In Los Angeles County, the 2026 felony bail schedule sets bail for Penal Code 273.5 (corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant) at $50,000, or $100,000 with a qualifying prior conviction. Other counties set their own numbers, and a judge can change the figure. Because 273.5 is one of the offenses that requires a court hearing before bail can be lowered, the scheduled amount is only the start of the story.
This guide explains where the number comes from, why your loved one's bail may differ from what you read online, what a bond costs, and what to do in the first hours.
TL;DR
- The Los Angeles County 2026 felony bail schedule lists PC 273.5 at $50,000, and $100,000 with a prior conviction under 273.5(f). Other counties publish different figures.
- A bail bond premium in California is typically 10% of the bail amount, so $50,000 bail usually means a $5,000 non-refundable premium.
- Penal Code 1270.1 requires a hearing in open court before bail can be raised or lowered from the schedule, or before release on own recognizance, for 273.5 arrests. That can delay release.
- Officers can ask for higher bail after booking, so the number at the jail may not match the schedule.
Table of Contents
- What PC 273.5 covers
- The PC 273.5 bail amount by county
- What a bail bond costs on a 273.5 arrest
- Why you cannot always just pay and walk out
- When bail is higher than the schedule
- What happens in the first 48 hours
- Our perspective
- Getting a bond for a 273.5 arrest
- Can 273.5 be dropped, and other common questions
- Sources
What PC 273.5 covers
Penal Code 273.5 makes it a crime to willfully inflict corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition on a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, the parent of your child, or a dating partner, among others. You can read the full text of Penal Code 273.5 on the state's legislative site.
It is a "wobbler," meaning prosecutors can file it as a felony or a misdemeanor. The same statute says a felony conviction carries state prison of 2, 3, or 4 years (more with certain priors), while a misdemeanor carries up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $6,000. Even a minor injury that leaves a visible mark can be enough for the charge, as one Los Angeles defense firm explains.
At the time of arrest, nobody knows yet whether the case will be filed as a felony or misdemeanor. That is why the jail uses the felony schedule for a 273.5 booking.
The PC 273.5 bail amount by county
California has no single statewide number. Under Penal Code 1269b, each county's superior court judges adopt a bail schedule every year. The Judicial Council keeps a page for the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, but the felony amounts that jails use come from each county's own document.
Here is what the published figures look like for PC 273.5:
| Scenario | Scheduled bail (Los Angeles County, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Corporal injury to specified persons, PC 273.5 | $50,000 |
| With a prior conviction under PC 273.5(f) | $100,000 |
Those figures come from the Los Angeles Superior Court felony bail schedule, effective January 1, 2026.
If you search this topic you will see other numbers, such as $20,000 or $75,000. Some of those come from older schedules, some from other counties, and some are general estimates. Schedules are revised, so always check the current one for the county where the arrest happened. Orange County publishes its own 2026 uniform bail schedule, and San Bernardino's court posts a separate one. Each can differ from Los Angeles.
Two practical points:
- The county of arrest decides, not where you live. If your loved one was arrested in Orange County, the Orange County schedule applies.
- Multiple charges change the math. Bail often stacks or is calculated from the count with the highest amount, depending on the county's rules, and enhancements can add to it. Ask the jail for the exact bail on the booking record.
What a bail bond costs on a 273.5 arrest
A bail bond lets you pay a fraction of the bail instead of the full amount. In California, the premium is typically 10% of the total bail, and it is non-refundable, even if charges are later dropped. You are paying for the bond company to guarantee the full amount to the court.
Using the Los Angeles schedule as an example:
- $50,000 bail: 10% premium is $5,000.
- $100,000 bail (prior 273.5(f) conviction): 10% premium is $10,000.
Those are illustrations of the standard 10% rate, not a quote. Your actual bail may differ from the schedule, and that changes the premium.
Cost is usually the first worry. At Midnight Bail Bonds we explain the premium up front and offer payment plans and financing, and we accept cash, credit and debit cards, and Zelle. In many cases we can write a bond without collateral. If you want to see how the numbers might work out, our affordable bail bonds page and our no collateral bail bonds page walk through the options, and we also offer 1% bail bond and 2% bail bond programs. Eligibility depends on the case, so call and ask.
Why you cannot always just pay and walk out
This is the part that surprises families most. Many bail amounts can be posted at any hour, and release follows within hours. A 273.5 arrest works differently.
Penal Code 273.5 is listed in Penal Code 1270.1. That section says that before a person arrested for a listed crime may be released on bail in an amount higher or lower than the schedule, or on their own recognizance, a judge must hold a hearing in open court. Los Angeles's schedule flags the 273.5 line with this same 1270.1 reference.
What this means in practice:
- Posting scheduled bail is still usually possible. The hearing requirement applies when someone wants a different amount, such as a reduction, or release without bail. If the scheduled bail stands, a bond can generally be posted for that amount.
- Asking for a reduction means waiting for court. If the family cannot afford the scheduled amount, the defense must ask the judge at a hearing, and that depends on the court calendar. That can take days, especially over a weekend.
- A criminal protective order may come with release. Judges commonly issue stay-away orders in domestic violence cases. Read our guide on what a domestic violence no-contact order means for bail before the person goes home, because moving back into a shared residence could violate it.
Ability to pay
In March 2021 the California Supreme Court decided In re Humphrey, which requires courts to consider a defendant's ability to pay and public safety when setting bail. A summary of the ruling/10%3A_The_Judicial_Branch/10.07%3A_Former_Chief_Justice_Tani_Cantil-Sakauye) notes the court said that ability to pay must be considered before bail is set. A defense attorney can raise this at the hearing. That is a legal argument for a lawyer to make, not something a bond agent can do for you.
When bail is higher than the schedule
Families often read the schedule, line up $5,000, and then hear a larger number at the jail. One reason is Penal Code 1269c. When the case involves domestic violence, a peace officer can prepare a sworn declaration setting out facts that justify higher security, and a judge or magistrate can approve a higher amount. The text of Penal Code 1269c describes how the declaration works.
Typical reasons officers cite include threats to the alleged victim, a history of prior incidents, or concern about a weapon. You cannot predict it from the schedule. The only reliable number is the one on the booking record.
A few other things can move the figure:
- A prior conviction, which can double the scheduled amount in Los Angeles.
- Additional charges booked at the same time, such as a violation of a protective order or a weapons charge.
- A bail review by a judge at arraignment, which can go up or down.
What happens in the first 48 hours
A realistic timeline helps you plan.
- Find the booking information. You need the full name, booking number, the county jail, and the bail amount. Our free inmate search can help locate someone quickly.
- Confirm the bail amount. Ask whether the amount is the schedule figure or has been increased.
- Check for a hold. Some arrestees are kept for a cooling-off period. Our guide on the 24 hour rule for a PC 1275 hold explains the rule that can delay release even after bail is posted.
- Gather documents. Government ID for the person posting, proof of income or employment, and contact details for references. See 5 details that speed release.
- Post the bond. Once the premium is paid and paperwork is signed, the jail processes the release. Processing times vary by facility.
- Prepare for court. The arraignment date is on the paperwork. Missing it can lead to forfeiture, as described in our overview of California bail forfeiture.
For a deeper walk-through, see our fast bail steps for domestic violence arrests and our broader piece on the domestic violence bail amount in California.
Our perspective
We see 273.5 arrests come in at all hours, often from a spouse, parent, or partner who is frightened, tired, and has never dealt with a jail before. The most common mistake is not about money. It is assuming this works like any other bail.
What we tell families is simple. Get the exact bail amount from the booking record before you do anything else. Do not budget off a number you saw online, because schedules change and officers can ask for more. Ask early about whether a hearing is needed. And treat the release conditions as seriously as the bail itself: a stay-away order that is violated on day one can put the person back in custody and make the next bail much harder.
We also tell families that the bond covers one job only: getting the person out and guaranteeing their court appearances. The case itself, including whether the charge is filed as a felony or misdemeanor, belongs to a criminal defense attorney. If someone has not hired one yet, do that in parallel. A lawyer can argue ability to pay and ask for a bail change at the hearing.
If the other person involved in the case also needs legal help with a restraining order, the rules vary by state. For a Texas example of how people handle restraining and protective orders, a local family law attorney is the right person to ask. In California, the criminal court issues the protective order tied to this case.
— Jake
Getting a bond for a 273.5 arrest
If you have the booking number and the bail amount, we can tell you what the premium would be and what payment options fit your situation. Our licensed agents answer calls directly, day or night, and we have bilingual English and Spanish support. Start with our domestic violence bail bonds page, or call us if the person is already in custody and time matters.
Can 273.5 be dropped, and other common questions
The questions below come up on nearly every call.
Can a 273.5 charge be dropped?
Only the prosecutor can drop it, not the alleged victim. Defense attorneys note that the District Attorney files the case, and a prosecutor may continue even if the alleged victim does not want to cooperate, if there is enough other evidence. A defense lawyer can sometimes negotiate a reduction or dismissal.
Is PC 273.5 a serious felony?
It is a felony when filed as one, with possible state prison of 2, 3, or 4 years under the statute, but it is a wobbler and can be filed as a misdemeanor. Whether it counts as a "serious" or "violent" felony under California's strike rules is a legal question for a defense attorney who has the case file.
Why do you only pay 10% on bail?
The bond company posts the full bail amount as a guarantee to the court, and the 10% premium is the fee for that guarantee. The premium is not returned. If the defendant misses court, the bond can be forfeited, which is why agents ask for reliable co-signers.
How long does it take to get out after posting the bond?
It depends on the jail's processing speed and whether any hold applies. Release can take several hours after the bond is posted, and longer when the jail is busy. If a 1270.1 hearing is needed to change bail, it depends on the court calendar.
Sources
- Penal Code 273.5, California Legislative Information
- Penal Code 1270.1, California Legislative Information
- Penal Code 1269c, California Legislative Information
- 2026 Felony Bail Schedule, Superior Court of Los Angeles County
- 2026 Uniform Bail Schedule, Superior Court of Orange County
- Felony and Misdemeanor Bail Schedule, Superior Court of San Bernardino County
- Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, Judicial Branch of California
- First Offense Domestic Violence Charges in Los Angeles, Eisner Gorin LLP
- PC 273.5 Corporal Injury, Shouse California Law Group
- In re Humphrey summary, Social Sci LibreTexts/10%3A_The_Judicial_Branch/10.07%3A_Former_Chief_Justice_Tani_Cantil-Sakauye)
- Restraining and protective orders, Anna Din Law