is lacourt.ca.gov → Criminal → Bail, and it links the Felony Bail Schedule, the Misdemeanor Bail Schedule, the Infraction Bail Schedule, the Felony Bail Computation Worksheet, and the form used to request an increase in bail or to restrict the source of bail under Penal Code §§ 1269c, 1270.1 and 1275.1.
When a judge does put a number on a CR, BR or MR offence
The schedules publish the guideline amounts the court uses when a financial condition of release is set at arraignment or later. They are worth knowing, because they are the numbers you will actually hear.
| Felony — CR | $25,000 |
| Felony — BR | $50,000 |
| Felony — MR | $75,000 |
| Misdemeanor — CR | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Misdemeanor — BR | $15,000 |
| Misdemeanor — MR | $30,000 |
Source: the Superior Court of Los Angeles County Felony and Misdemeanor Bail Schedules, section II.C, “Determining Financial Conditions of Release at Arraignment or Future Court Proceedings.” Verified 18 September 2026.
Where money bail still applies, without exception
Penal Code § 1270.1 prohibits releasing an arrestee on bail in an amount other than the scheduled amount, before a hearing in open court, for violent felonies under § 667.5(c), serious felonies under § 1192.7(c), and specified domestic violence and stalking offences. The protocols cannot reach those cases, because a statute requires a judge to look first.
In practice, the calls we take from Los Angeles County that still involve a real bond are overwhelmingly domestic violence cases. See domestic violence bail, PC 273.5 and PC 243(e)(1).
How to find the figure for a specific person
- Locate them first. The Sheriff’s Inmate Information Center will not show a booking made in the last two hours.
- Get the charge. Call custody information on (213) 473-6100, or ask us.
- Find the code section in the right schedule — felony or misdemeanour, from lacourt.ca.gov.
- Read the protocol column. A dollar figure means a bond is needed. CR, BR or MR means it probably is not.
- Add counts and enhancements, then check for holds.
The holds that make the number meaningless
- Probation or parole hold — see probation violations.
- A warrant from another county. Los Angeles releases do not clear Orange County warrants, and the reverse is equally true.
- A PC 1275.1 hold on the source of the funds — see the 1275 hold.
- An immigration or federal detainer, which county release does not touch.
Questions we get asked most
Why does the Los Angeles bail schedule show letters instead of an amount?
Because of the pre-arraignment release protocols in force since 1 October 2023. CR means cite and release, BR means book and release, MR means magistrate review. All three are $0 bail unless an exception applies.
Where is the current Los Angeles County bail schedule?
On the Superior Court’s site at lacourt.ca.gov, under Criminal then Bail. The older lacourt.org copies are 2022 editions — always check the date on the document you are reading.
Does zero bail mean the case goes away?
No. It means release before arraignment without paying money. The case continues, the court date is real, and missing it produces a warrant — see failure to appear.
Is domestic violence excluded from zero bail in LA County?
Yes. Domestic violence offences sit outside the protocols and carry the scheduled dollar amount, because Penal Code § 1270.1 requires a hearing in open court before release on any other amount.
What is the guideline bail if a judge sets an amount on a BR felony?
The felony schedule gives $50,000 as the guideline for a BR offence, $25,000 for CR and $75,000 for MR. On the misdemeanor schedule the equivalents are $1,000 to $5,000, $15,000 and $30,000.
Related resources
LA County inmate search · LA County bail schedule explained · Pre-arraignment release · Orange County bail amount lookup · Bail reduction hearings · Los Angeles County jails · Los Angeles County courthouses · Los Angeles County bail bonds
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