Bail at the Orange County Intake Release Center: What Families Need to Know

Bail bonds for anyone held in an Orange County Sheriff's jail are accepted 24 hours a day at the Intake Release Center (IRC), 550 N. Flower Street in Santa Ana. The Sheriff's own FAQ says that once bail or a bond is posted, release takes about 4 hours on average, and can be as little as 2 or as much as 6. Before any of that can happen, booking has to be finished and a bail amount has to be available.

Here is what families should know about the IRC, how to find the person, and how bail is posted there.

What is the Intake Release Center?

The IRC is an Orange County Sheriff's Department jail in Santa Ana. The Sheriff's FAQ says that once a new arrestee has finished booking, or has been remanded to the Sheriff's custody by a court, bail can be posted at the IRC Cashier's Office.

• Address: 550 N. Flower Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703
• Phone listed on the Sheriff's IRC page: (714) 647-6063
• Phone listed on the Sheriff's bail page: (714) 647-6085

Our Intake Release Center page has more about the facility.

How long until bail information is available?

This is the first question most families ask, and the Sheriff's FAQ page gives two different estimates. One answer says charges and bail information are "usually" available 2 to 3 hours after booking. Another says bail and bond information will be available approximately six hours after booking.

In practice, that means you may not get a bail amount right away. If you are told it is not available yet, that does not mean something is wrong. Booking takes time, and it can take longer on busy nights.

Finding the person: the Inmate Information System

The Sheriff's Department posts its Inmate Information System and a Booking Log online. A few things to know before you start:

• You need an account. On your first visit to the Sheriff's Public Services Portal, you have to create an account with an email address and password. The Sheriff does not list any fee for it.
• Charges are not shown. The Sheriff says the current version of the system does not show inmate charges.
• Write down the booking number. The Sheriff asks people to verify the full name, booking number and full bail amount before paying bail. Your bail agent will need the same details.

If the person isn't showing yet, they may still be in booking, or they may be in a city police jail. Our guide to finding someone in jail in Southern California walks through the common reasons.

Posting a bail bond at the IRC

According to the Sheriff's Cashier and Bail Information page, bonds are accepted at the Theo Lacy Facility and at the IRC, and the IRC accepts them 24 hours a day. The FAQ adds that bail can be posted 24/7 at the IRC for inmates housed at any Orange County Sheriff's jail, while the Theo Lacy office only handles people housed at Theo Lacy.

With a bail bond, a licensed bail agent posts the bond for the full bail amount. You pay the agent a premium, typically 10% of the bail amount, based on rates filed with the California Department of Insurance. Payment plans are available. Our article on bail bond costs explains this in detail.

Two rules from the Sheriff that are worth knowing:

• Anyone bringing a bond who is not a licensed bond agent will be fingerprinted and have their identity verified.
• The Sheriff's Department cannot recommend or direct you to any bail agent or company. If someone at the jail steers you to a specific agent, be cautious.

Paying cash bail instead

You can also pay the full bail yourself at the IRC Cashier's Office. The Sheriff's pages list these rules:

• The FAQ says cash bail may be paid in cash, credit or debit card, bank cashier's checks, personal checks, money orders and traveler's checks.
• Cashier's checks are accepted only after they are verified with the issuing bank, and must be for the exact amount.
• Personal checks are accepted only up to $7,500 per checking account, must be drawn on a California bank, and require two forms of ID.
• Company or business checks are not accepted.
• Bail for courts outside Orange County must be paid in cash.

Cash bail ties up the full amount until the case ends. A bond costs less up front, but the premium is not refunded. Which makes sense depends on the bail amount and your situation.

When bail can't be posted

• Sentenced inmates. The Sheriff's FAQ says that if the person has been sentenced, bail cannot be posted.
• Holds. A warrant from another case or county, or another agency's hold, can keep someone in custody even after bail on the new charge is posted. Ask before you pay.
• Charges that need a judge. Some charges go before a judge before release. A judge can also raise, lower or remove bail at arraignment.

After posting: release and pickup

Once bail is accepted, release processing begins. The Sheriff's FAQ puts the average at about 4 hours, with a range of about 2 to 6 hours. That is an average, not a guarantee, and busy nights run longer.

A few practical tips:

• Keep your phone on. The person will often call when they are out.
• Bring a phone charger and a jacket for them. People often leave with only what they were arrested in.
• The Sheriff notes visitor parking in the structure across from the Santa Ana Police Department.

If they are moved to another jail

After booking, people may be housed elsewhere in the county jail system, such as the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange. Bonds can still be posted at the IRC for anyone in an Orange County Sheriff's jail. For visiting at the IRC, the Sheriff says to call (714) 647-6050 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at least 24 hours ahead, with the booking number ready.

For more about bail across the county, see our Orange County bail bonds page.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your case, talk to a criminal defense attorney.

Need help now?

OnCall Bail Bonds' licensed agents answer 24/7 in English and Spanish, and you can sign from your phone. Call our Orange County line at (714) 364-2901 or start bail online.