The Van Nuys Jail and Police Department Information

Van Nuys Jail Address: 6240 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, California 91406
Van Nuys Jail Inmate Information and Questions: (818) 374-9645
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Southern California Criminal Defense
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Los Angeles, CA 90012

About the Van Nuys Jail and Van Nuys Police Department

The Van Nuys Police department serves the county of Los Angeles, and is located within the LAPD’s Van Nuys Community Police Station facility. Van Nuys jail serves as a holding facility for males and females arrested in the San Fernando Valley area. When a person is booked into the facility, they will (in most instances) remain there until they go to court, they will then be taken to the Inmate Reception Center, where it will be decided which county jail the inmate will be transferred to. In some cases, the Van Nuys Police Department may decide to transfer the individual to a Los Angeles County Jail.

The process of transferring an inmate to a County Jail can take several days to complete. During this process, an inmate cannot be bailed out until they are fully processed and booked in. Inmates who must remain in jail (due to conviction or failure to post bail) will usually be transferred to a larger county Jail. Males will usually go to Los Angeles Twin Towers Jail, Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail, or the Pitchess Detention Center. Female inmates will be transferred to Century Regional Detention Facility.

The Van Nuys Police Department and Van Nuys Jail can be contacted at any time of the day or night, seven days a week for more information.

How do I post bail for an inmate at the Van Nuys Jail?

Bail refers to the nominal amount of money which needs to be deposited to ensure that the defendant attends their court appearances after being released from jail. Bail can be posted by anybody, and is returned to the payee, presuming the defendant attends their court hearings. Bail amount is set according to the Los Angeles County bail schedule, according to the severity of the crime the inmate was arrested for.

Posting bail for an inmate can be done in many different ways. It can be paid in cash, directly to Van Nuys Jail, or it can be paid in the form of a cashier’s check or a money order. You may also be able to get a “Bail Bond” from a bail bondsman, which will allow you to pay for a percentage of the bail, with the bail bondsman fronting the rest (however, you will not be able to receive this portion back if the inmate attends all of their court appearances).

As soon as bail is posted, it is advisable to contact a Van Nuys criminal defence lawyer to schedule a bail hearing, should you wish to try to get the bail reduced or eliminated. An attorney will also review your case in order to develop the most effective legal strategy to fight the inmate’s case.    

Cash Bail

Cash bail can be paid in person, directly to Van Nuys Jail. Bail must be paid in full. If the inmate attends all of their court hearings, the bail will be returned to you in full, after the conclusion of the court proceedings. Should the inmate fail to attend their court hearings, or otherwise breach the conditions of their bail, your money will be retained by the court.

Cashier's Checks

Bail can be paid -in full- by a certified California bank-drawn cashier’s check. Cashier’s checks must include the inmate’s full name as well as their booking number, and be made payable to the LA Police Department’s Bail account. 

Cashier’s checks are not the quickest way of paying bail, as the funds need to be verified before the jail can release the defendant. Because cashier’s checks can take hours or even days to process, this process can take a while, mostly dependent on the time of week in which bail is posted.

Bail Bonds

By using a Bail Bonds Company, you can avoid having to come up with 100% of the bail amount in cash. Generally speaking, a Bail Bondsman will make you pay 10% of the bail amount, and the company will pay the rest. However, even if you or a loved one make all required court appearances, the 10% of bail you paid to the Bail Bondsman will not be refunded. This is how they make their money. You can easily find a local Van Nuys Bail Bondsman by searching online.

How do I find information about an inmate housed at the Van Nuys Jail?

There are many ways to find out about an inmate at Van Nuys Jail. The quickest way is to call the Van Nuys Jail directly at (818) 374-9645, the LA Sheriff’s department (inmate information hotline) on (213) 473-6100. Alternatively, you can use the LA Sheriff’s Department’s inmate information website at: http://app4.lasd.org/iic/ajis_search.cfm

Please be aware that a deputy will not release any information until you provide the inmates full name or their booking number.

Normally inmates will be arraigned within 2 days of arrest. After this point, the judge will set a case for a pre-trail hearing, or continue the arraignment. To find out more about case information for an inmate being held at the Van Nuys Jail visit the LA County case information website at: https://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/OnlineServices/criminalindex/index.asp    

How do I contact an inmate at the Van Nuys jail?

Inmates at the Van Nuys Jail are given between 30-60 minutes each day to make phone calls. This allows them to make bail arrangements, arrange legal representation, or inform friends and family of their whereabouts. 

Van Nuys jail inmates cannot receive incoming calls or mail, but they can place collect calls should their allotted phone time elapse. Therefore it is very important to ensure that, if somebody you know be held at Van Nuys jail, your phone is able to accept collect calls. 

What are visiting hours at the Van Nuys jail?

Inmates are usually allowed visits of 15 minutes per day (although attorneys and members of the clergy may visit as and when they wish). 

Visiting hours are typically between the hours of 10am to 12pm, and 1pm to 3pm (including weekends). It is a good idea to call Van Nuys Jail in advance to ensure that you are able to visit the inmate, although appointments are not compulsory.

All visitors must be valid identification which includes a photo ID. Accepted forms of identification include a California driver’s licence, identification card, a US passport or military registration card, or an alien registration card.

All visitors to the Van Nuys jail must consent to a search of their person or property, and may be refused entry based on real or perceived threat.

How do I collect or pickup an inmate's property at the Van Nuys Jail?

Upon arrest and booking into the Van Nuys Jail, an inmate's belongings are collected and stored within the jail. Property is returned to the inmate after they are released from jail or transferred. Inmates arrested on misdemeanour charges can arrange for the property to be released into the custody of a designated person. This can be done by filling out a property release form. Inmates arrested on felony charges must receive proper approval from a detective before property can be released to a designated person.

If you are the elected person to whom the inmate wishes to bestow their property to, you must bring a form of government-issued photo ID to the Van Nuys jail. Accepted forms of identification include a California driver’s licence, identification card, a US passport or military registration card, or an alien registration card. There is no need to contact Van Nuys Jail in advance; you may come to the jail at any time day or night to collect the property. 

What is the Van Nuys jail address?

Van Nuys Jail Address: 6240 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, California 91406

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Is a family member or friend locked up at the Van Nuys Jail? Whether it's a felony or misdemeanor charge, you need to seek the best legal advice right away. Having a quality lawyer can be the difference between freedom and more years in the can.
Vincent Oliver Law
Southern California Criminal Defense
205 South Broadway, Suite 606
Los Angeles, CA 90012
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