Basics of the Van Nuys Jail
When a person is arrested in the San Fernando Valley by the Los Angeles Police Department or California State Highway Patrol, they may be subject to a temporary stay at the Van Nuys Community Police Station located inside the Los Angeles Police Department.
Those who have been arrested will stay at the Van Nuys Jail until they are released on O.R. (their own recognizance), are arraigned at the courthouse, or they post bail.
Convicted males or males who cannot post bail are typically transferred to Los Angeles Twin Towers Jail, Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail, or the Pitchess Detention Center. Females can expect to go to the Century Regional Detention Facility.
If you have a loved one who is being held at the Van Nuys Jail, it’s a good idea to contact a skilled local crime attorney on his or her behalf. Please reach out to the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney today to schedule a free consultation.
Van Nuys Jail Address
The address of the Van Nuys Jail, located at the Los Angeles Police Department Van Nuys Police Station, is:
6240 Sylmar Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91401
The jail can be reached by phone at 818-374-9500. However, the jail can only offer limited information about your loved one’s case, so don’t hesitate to call Van Nuys attorney Christopher Chaney at (818) 330-5198 for reliable legal advice and advocacy.
What Happens When Van Nuys Jail Inmates Are Booked?
Once a person is booked into the Van Nuys Jail, they are given up to an hour to call family, arrange for bail, and contact an attorney. All these calls are made collect, so you should make sure collect calls are not automatically blocked on your phone plan.
Inmates cannot accept incoming calls or receive mail since they are only there temporarily. However, you may be able to visit the inmate if the visit complies with the facility’s hours and policies as described below.
Van Nuys Jail Visiting Hours
Those who have been booked into the Van Nuys Jail may receive one visitor per day, seven days a week. Although the jail is open 24 hours, visitors are only allowed between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. The visits last a maximum of fifteen minutes.
It is a good idea to see if the arrestee you wish to see is still in custody at the facility before visiting. You should also see that they are able to have visitors and make sure they will not be in court at the time.
To visit an inmate, you do not need an appointment, but the visits are first come, first serve. Attorneys and clergy members do not have to follow these rules and may visit at any time. All visitors must present valid identification and a government-issued photo ID like a California driver’s license, a passport, an alien registration card, or a military ID.
All visitors will be searched, and they may not bring anything to the inmate, especially anything illegal. Anyone may be denied access to the jail for visitation for any reason.
Bailing Out of the Van Nuys County Jail
When a person has been booked into jail, their bail will be set. The amount of their bail depends on the nature of their charges. The bail is meant to ensure the defendant makes their court appearances upon release. Friends or family members may pay the defendant’s bail.
The Van Nuys Jail allows four types of bail: cash, money orders, bail bonds, or cashier’s checks. To post bail, you must go to the jail, which is open twenty-four hours.
Cash Bail – If a loved one decides to pay your bail in cash, they must pay the full amount. After, you will be released until you are arraigned. If the inmate goes to all their court appearances, the money will be returned to the person who posted it. If the inmate skips their court dates, the bail money will go to the court.
Cashier’s Checks – Just like cash, you must post the entire amount of bail if you use a cashier’s check. All cashier’s checks should be made out to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Bail Account and be drawn from a certified California bank. They must include the inmate’s name and booking number. The release of the inmate could take up to a few days because the funds must be verified, especially if bail is posted on the weekend.
Money Orders – If your friend or family member posts bail using a money order, it must also be for the full amount. Keep in mind that the Van Nuys Police Department only takes Western Union or orders through the U.S. Postal Service. The money order should have the inmate’s name and booking number and be made out to the Los Angeles Police Department’s bail account.
Bail Bonds – Securing a bail bond is typically the easiest and the most prevalent method of posting bail. However, you’ll need to pay the bondsman up to 10% of the total bail amount. The bail bondsmen will keep that as a fee. Also, the amount paid to the bondsman is non-refundable. In some cases, inmates may have to put up collateral when securing a bond, such as real property. That is especially the case if the bail is substantial. If the inmate goes to all their court appearances, nothing else has to be paid. But, if they don’t go to their court appearances, the person who posted bail may be responsible for paying the bail amount to the bondsman.
You can find a bondsman on the Internet, in the phone book, or through word of mouth. Make sure you verify their license and keep impeccable records of your interactions with the bondsman.
Once the bail is posted it may be a good idea to consult a criminal defense lawyer who can try to schedule a bail hearing. At the hearing, a skilled and reputable criminal defense attorney can negotiate bail on your behalf or argue that it should be eliminated or at least reduced. They can also help you develop the best legal strategy for your case.
Van Nuys Jail Inmate Search
To conduct a Van Nuys Jail inmate search, you can:
- Call the facility at 818-374-9645 and ask questions.
- Call the Inmate Information Line run by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department at 213-473-6100.
- Visit the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s Inmate Information Website. You can look up any inmate in Los Angeles County.
- Contact an attorney to search on your behalf.
To get any information about a specific inmate, you must first have their full legal name or their booking number.
Most inmates are arraigned within two days. The judge will then continue arraignment or rule that the case will go to pre-trial. Keep in mind that while the court will appoint an attorney to the inmate during these early court appearances, this will likely be an overburdened public defender.
Hiring a private California criminal law attorney with the time and experience to build a strong case against your loved one’s charges is always the best option. Call us at (818) 330-5198 today to get started.
Collecting Property at the Van Nuys Jail Los Angeles, CA
The Van Nuys Jail collects the belongings of any inmate they book, and personal items are returned upon their release or transferred with the inmate.
If an inmate was arrested on a misdemeanor, they can sign a form that will allow a friend or family member to collect the property. People picking up property must have a government-issued ID. However, those who were arrested on felony charges are required to have the approval of a sheriff for their property to be picked up. Property may be picked up during a visit.
If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime in the Van Nuys area, you should hire a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to help you navigate your rights and options. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you.
