If you've pulled up a county "Who's In Jail" record or a booking sheet, half of what's on it looks like alphabet soup. Here's how to actually read it.
Booking number
A unique ID assigned at intake. Use this when calling the jail or a bondsman — it speeds everything up.
Charges and code sections
Each charge is listed with a penal code section (e.g., PC 459 = burglary, PC 273.5 = domestic violence, VC 23152 = DUI). The first letter indicates the code: PC (penal), VC (vehicle), HS (health & safety), BP (business & professions).
F vs M
Each charge is marked F (felony) or M (misdemeanor). Felonies set higher bail and usually require a judge's review before release.
Bail amount
The dollar figure pulled from the county bail schedule. If bail says $0, the defendant is either OR-eligible or being held for arraignment.
Holds
"Hold for ICE" means immigration detention. "Hold for [other county]" means another jurisdiction has a warrant. "1275 Hold" means the court wants proof of legitimate funds. "Probation hold" or "PRCS hold" means no bail until a hearing.
Court date and location
The arraignment court and date. Missing this date creates an immediate bench warrant.
What's NOT public
Sealed records, juvenile records, and most pre-charge investigation files. The publicly visible record is only what the jail releases.
When something looks wrong
Wrong charge listed, bail showing as "no bail" when it should be set, or no charges yet listed (called a "48-hour hold") — call (909) 406-6909. We can call the jail directly and clarify.
Bail bonds across Southern California
Pick your city for local pricing, jail addresses, and 24/7 release help.
Jails mentioned in this guide
Each jail page lists realistic release timing, the bond-posting window, and the inmate locator.
Updated October 23, 2026 · Information only — not legal advice. For specific situations call (909) 406-6909.