Families may not even know that a loved one has been arrested and/or charged until they are already in jail in Orange County, California. The news may be delivered via a phone call from your loved one, an inmate, an attorney or another third party.
This often comes as a great shock and may even cause panic to set in turning the next 24 hours into an emotional whirlwind. However, by taking certain well-considered steps, your actions can assist your loved one in his or her future defense of any criminal charges. It may also be instrumental in preventing harsh consequences as a result of those criminal charges.
Acting quickly on the correct information and following these standard procedures can make a great difference to the state of mind and the well-being of your loved one.
General Guidelines When Information-Gathering
As you work through the information-gathering process, the following general tips are useful:
- Try to remain calm, respectful, and polite: remember all personnel in the criminal justice system are human beings; remaining calm, respectful and polite with the relevant personnel will go a long way in assisting you in obtaining the information needed to help your loved one at this stage of the process.
- Write everything down: record all dates and times of conversations with everyone you speak to and a summary of what was said.
- Never discuss details of the case with your loved one over the phone: all calls to and from jails in Orange County, California, are recorded.
- Persevere: politely push for the information you need until you get answers, which might be slow in coming.
- Hire an experienced criminal defense attorney: start working with an experienced Orange County criminal defense attorney as soon as possible as they can assist with this process and begin working toward the best outcome at this early stage of the process.
Start By Gathering the Basic Information You Need
Inmates at the Orange County Central Jail Complex are allowed to make one free outgoing phone call when they arrive at the facility. They can call collect or with a calling card.
If your loved one uses that call to contact a criminal defense attorney, you may receive a call from the attorney with the details of where your loved one is being held.
If an attorney has not yet been contacted and you do not receive a call, you may need to gather the relevant information yourself. If your loved one calls you directly, urge him/her to stay calm and remain silent until they have had time to consult with a criminal defense attorney. Calls are monitored and it is easy to say something that can jeopardize the legal position of their pending case.
Determining the Location of Your Loved One in Custody
If you know the Police Department in the County of Orange that made the arrest, call them and request information on your loved one as a family member of the arrested individual.
If the name of the Police Department is unknown, you can check the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Information System. You must set up an account and log in with a username and password. If your loved one’s arrest, custody, and charge information is not yet viewable, call the Orange County Central Jail Complex at 714-647-4666. You can also try the Orange County Sheriff Department Records at 714-834-6454 or 714-935-6940 for information about an inmate’s court assignment.
The Orange County Central Jail Complex (CJX) is comprised of four separate but interconnected bureaus:
- The Central Men’s Jail
- The Central Women’s Jail
- The Intake and Release Center (IRC)
- The Transportation Bureau
The information you should have ready during the conversation includes:
- Your loved one’s full name
- Your loved one’s date of birth
- The agency who made the arrest and location (if known)
- Date and time of arrest (if known)
Try to find out the following information:
- The location of your loved one
- The charges they are being held on
- Whether the charge is a misdemeanor or felony
- The date of the first appearance in court (the “arraignment” must be within 48 hours of the arrest in California, excluding weekends and holidays)
- What the bond/bail status is and amount (if known at this stage)
If the arraignment has already been completed, persons not released go to the Orange County Men’s Central Jail, Women’s Central Jail, James A. Musick Facility or the Theo Lacy Facility. All of which are correctional/detention facilities in the county.
Finding out case information
If you are at the stage of finding out case information on a loved one who is in custody, visit the Orange County case information website.
Here, you can find information such as:
- The arraignment date
- The pretrial hearing date
- The preliminary hearing date, if the charge is a felony
- Any other relevant court dates
How to get your loved one out of jail
If you are working without a criminal defense attorney, you will need assistance assuring your loved one is released.
Depending on the seriousness of the charges and their criminal history, your loved one may achieve a release from custody by OR (own recognizance). This means that there will be no need to post bail or to hire a bail bondsman.
Bail can usually be posted with cash or credit card. A bail bond can be posted using a licensed bail bondsman, for which there will be a percentage fee of the bail amount depending on the bail bond company.
Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney
A criminal defense attorney makes it easier and less stressful to locate your loved one, understand the charges, the court processes, and ultimately get your loved one released from an Orange County jail with or without bail.
Ideally, contact a local criminal defense attorney as soon as you become aware of your loved one’s arrest. An experienced Orange County criminal defense attorney will:
- Establish contact with your loved one and provide reassurance and support
- Help your loved one navigate the judicial system in Orange County, California
- Attend the first court appearance (arraignment)
- Advocate for reduced bail or release on their own recognizance (OR)
- Protect your loved one’s rights
- Answer your questions about the court processes, arraignment, bail, etc.
What NOT to Do After Your Loved One is Arrested
Finally, here are a few reminders about what NOT to do after the arrest of a loved one:
- Do not discuss case details on the phone as all jail calls are recorded
- Do not ask your loved one what happened
- Do not post information about the arrest on social media
- Do not rely upon legal advice obtained via a web search or the use of artificial intelligence. Get the advice of an actual seasoned criminal defense attorney, as your loved one’s future could be impacted by a criminal conviction
Call The Law Offices of Bryan R. Kazarian today at 855-918-4253 or contact us online if a loved one is arrested and being held in jail in Orange County, California.
