To find out whether someone is in custody at the Mono County Jail, call the jail at (760) 932-7549, the number the court gives for custody checks, or check the Sheriff's Citizen RIMS portal, which the Sheriff's jail page points to for information on arrests. The jail entrance is at 25 Emigrant Street in Bridgeport.
How do I find out if someone is in custody at the Mono County Jail?
Call the jail at (760) 932-7549, as the court's own page advises, or check the Sheriff's Citizen RIMS portal, which its jail page points to for arrest information.
- Call (760) 932-7549 and give the full legal name of the person you believe is in custody. Mono County Superior Court's own Criminal Division page states plainly that "you can find out whether someone who has been arrested is in custody by calling the Mono County Jail" at this number.
- Check the Sheriff's Citizen RIMS portal, which the Sheriff's jail page points to for information on crimes, arrests and historical reports.
- If staff cannot confirm the person, ask whether the arrest actually happened inside Mono County, since an arrest elsewhere would not appear in this jail's records.
- Next of kin can also use VINE, the free state notification service the Sheriff links, for county custody information and automatic notice of a change in custody.
For custody in a different California county, see our courthouse and jail guides by county.
Where does Mono County hold people after an arrest?
The Mono County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail in Bridgeport; its jail page gives the entrance as 25 Emigrant Street.
| Facility | Address | Public phone |
|---|---|---|
| Mono County Jail (entrance) | 25 Emigrant Street, Bridgeport, CA 93517 | (760) 932-7549 |
The Sheriff's main office is at 49 Bryant Street in Bridgeport. The county is building a new jail in Bridgeport, with move-in scheduled for August to November 2027, subject to change.
How does release work before trial in Mono County?
Penal Code 853.6 tells officers to release most misdemeanor arrestees on a written promise to appear rather than take them before a judge, though booking can come first.
Under Penal Code section 853.6, an officer who arrests someone for a misdemeanor must generally release the person on a written notice to appear instead of taking them before a magistrate, unless a reason the statute lists applies, such as an outstanding warrant, a need for medical care, or a specific, stated reason to think the person will not come to court; the officer can still book the person first. Someone held at the jail can still ask a judge for own recognizance release, as the next section explains.
How do I post bail for someone at the Mono County Jail?
Post bail at the jail with the exact amount in cash, a cashier's check or a money order, or use a California-licensed bail agent.
Mono County Superior Court adopted its current bail schedule under Standing Order 26-01, filed March 23, 2026, under Penal Code section 1269b(c). Its misdemeanor attachment sets an unusual default: "Any offense not listed below that can be charged as a felony, but is a 'wobbler' charged as a misdemeanor, shall have bail set in the amount of $10,000. Any other misdemeanor offense not listed below is set at $0.00 bail." Any felony the schedule does not list is $20,000.
Two California Supreme Court decisions limit what a judge can do with that printed figure. In re Humphrey (2021), which Mono's own order cites by name, forbids keeping someone in custody only because they cannot afford bail, and requires a judge who sets money bail to consider the person's ability to pay and nonfinancial conditions of release. In re Kowalczyk (April 30, 2026) went further: outside a capital case, a judge may refuse bail altogether only for the offenses in article I, section 12(b) and (c) of the California Constitution, and any money bail actually imposed must generally be reasonably attainable for that person. Mono's order also says bail at and after a first appearance "shall be in the amount fixed by the judge at the time of the appearance," not the printed schedule. Under Penal Code section 1269c, the same order lets a judge or magistrate raise bail without a hearing, for a bailable felony or a misdemeanor violation of a domestic violence restraining order, on a sworn peace officer's declaration under penalty of perjury.
Getting a lower figure, or own recognizance release, does not require waiting for that first hearing: Penal Code section 1269c lets the arrested person, a lawyer, a friend, or a family member ask a magistrate for either one beforehand, unless the charge is on the list in Penal Code section 1270.1. Posting the scheduled amount does not require a judge either: the officer in charge of the jail, a sheriff's employee assigned to collect bail, or the court clerk can accept cash or a bond from a certified surety and order the release (Penal Code section 1269b(a)). The Sheriff's jail page says cash bail must be the exact amount; cashier's checks and money orders are accepted but personal checks are not, and cash over $10,000 requires a valid ID and your original Social Security card. For a bond, pick a California-licensed bail agency and contact it directly; the Sheriff refers no agency and says the closest are in Bishop and South Lake Tahoe. See how California bail amounts are set for the fuller rule.
When is the first court date after an arrest in Mono County?
A person held in custody must be brought before a judge within 48 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays, at the Mammoth Lakes or Bridgeport courthouse.
For someone held in custody, Penal Code section 825(a)(1) requires that "the defendant shall in all cases be taken before the magistrate without unnecessary delay, and, in any event, within 48 hours after his or her arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays." If those 48 hours run out while court is not in session, Penal Code section 825(a)(2) extends the deadline through the end of the next court session on the following court day. A Wednesday arrest works differently: once that day's session has closed, and provided the Wednesday is not a court holiday, the person must still be brought before a judge by the following Friday, unless Friday is also a court holiday. This is a deadline for reaching a judge, not a deadline for filing charges, and not a promise of release.
Mono County Superior Court's own Criminal Division page describes what happens at that first hearing: the judge tells the defendant about their constitutional rights and explains the charges, bail "may be raised or lowered," and the defendant is asked to plead guilty, not guilty, or, in some cases, nolo contendere. The court's Criminal Division page says criminal cases are heard at the Mammoth Lakes Courthouse, 100 Thompsons Way, on Mondays only and at the Bridgeport Courthouse, 278 Main Street, on Tuesdays only; the court answers (760) 924-5444 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. For a person in custody, the Sheriff's jail page says to call the jail, (760) 932-7549, for the next court date and time. Our Mono County Courthouse guide covers case lookup, remote appearance, and interpreters in more depth, along with what happens at arraignment generally. A defendant who appears without a lawyer must be told of the right to counsel, and if the defendant wants one and cannot afford one, the court must appoint one (Penal Code section 987).
How do I ask about visiting, mail and money at the Mono County Jail?
The Sheriff's jail page posts visiting days, a Bridgeport P.O. Box for letters, and the money rules; visits are non-contact, with photo ID required.
The Sheriff's jail page lists visiting on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Friday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Every visitor needs valid photo identification and must be 18 or with a parent, visitors and their belongings can be searched, no contact visits are allowed, and anyone held in the jail within the last six months cannot visit. Letters go to P.O. Box 697, Bridgeport, CA 93517, with a return address, and all incoming mail is inspected. Books, magazines and newspapers must come from the publisher, money orders made out to the inmate can be mailed, and cash, stamps, stationery, food, hygiene items and more than three photos at a time are among the items refused. Visitors can leave money in the jail lobby as cash or a cashier's check made out to the inmate; the jail takes no other goods from visitors, and clothing goes into the person's property until release. A person in custody can release their property to someone with photo ID by signing a release form. Since posted hours can change, call (760) 932-7549 before you drive.
What should I do right now if someone was just arrested in Mono County?
A short phone call establishes custody; everything else, bail and the court date, follows from what that call tells you.
- Start with (760) 932-7549 and find out whether the person is actually at the Mono County Jail and what they were booked for.
- Ask whether bail has been set, and how much; that decides the next step.
- Choose how to cover bail: cash, a licensed bail bond agent, or a request to the court for a lower amount or own recognizance release.
- Keep every paper from the arrest; it can show the charge and the court date.
- Call a lawyer before the arraignment, so someone is tracking bail and the court date; the firm's criminal defense lawyer page has more.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an online inmate search for the Mono County Jail?
The Sheriff's site links a Citizen RIMS portal that its jail page describes as information on crimes, arrests and historical reports. To confirm custody, the court's Criminal Division page says to call the jail at (760) 932-7549.
How much is bail in Mono County?
Mono County Superior Court's 2026 bail order, Standing Order 26-01, sets a starting figure by offense; most unlisted misdemeanors are set at $0 bail, while an unlisted wobbler charged as a misdemeanor is $10,000. A judge can set a different amount at the first appearance, and money bail actually needed must generally be an amount the person can reasonably attain (In re Kowalczyk, 2026).
Can I ask for a lower bail amount before the Mono County arraignment?
Yes. Under Penal Code section 1269c, the arrested person, a lawyer, or a friend or family member can ask a judge for a lower amount or own recognizance release, except for the offenses listed in Penal Code section 1270.1.
What happens if someone is arrested for a misdemeanor in Mono County?
Under Penal Code section 853.6 the officer must generally release the person on a signed promise to appear in court, though the person may be booked first. Listed exceptions include an outstanding warrant and a specific, stated reason to believe the person will not appear.
Can bail be increased for a domestic violence case in Mono County without a hearing?
Yes, in limited cases. Mono's 2026 bail order, following Penal Code section 1269c, lets a judge or magistrate raise bail without a hearing for a bailable felony or a misdemeanor violation of a domestic violence restraining order, when a sworn peace officer presents a declaration under penalty of perjury justifying the increase.
Which court handles a Mono County arraignment, Bridgeport or Mammoth Lakes?
The court's Criminal Division page says criminal cases are heard in Mammoth Lakes on Mondays only and in Bridgeport on Tuesdays only. For a person in custody, the Sheriff's jail page says to call the jail, (760) 932-7549, for the next court date and time; for someone cited, the notice to appear names it.
Can I get an interpreter for a Mono County criminal case?
Yes. A person charged with a crime who cannot understand English has a right to an interpreter throughout the case under the California Constitution, article I, section 14, and the interpreter's pay in a criminal case is a charge against the court (Evidence Code section 752(b)(1)). Tell the court, the clerk, or your attorney as early as possible.
What if the person was arrested somewhere else in Mono County, such as Mammoth Lakes or June Lake?
Call the Mono County Jail at (760) 932-7549, the number the court gives for custody checks, or check the Sheriff's Citizen RIMS portal. The Sheriff's Crowley Lake and June Lake sub-stations are not staffed around the clock; the jail is in Bridgeport, with its entrance at 25 Emigrant Street.
Talk to a lawyer
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley offers a free, confidential consultation, available 24 hours a day, including for a family member calling about someone just arrested in Mono County. Call (800) 755-5174, request a free consultation online, with payment plans available and service in Spanish, or visit our criminal defense lawyer page to learn more.