| From the homeless woman charged with petty | | | | released on your own recognizance (for minor |
| theft to celebrity bad girls like Paris | | | | offenses) or it's time to appear before a |
| Hilton, Lynwood Jail becomes a temporary home | | | | judge. At some point in the process, you can |
| for women arrested in Los Angeles County. | | | | make a phone call. The earlier you can make |
| Also known as the Century Station Jail, | | | | your call, the better, because it means your |
| Lynwood is the main LA County jail for women. | | | | family can go ahead start working with a bail |
| If you're a woman arrested in Los Angeles, | | | | bond agent. |
| you're likely to be taken to Lynwood Jail for | | | | |
| processing and booking. | | | | When you make your phone call, be sure to |
| | | | give the person you call the following |
| The arrest, booking, and bail bond process | | | | information: |
| goes more smoothly and is less frightening if | | | | |
| you understand the process and know what to | | | | 1. Your full name and date of birth. |
| expect. | | | | |
| | | | 2. The name of the jail. If you aren't sure |
| Stay Calm During the Arrest Process | | | | what jail you are in, let them know where you |
| | | | were arrested. Your family can't bail you out |
| The police may arrest you if they have | | | | if they can't find you! |
| probable cause to believe you have committed | | | | |
| a crime. They detain you, read your Miranda | | | | 3. Your bail amount, if you know it. Also, |
| warnings ("You have the right to remain | | | | let the person know that you do want to be |
| silent....etc."), and transport you to a jail | | | | bailed out and if you can afford the bail |
| - usually Lynwood Jail - for processing and | | | | bond fee (10% of the bail). Remember, no one |
| booking. | | | | can call in to you, so make sure you provide |
| | | | all the information you can up front. If you |
| Even if you think the police are making a | | | | call your brother and he's not sure you want |
| mistake when they arrest you, it's important | | | | to be bailed out (duh!), you could wait |
| to be cooperative. Otherwise, the police may | | | | considerably longer in jail. |
| charge you with resisting arrest, which makes | | | | |
| your situation that much worse. | | | | 4. Ask the person you call to take care of |
| | | | children, pets and any job situations that |
| · Never argue with the arresting officers. | | | | can be addressed. You may not be out of jail |
| | | | in time for work, so you may want someone to |
| · Don't try to run away from or touch the | | | | call in for you. |
| officers. | | | | |
| | | | Your Experience While in Jail |
| · Keep your hands in view at all times. | | | | |
| | | | The arrest and booking process is unnerving |
| · Be polite; don't threaten the officers | | | | enough, but most women are terrified by the |
| with lawsuits or yell about police brutality. | | | | thought of being placed in the holding cell |
| | | | with a lot of strangers. It's impossible to |
| · Give your real, true name. Bailing out | | | | forget all those B movies and news stories |
| "Jane Doe" or "Sue Z. Cue" is next to | | | | about prison violence. |
| impossible. | | | | |
| | | | Naturally, there is some danger, but remember |
| The police will ask you if you have weapons, | | | | approximately 70% of women arrested in |
| needles or anything sharp that may harm them. | | | | California are charged with non-violent |
| Answer honestly because next they will search | | | | crimes: offenses like drug possession, |
| you to make sure you don't have a weapon. | | | | writing bad checks, petty theft, and |
| Expect to be handcuffed and transported to a | | | | prostitution. Only about a quarter are |
| booking facility known commonly as jail. The | | | | charged with violent offenses and most of |
| majority of women arrested in Los Angeles | | | | those are against husbands, boyfriends, and |
| County are taken to Lynwood Jail, but you | | | | other family members. |
| also may be processed at another facility and | | | | |
| eventually moved to Lynwood. If you're at a | | | | Remember that you are incarcerated with |
| large event like a sporting event or concert, | | | | people you don't know. They may be dealing |
| they may have temporary holding facilities | | | | with mental health issues, drug addictions, |
| and will transport you later to a jail. Any | | | | or other problems that make them emotionally |
| transfer will add to the time it takes to get | | | | unstable. It's best to be reserved, but |
| released, so be prepared to wait. | | | | friendly. Don't volunteer personal |
| | | | information; don't make statements that |
| The police can question you before or after | | | | denigrate a particular ethnic or religious |
| you're booked. Most attorneys say it's best | | | | group; and don't give others the impression |
| not to volunteer any information except for | | | | that you think you're "too good" to be in |
| your name and address, which you must | | | | jail with the rest of them. |
| provide. Be careful what you say. The police | | | | |
| aren't kidding when they warn you that | | | | Bail Bond and Release Procedures |
| "anything you say can and will be used | | | | |
| against you." If you request an attorney, | | | | The bail amount is set by judges in a County |
| they must stop the interrogation until your | | | | Bail Schedule based on the charges. Bail |
| attorney arrives. | | | | Schedules generally have differing bail |
| | | | amounts depending on the severity of the |
| Booking Procedures May Take a Long Time | | | | crime. For example, a DUI in LA County has a |
| | | | $15,000 bail; a DUI with accident is $50,000 |
| Once at Lynwood Jail, women are "booked," or | | | | and so on. |
| processed into the system. Nothing about the | | | | |
| booking process is speedy, and you won't be | | | | Bail can be raised, lowered or removed only |
| able to arrange for bail until it's complete. | | | | by a judge. Waiting to be heard in front of a |
| In large jails, booking can take as long as | | | | judge means additional time in jail. If you |
| 12 - or sometimes longer. | | | | do wait for a judge, the judge considers the |
| | | | severity of the offense, likelihood that |
| Major parts of the booking process include: | | | | you're a danger to the community, the amount |
| | | | of jail time if you're found guilty, your |
| · Basic personal information. You're asked | | | | past arrest record, and community ties. |
| for your name, address, phone number, social | | | | |
| security, phone number, and next of kin | | | | The average bail amount in California is |
| information. | | | | $25,000. Often bail is set higher. Since few |
| | | | people can pay the whole amount, you'll |
| · Photograph. This is the infamous "mug | | | | probably need to contract with a licensed |
| shot," which will look even worse than your | | | | bail bond agent. The bail agent can walk you |
| driver's license photo. | | | | through the entire bail bond process and |
| | | | handle the release. Professional bail agents |
| · Property collection. Jail personnel | | | | know the jail systems and often know the bail |
| collect all your personal belongings | | | | schedules. They can begin the bail process to |
| including jewelry, purse, wallet, etc. and | | | | obtain the fastest release possible. The |
| give you a receipt. Everything will be | | | | sooner a bail bondsman is contacted, the |
| returned to you when you're released, except | | | | faster the release can occur. |
| for illegal substances or items kept as | | | | |
| evidence. Check the receipt to make sure that | | | | Bail agents charge 10% of the bail amount as |
| everything taken from you is listed. | | | | payment for their services. The California |
| | | | Legislature regulates this cost. If a bail |
| · Fingerprinting and identification. Your | | | | agent offers you a "cheap 5% bail bond," |
| fingerprints and personal information are | | | | you're dealing with someone willing to |
| entered into the federal database for future | | | | violate California law, and that's dangerous |
| reference and to check for outstanding | | | | for you. |
| charges, warrants or matches to unsolved | | | | |
| cases. If they police took fingerprints at | | | | After all, if the bail bond agent doesn't |
| the scene, they'll try to match yours to | | | | follow that part of the law, how can you be |
| those as well. | | | | sure he'll follow the appropriate procedures |
| | | | for obtaining your release and return your |
| · Body search. This can be uncomfortable, | | | | collateral when the case is complete? |
| embarrassing, and/or humiliating. The extent | | | | |
| of the search depends on different factors; | | | | Getting arrested is never fun: the booking |
| it may be a simple pat down, but it could | | | | process can be slow and frustrating, and a |
| also be a full cavity search. The only good | | | | night in jail can be as scary as it sounds. |
| thing to say is that it must be conducted by | | | | But, in this case, knowledge really is power. |
| a female police officer or jail employee. | | | | Once you understand what is happening, what |
| | | | your rights and responsibilities are, and how |
| Once the booking procedures are complete, | | | | to arrange for release, you'll be able to |
| jail personnel take you to a jail cell where | | | | handle yourself and stay calm until you're |
| you will likely remain until bailed out, | | | | back home with your loved ones. |