After your arrest in LA, you will go to one of the city’s jails for processing. Afterward, you may be sent to a Los Angeles County jail. The county jail where you’re placed depends on your gender, offense, security requirements, and facility availability.
If you are arrested in Los Angeles, it is important to get help from a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer. Our attorneys have handled more than 100 jury trials, including capital murder cases. Call today for a free consultation.
City Jails in Los Angeles
When you’re arrested in Los Angeles, you’re typically taken to one of the city’s jails. These short-term facilities are used to process new arrests, temporarily hold individuals until their arraignment, or transfer them to larger county jails.
The Los Angeles Police Department operates city jails. These facilities are designed to manage the initial stage of the criminal justice process, not to house inmates long-term. Where you go after your arrest in LA will be one of the following facilities:
Metropolitan Detention Center
Located on Bauchet Street, this is the primary short-term jail in downtown Los Angeles. It manages a high volume of bookings, especially from central and downtown divisions, and is frequently used for pre-arraignment holding before transfer to county facilities.
Van Nuys Jail
Located on Sylmar Avenue, the Van Nuys Jail serves the San Fernando Valley area. It is part of the Van Nuys Civic Center and handles arrestees from nearby communities, mainly functioning as a booking and temporary detention center.
77th Street Regional Jail
Located on Broadway, this regional jail is among the busiest in the city. It serves South Los Angeles and is connected to the 77th Street Community Police Station. It holds detainees for short periods before arraignment or transfer.
Hollywood Jail
Located on Wilcox Avenue, the Hollywood Jail serves the Hollywood area. It’s a small, short-term holding facility within the LAPD Hollywood Division and usually detains individuals only briefly before release or transfer.
Pacific Division Jail
This jail, located on Culver Boulevard, serves the Westside neighborhoods, including Venice and Playa del Rey. It’s a small detention facility connected to the LAPD Pacific Division and handles local arrests.
Harbor Jail
Located on South Centre Street, the Harbor Jail serves San Pedro and the nearby harbor area. It is a short-term detention center managed by the LAPD’s Harbor Division. It’s responsible for holding local arrests before court or transferring them to the county jail.
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County Jails in Los Angeles
After booking into a city jail, you’re transferred to the Los Angeles County jail if charged with a serious crime, unable to post bail, or held pending trial after arraignment. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department manages the county prison system.
Transfers occur within 72 hours or following court decisions, and you will go to one of the following facilities:
Twin Towers Correctional Facility
Located on Bauchet Street in downtown Los Angeles, it houses male inmates, including those awaiting trial and individuals with severe mental health needs. As one of the largest jails and mental health facilities in the country, it plays a key role in the county’s detention and psychiatric care system.
Men’s Central Jail
Located next to the Twin Towers on Bauchet Street, this aging facility has traditionally held male inmates but is gradually being phased out due to outdated infrastructure and ongoing concerns about inmate conditions. Despite this, it remains partly operational.
Century Regional Detention Facility
Often called the Lynwood Jail, as it is located on Alameda Street in Lynwood. It is the main jail for women in Los Angeles County. The facility houses both pre-trial detainees and sentenced female inmates and was designed specifically for women.
North County Correctional Facility
Located on The Old Road in Castaic, it houses male inmates, mainly those serving longer sentences or needing medium to high security. As part of the larger Pitchess Detention Center complex, it functions as one of the county’s main long-term housing units.
Pitchess Detention Center
Also located in Castaic, this facility includes multiple jail units. PDC mainly houses male inmates and is used for both pre-trial detention and sentenced individuals.
How Do They Determine Which County Jail You Go To?
The Sheriff’s Department decides where you go after your arrest in LA. Usually, you cannot ask to be taken to a specific county jail in Los Angeles. However, if you have special circumstances, such as medical needs or safety concerns, you or your attorney can notify jail officials.
In Los Angeles County, the decision about which county jail you’re sent to usually depends on several factors, including:
- Type of offense and security level: Higher-security inmates may be sent to facilities with stricter controls, like Twin Towers or Pitchess Detention Center.
- Gender: Women are typically sent to the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, the main women’s jail.
- Inmate classification: This includes assessing your criminal history, behavior, medical and mental health needs, and risk of escape or violence. Classification determines the level of security and housing.
- Availability and capacity: Sometimes, inmates are assigned based on which jail has available beds.
- Geographic considerations: Where you were arrested or the court location can influence jail placement for easier transport.
Get Help if You Have Been Arrested
After an arrest in LA, you will temporarily go to a city jail before possibly moving on to a county jail for a longer stay. If you or someone close to you has been arrested and is currently held in a Los Angeles jail, get legal representation.
Our team at Simmrin Law Group has decades of legal experience, and we are here to help. Call today for a free consultation.
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