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