Booking and Bail in California

Being arrested is a traumatic experience. Knowing what to do and what not to do is the best way to limit the damage it causes. The key is to be informed and to know how the system works.

There are typically two things you will want to do right away. Bail out and get a lawyer.

Every county and every courthouse has its own way of doing things. The criminal court process in Los Angeles County, for example, differs significantly from the process in San Bernardino. But even within San Bernardino County, the procedures at the central courthouse vary considerably from Rancho Cucamonga or Victorville.