California’s burglary law is covered under California Penal Code 459 PC and can be charged in a variety of circumstances. Some examples are:

  • Walking into an open garage to steal tools
  • Breaking into a home to steal money, jewels or other things
  • Stealing something expensive from a store
  • Knowingly cashing a fraudulent check
  • Smashing a car window to steal something inside the vehicle

There are two possible burglary charges that can be leveled against an arrestee: first-degree burglary and second-degree burglary. First-degree burglary is always a felony and is charged when an individual is suspected of burglarizing a home or other inhabited structure. Second-degree burglary is used when an individual is suspected of burglarizing a store or business. Often referred to as “commercial burglary,” second-degree burglary can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstance of the crime.

When someone is arrested under suspicion of committing burglary in the Santa Clarita Valley, they will be taken immediately to the Santa Clarita Sheriff Station where they will undergo booking and processing. The procedure includes recording the arrestee’s fingerprints, taking their photograph and conducting a national background check. It can take anywhere from 45-minutes to several hours for booking and processing to be completed depending on how busy the jail is. It’s only after booking and processing is completed that bail will be set and an arrestee can be released via bail bond.

When the bail bond process is begun quickly enough, it’s possible to bail the inmate out directly from the Santa Clarita Sheriff Station jail. However, the jail is very small and not intended to hold inmates more than 72-hours. So, if the jail begins to get overcrowded or if no bail bond is obtained within the time allowed, male inmates will be transferred to Twin Towers Correctional Facility and female inmates will be transferred to the Lynwood Jail.

Inmates can be bailed out from these new locations as well, but it will likely take at least another 12 to 24-hours. These jails are much larger, and therefore busier, and once inmates are transferred they need to go through another round of processing at the new location. During this period, inmates will be unable to be bailed out. Therefore it is usually best to get the bail bond application process started as soon as possible. If the process has begun while the inmate is still located at the Santa Clarita Sheriff Station jail, it’s possible to avoid the transfer altogether.