Los Angeles County Bail Schedule (2025)

Note that these are ballpark figures. Your actual bail depends on the specifics of your case, your criminal history, and the judge’s discretion. This guide reflects the 2025 bail schedule for Los Angeles County.

How does the bail system work in Los Angeles?

On October 1, 2023, LA County eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanors and many non-serious felonies. The new system assigns offenses to three categories:

  • CR (Cite and Release) – You get a citation and a court date. No bail.
  • BR (Book and Release) – You’re booked at the station, then released immediately. No bail.
  • MR (Magistrate Review) – No cash bail, but a judge reviews your case within hours and may impose conditions like GPS monitoring or drug testing.
  • Serious and violent crimes still require traditional cash bail. These include domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and all violent felonies under Penal Code § 1270.1.

At arraignment, judges can set bail even for CR/BR/MR offenses if they believe you’re a flight risk or danger to public safety.

How much is my bail? Misdemeanor amounts

DUI and Drunk Driving

  • First offense DUI: $5,000
  • DUI with accident: $15,000
  • DUI with BAC over 0.15% or test refusal: $15,000
  • DUI with accident AND high BAC/refusal: $30,000
  • Second DUI within 10 years: $5,000+

Assault and Battery

  • Simple assault or battery: $20,000
  • Battery causing serious injury: $25,000
  • Domestic battery (no visible injury): $20,000
  • Domestic battery (visible injury): $30,000 misdemeanor / $50,000 felony
  • Sexual battery: $20,000
  • Assault with deadly weapon (misdemeanor): $20,000

Theft and Property Crimes

  • Petty theft under $950: $1,000-$5,000
  • Shoplifting: $5,000
  • Receiving stolen property under $950: $1,000
  • Receiving stolen property over $950: $2,500
  • Vandalism under $400: $1,000
  • Vandalism $400+: $5,000

Drug Possession

  • Possession of controlled substances: $1,000
  • Under the influence: $2,500
  • Paraphernalia: $250

Traffic Offenses

  • Reckless driving: $5,000
  • Reckless driving causing injury: $20,000
  • Street racing: $10,000
  • Exhibition of speed: $1,000
  • Driving on suspended license: $1,000-$5,000 (depends on reason and priors)
  • Hit and run (property damage): $5,000
  • Hit and run (injury): $10,000
  • Fleeing police: $25,000-$50,000 (depends on circumstances)

Weapons

  • Concealed firearm: $10,000
  • Loaded firearm in public: $10,000
  • Brandishing weapon: $25,000

Other Common Charges

  • Public intoxication: $250
  • Trespassing: $1,000-$10,000 (depends on circumstances)
  • Prostitution: $2,000 first offense, $5,000 with one prior, $10,000 with two or more
  • Criminal threats (misdemeanor): $25,000
  • Stalking (misdemeanor): $50,000

Bail amounts for felonies

Murder and Manslaughter

  • Murder with special circumstances: No bail
  • Murder: $2,000,000
  • Attempted murder: $1,000,000
  • Voluntary manslaughter: $100,000
  • Involuntary manslaughter: $25,000
  • Vehicular manslaughter (DUI + gross negligence): $100,000
  • Vehicular manslaughter (DUI, no gross negligence): $50,000
  • Vehicular manslaughter (gross negligence, no DUI): $50,000

Robbery and Kidnapping

  • First-degree robbery: $100,000
  • Second-degree robbery: $50,000
  • Carjacking: $100,000
  • Basic kidnapping: $100,000
  • Kidnapping child under 14: $150,000
  • Kidnapping with sexual offense: $1,000,000
  • Kidnapping for ransom: $1,000,000

Burglary

  • Residential burglary (person present): $50,000
  • Residential burglary (no person present): MR (magistrate review)
  • Commercial burglary: BR ($0 bail)

Assault with Deadly Weapon

  • Assault with deadly weapon (not firearm): $30,000
  • Assault with firearm: $30,000
  • Assault with semiautomatic firearm: $75,000
  • Assault on peace officer with deadly weapon: $50,000
  • Assault on peace officer with firearm: $100,000
  • Assault on peace officer with semiautomatic: $200,000
  • Assault with caustic chemicals: $50,000
  • Shooting at inhabited dwelling: $250,000
  • Discharge firearm with gross negligence: $35,000

Domestic Violence

  • Corporal injury to spouse/cohabitant: $50,000
  • Corporal injury with prior DV conviction: $100,000
  • Violation of protective order (with threats/violence): $50,000

Grand Theft and Fraud

  • Grand theft of firearm: $50,000
  • Most other grand theft: BR/CR ($0 bail)
  • Most fraud/embezzlement/identity theft: BR/CR ($0 bail)

Arson

  • Arson causing great bodily injury: $250,000
  • Arson of inhabited structure: $250,000
  • Arson of other structures: $75,000
  • Arson of other property: $50,000
  • Aggravated arson: $500,000
  • Arson during state of emergency: $350,000

Drug Sales and Trafficking

Most amounts under 1 kg get BR designation ($0 bail). Above that:

  • Over 1 kg: $50,000
  • Over 4 kg: $100,000
  • Over 10 kg: $250,000
  • Over 20 kg: $500,000
  • Over 40 kg: $1,000,000
  • Over 80 kg: $2,000,000-$5,000,000

Weapons and Explosives

  • Most weapons charges: MR (magistrate review)
  • Shooting from motor vehicle: $250,000
  • Possession of WMD: $500,000
  • Use of WMD causing death: $1,000,000
  • Possession of explosives with intent to injure: $500,000

Sex Offenses

  • Rape: $100,000
  • Rape (victim under 18): $200,000
  • Rape (victim under 14): $250,000
  • Lewd acts with child under 14: $100,000
  • Lewd acts with force: $100,000
  • Lewd acts causing bodily harm: $1,000,000
  • Continuous sexual abuse of child: $350,000
  • Aggravated sexual assault of child: $250,000
  • Sexual penetration by force: $100,000
  • Sodomy/oral copulation by force: $100,000
  • Human trafficking (victim under 18): $150,000

Other Violent Felonies

  • Mayhem: $100,000
  • Aggravated mayhem: $1,000,000
  • Stalking (felony): $150,000
  • Criminal threats (felony): $50,000

Bail Enhancements

These amounts add to your base bail:

  • Gang involvement: +$40,000
  • Use of weapon (not firearm): +$20,000
  • Firearm possession/use: +$50,000
  • Discharge firearm (no injury): +$200,000
  • Discharge firearm (causing injury/death): +$1,000,000
  • Great bodily injury: +$30,000
  • Victim over 65, under 14, or disabled: +$25,000
  • Prior serious/violent felony: +$50,000 per prior
  • Multiple strikes with new strike charge: +$1,000,000
  • Prior prison term (within 5 years): +$10,000 per prior
  • Crime while on probation/parole: +$25,000
  • Enhancement with possible life term: +$1,000,000

What this means for you

Bail isn’t just about the crime — it’s about your history, the circumstances, and whether the judge thinks you’ll show up to court. Even low-level offenses can result in high bail if you have failures to appear or prior convictions.

The new $0 bail system helps thousands of people avoid sitting in jail before trial. But for serious crimes, especially violent ones, you’re looking at substantial bail amounts that can increase dramatically with enhancements.

If you or someone you know has been arrested, the bail amount is just the beginning. You need experienced legal representation to fight your case and potentially get bail reduced.

Contact Helfend Law Group
Call: 800-834-6434

Don’t face the system alone. Get a criminal defense attorney who knows Los Angeles courts and can fight for your freedom.

Published October 16, 2025.