Fullerton Jail Bail Bonds
If someone you love was arrested by the Fullerton Police Department, we can help right now. We'll find out the bail amount and any holds, and post the bond so they can come home before they're moved to the county jail. Call Chad 24/7.
Orange County bail bonds
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If you qualify (homeowners, active military, law enforcement), bail $20,000 and up: 8% with $0 down, 7% with 2% down, or 6% paid in full on $30,000 and up. See all rates
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Anyone can apply. It takes a few minutes, right from your phone. No office visit.
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See if you qualifyAbout the Fullerton Police Jail
- The Fullerton Police Department runs its own jail. People arrested in Fullerton are usually held here until they go to court, then moved to the Orange County Jail.
- The jail can answer questions about the booking process at (714) 738-6722.
- Bail amounts come from the Orange County Superior Court's 2026 bail schedule, and a judge can change them. We'll look up the exact amount for you.
Family Guide: Fullerton Police Jail
Everything you need to know before you drive there.
Picking them up
- This is a city police jail, the fastest kind of jail in Orange County. Booking usually takes about 2 hours. Once bail is posted, release is usually 15 to 30 minutes.
- They're released at the police station, 237 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832. Call Chad before you drive and we'll tell you when they're walking out.
- New arrest? They usually stay here until they see a judge (arraignment), so there's time to bail out here, which is the fastest way home. A warrant is different. People with warrants are often moved to the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana soon.
- If they get moved to the county jail, release happens at the IRC in Santa Ana instead, and it takes much longer. Plan on about 8 hours after the bond is posted there.
- Want to know if they're out yet? Call Chad. We'll check for you, so you don't have to sit on hold.
Chad's tip: Bail out while they're still at the city jail. It's the fastest release there is. Once they're moved to the county jail, the wait gets a lot longer.
Chad’s tip: skip the long wait in the parking lot
County release times swing a lot. If you show up at 6 hours and it takes 9½, that's 3½ hours sitting in your car. Set up Uber on your phone ahead of time instead. When they let you know they're out, request the ride for them. An Uber is usually just 3 to 7 minutes away, and it can bring them straight to you.
How: in the Uber app, tap “Where to?”, then “For me”, then “Add a rider”, and enter their phone number. Uber texts them the driver's name and license plate. They don't need the app.
What about their battery? In Chad's experience, jailers are very consistent about turning the phone off at booking to save the battery. If it had a charge going in, it usually comes out with the same charge, ready for the Uber texts.
Talk to them fast
- Right after booking, California law gives them at least 3 free completed calls within 3 hours of arrest. Those calls can go to a lawyer, a bail bondsman and a family member. Make sure they have your number memorized.
- From the Fullerton jail, they can make collect calls from their cell. Once they're checked in, you can set up a prepaid account. Calling cards don't work on the jail phones.
- Jail calls are recorded. It's OK to ask what they're accused of, but not the details. Tell them: "Not now. We'll talk when you're out."
Every call from a jail is recorded. Don't talk about the case on the phone.
When they call, ask these
Jail calls are short. Keep this list open during the call so you get everything Chad needs in one try.
- 1Read me your wristband: your name exactly as it's spelled there, in the exact order. (Two last names often get run together or reversed.)
- 2The date of birth on your wristband. Don't assume. It may have been entered wrong.
- 3The booking number on your wristband.
- 4Is it a new arrest or a warrant (an old case)? A warrant usually means they'll be transferred to the county jail soon. A new local charge usually stays local until court, which gives Chad more time to post.
- 5Who can cosign: names and phone numbers of 2–3 people with a job, credit or property
- 6What are they accusing you of? (Not the details. Calls are recorded.) And the court date, if you know it.
- 7Where is the car? Was it towed? Who else needs a call: kids, work, pets?
- 8Tell them: call Chad at (714) 481-0600
Every jail call is recorded
It's natural to ask, "Oh my God, what happened?" But if they answer, that recording can be used in their case.
- It's OK to ask: "What are they accusing you of?"
- Don't ask for details or an explanation of what went down. That conversation waits until they're out, or happens with their attorney.
- If they start telling the story, be the one to remind them: "Not now. We'll talk when you're out."
Chad's tip, from nearly 20 years in bail. Not legal advice.
What to bring
- A valid government photo ID (driver's license, ID card or passport).
- Their full name exactly as booked, date of birth and booking number, if you have it.
- If you're picking up their car: the current registration, and a licensed driver.
Their property and money
- Property can be picked up during front desk hours: Monday to Friday 8 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM.
- They have to sign a release form, and so do you. Bring a photo ID.
- It's all or nothing. The jail releases the whole property bag and won't open it once it's sealed. Evidence isn't released until the case is over.
- Questions: (714) 738-6722.
Getting the car back
- The registered owner pays the impound fee at the Fullerton Police front desk: $220, or $285 if it's DUI-related. Then take the release form to the tow yard.
- The owner also pays the tow yard's towing and storage fees, which go up every day.
- The owner has to be licensed or bring a licensed driver.
Car not in your name? Move fast.
- This is how a lot of families lose a car. Storage fees add up every day. If they grow bigger than what the car is worth, the tow yard can sell it.
- Police and tow yards usually only release the car to the registered owner, or to someone with a notarized letter from the owner. Call the person on the registration today, not next week.
- If you bought the car, bring the signed title (pink slip) and the bill of sale. Call the tow yard first and ask if they'll accept them.
- Chad's advice: when you buy a used car, put it in your name at the DMV right away, even if the registration is still good. California gives buyers only 10 days to transfer it.
Visiting
- Visiting is daily, 9 AM to 11 AM and noon to 1:30 PM. Visits are 15 minutes.
- No public visits on the day of the arrest. Every visit has to be approved by the Watch Commander or Jail Supervisor.
- Bring a government photo ID. Anyone under 18 needs a parent with them. If you're involved in the arrest (for example, a domestic violence case), the visit can be denied.
- You can't hand them letters or packages. Give them to the jailer to check.
- Bail agents, attorneys and clergy can visit at any time.
Checking on them
The easiest way: call Chad. We'll check if they're in custody, the bail amount and when they'll be released, so you don't have to sit on hold with the jail.
Call (714) 481-0600Official jail numbers
- Fullerton Police Jail: (714) 738-6722 (Booking questions, visiting and property.)
- OC Jail Inmate Records (if they get moved): (714) 647-4666 (Use this if they were transferred to the county jail in Santa Ana.)
Last checked October 25, 2026
Jail rules change. If something here doesn't match what you see, call Chad and he'll sort it out. Official sources:
After they're home: free help near Fullerton
Getting out is step one. Chad put these together for families who are stretched thin.
How Long Does Release Take from Fullerton Police Jail?
These are real-world averages based on Chad's experience posting bail at this facility — not marketing estimates.
Book-In Time
~2 hours
from arrest to fully booked
Release After Bond
15–30 min
once bond is posted
Total Average
~2.5 hrs
start to walking out
What Can Slow Things Down
- Attitude, the biggest one. It's the jailers' world, we're just living in it. Once they're moved to the county jail, it's the Sheriff's world. Cooperate and be respectful, and the process moves. Be rude or uncooperative, and they may let you sit until someone has time, or until the next shift.
- High booking volume — just like a restaurant getting slammed, if they're booking 10 people at once, everyone waits. Busy holiday weekends are the worst, and some holidays are much busier than others.
- Multiple warrants, cases or names. If someone has several warrants or cases, or past arrests under different names or aliases, the background check simply takes longer.
- Shift change. If booking or release lands during a shift change, everything pauses until the new shift is settled.
- Officer or staffing shortages — if someone gets pulled from booking to cover the street, the line stops.
- The national background check. In Chad's experience, the system updates every morning around 5–6 AM, and a bond posted around then can be held up for hours.
- No valid government ID — a California driver's license or ID speeds up the NCIC check significantly. No good ID means a slower return.
- Lockdown or incident inside — a fight in one pod, even far from booking and release, pulls staff to that part of the jail, and the line stops. Outbreaks, like during COVID, can slow everything too.
- Medical or mental health clearance. If someone mentions a health problem at booking, like high blood pressure, missing their medication, or feeling like they want to die, staff must check them, sometimes watch them, and recheck them. A doctor or specific staff has to clear them before release, and after a shift change a new doctor may have to pick up the file. If staff think someone could be a danger to themselves, they can be moved to mental health housing inside the jail or put on a mental health hold (often called a 5150), and release can take much longer. It adds time, but if someone needs care, they should always say so.
- Questioning. If police want information, like on a warrant or a case with more than one person charged, they may set them to the side for a while so detectives can talk to them. When you turn yourself in with Chad, that usually doesn't happen: you're there to book in, not to talk. In Chad's experience, saying your attorney advised you not to make a statement is respected, and booking moves on.
“The only thing consistent about government workers is their inconsistency.” And: “If you don't like the answer, call back after shift change.”
These are real-world averages based on Chad's experience — not guarantees. Every arrest is different. Chad will give you an honest estimate when you call, based on what he knows about current conditions at this facility.
Questions Families Ask
When can I visit at the Fullerton jail?
Daily from 9 to 11 AM and noon to 1:30 PM, for 15 minutes, with a government photo ID. Not on the day of the arrest.
How long do they stay at the Fullerton jail?
Usually until they go to court. After that they're moved to the Orange County Jail. Bailing out before then is the fastest way home.
How much is bail?
Bail starts from the Orange County Superior Court's 2026 bail schedule, and a judge can raise or lower it. Call Chad with their full name and date of birth, and we'll look up the exact amount for you.
What does a bail bond cost with you?
Most of Chad's bonds are written at 6%, 7% or 8%. Smaller bonds, under $20,000, can be up to 10% because of posting fees. If you qualify (homeowners, active military, law enforcement, bail of $20,000 and up): 8% with $0 down, 7% with 2% down, or 6% paid in full on bails of $30,000 and up. Payment plans are available.
Need Help Right Now?
Orange County is home for us, and Chad answers 24/7. Toll-free: 855-BAD-CHAD. Hablamos español: (909) 657-6030. Military families: ask about our military discount.
Call (714) 481-0600