Theo Lacy Bail Bonds
Licensed Agent — 24/7
Theo Lacy Facility Bail Bonds
Theo Lacy is one of Orange County's main detention facilities. Chad Conley is available around the clock to post bail and get your loved one home fast.
All Releases Happen at Theo Lacy
One thing is certain: if your loved one is housed at Theo Lacy, they will be released from Theo Lacy. All releases happen on site. There is no bus transfer, no trip to IRC — you wait at Theo Lacy and they walk out at Theo Lacy.
Why Call Chad Conley?
24/7 Availability
Arrests happen at any hour. Chad answers the phone day and night, weekends and holidays.
Licensed & Experienced
Licensed since 2008, with additional experience as an investigator and bounty hunter. Chad knows Theo Lacy inside and out.
Fast Release
Chad works directly with jail staff to process paperwork and get your loved one out as quickly as possible.
No Call Center
You speak directly with Chad — not an answering service or junior agent.
Bilingual Service
Habla español. Chad serves both English and Spanish-speaking families.
Flexible Financing
Payment plans available. Chad works with families to make bail affordable.
Theo Lacy Bond Posting & Release Schedule
Theo Lacy operates on a strict daily schedule that directly affects when and where you post a bond — and when your loved one gets released. This is insider knowledge most people only learn the hard way. Here is exactly how it works.
Post Bond Directly at Theo Lacy
Once the cashier arrives in the morning, bonds can be posted directly at Theo Lacy. The defendant will be released directly from Theo Lacy. This is the smoothest scenario — everything happens at one facility.
Theo Lacy Stops Accepting New Bonds at 2 PM
After 2:00 PM, Theo Lacy will no longer accept new bond postings. If you need to post a bond after 2 PM, you must go to the IRC (Intake Release Center) in Santa Ana to post the paperwork. However — and this is important — the defendant does NOT transfer to IRC. They stay at Theo Lacy and are released from Theo Lacy.
ⓘAfter 2 PM: post the bond at IRC, but your loved one walks out of Theo Lacy. Two different locations for two different steps.
Corrections to Posted Bonds — Theo Lacy Until 4 PM
Already posted a bond but there is an issue — wrong spelling, incorrect court date, case number error? Theo Lacy gives a correction window from 2 PM to 4 PM. Any correction not resolved by 4 PM means the bond transfers to IRC for corrections, and all further paperwork corrections must be handled there.
ⓘCommon corrections: defendant name spelling, court date, case number. Chad double-checks everything before submitting to avoid this.
Cashier Departs — Property Pickup Changes
The Theo Lacy cashier leaves at 5 PM. Releases can still happen after 5 PM, but the cashier is no longer on site. This affects property pickup: small items like your ID, phone, and small amounts of cash will be returned. Larger property — purses, bags, valuables — will NOT be available after 5 PM. You will need to return during cashier hours to retrieve those items.
ⓘDo not expect to pick up bags or larger belongings at a late-night release. Plan a return trip during daytime cashier hours.
Zero Releases During This Window
Theo Lacy does not process any releases between 5 PM and 11 PM. This is not a slow period — it is a complete stop. No matter when the bond was posted or approved, no one walks out during these hours. This is one of the most important things families need to know so they are not waiting at the facility for hours with no result.
ⓘDo not go to Theo Lacy to wait for a release between 5 PM and 11 PM. No one is coming out during this window.
Batch Releases Begin at 11 PM — Right at Theo Lacy
Starting at 11 PM, Theo Lacy processes what are called dump releases — large batches of inmates who have been cleared for release are all processed and released at the same time, right there at the facility. Theo Lacy typically runs one or two dump releases between 11 PM and 1 AM. If your loved one was bonded out that day, they will most likely come out in one of these batches.
ⓘArrive by 10:30 PM to be in position for the first dump release at 11 PM. If they do not come out in the first batch, the second batch typically runs before 1 AM.
Releases Stop After 1 AM
After 1:00 AM, Theo Lacy does not process any more releases until the cashier returns in the morning. If your loved one was not released in the 11 PM to 1 AM window, they will remain at Theo Lacy until the next morning release cycle begins.
ⓘIf it is past 1 AM and they have not been released, call Chad. There may be a hold, a paperwork issue, or a reason to follow up with the facility directly.
⚠Cashier opening time: Confirm current cashier opening time by calling Chad at 855-BAD-CHAD.
The IRC: Where You Post the Bond After 2 PM — Not Where They Get Released
The IRC — Intake Release Center — is Orange County's central processing hub in Santa Ana. After 2 PM, new bonds must be posted at the IRC rather than Theo Lacy. But this only affects where the paperwork is submitted. The defendant stays at Theo Lacy and is released from Theo Lacy. Chad handles this coordination so families do not have to figure it out on their own.
Why You May Have Heard Something Different — The Bus Transfer Era
This practice ended years ago. Here is what actually happened and why it stopped.
For many years, Theo Lacy did transfer inmates to the IRC for release — and the IRC was the deliberate destination. It sat just blocks from the downtown Santa Ana transit hub: the bus station was about a block away, the train station a few blocks beyond that. The idea was that releasing people near public transit made practical sense for those who needed a ride home.
The way it worked: once a defendant was cleared to go, jail staff would load everyone onto a bus, drive them from Theo Lacy in Orange across town to the IRC in Santa Ana, and release them there. The IRC handled the official release. The bus station and train station were right there.
But in practice it was a massive waste of resources and a miserable experience for everyone involved. You cannot put multiple defendants on a bus with a single officer — you need multiple officers for the transport. You have to formally check everyone out of one facility, drive them across town, then check them all in at the other end. That is overtime, logistics, and hours of staff time just to move people a few miles.
And for the people being released? They were technically free but still sitting on a bus, watching the streets go by, knowing they were cleared but not actually out. Most of them did not need the bus station or the train station — they just wanted to go home. Instead they were looking out the window thinking: I am free, but I am going to spend two to four more hours on this bus going nowhere.
They stopped doing it years ago. Theo Lacy now releases everyone on site — you walk out the door and you are done. If you find old forum posts, old bail bond websites, or outdated information saying releases happen at IRC, that information is no longer accurate.
Common Bail Amounts at Theo Lacy / OC Jail
These are typical Orange County bail schedule amounts. Judges may raise or lower bail at arraignment. Your bond premium is 10% of the bail amount.
| Charge | Bail Amount | Your Bond (10%) |
|---|---|---|
| DUI (VC 23152) | $5,000 | $500 |
| Domestic Violence (PC 273.5) | $50,000 | $5,000 |
| Drug Possession (HSC 11350) | $10,000 | $1,000 |
| Drug Sales (HSC 11351) | $30,000 | $3,000 |
| Assault w/ Deadly Weapon (PC 245) | $30,000 | $3,000 |
| Robbery (PC 211) | $100,000 | $10,000 |
| Burglary (PC 459) | $50,000 | $5,000 |
| Theft / Grand Theft (PC 487) | $20,000 | $2,000 |
| Evading Police (VC 2800.2) | $25,000 | $2,500 |
| Vandalism (PC 594) | $10,000 | $1,000 |
* PC 1275 holds may require a source-of-funds hearing before bail is accepted. Call Chad if you’re unsure — he’ll tell you exactly what to expect.
Need Bail Right Now?
Call Chad directly — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No call centers, no runaround.
855-BAD-CHAD