If someone you care about was just arrested in Idaho, this guide walks you through exactly what happens next - hour by hour - and what you should do at each step to help them as quickly as possible.
Understanding the timeline helps you take the right actions at the right time.
After arrest, the person is handcuffed and transported by the arresting officer to the county jail. This is typically the county where the arrest occurred. Idaho State Police arrests go to the nearest county jail. The person has the right to remain silent during transport - anything said can be used as evidence.
What you should do: If you were told someone was arrested, start with our county jail directory to identify the right jail. Call our free line at (208) 991-4676 and we will search all 44 Idaho counties simultaneously.
At the jail, the person is formally booked. This includes recording personal information, photographing (mug shot), fingerprinting, and a background check. Their belongings are inventoried and stored. Medical screening is performed. The booking information - including charges and initial bail amount - is entered into the jail's system and will appear in the online inmate roster within 2 to 4 hours.
What you should do: Wait for the booking record to appear in the online roster. If you don't see it after 4 hours, call the jail directly or use our free search line.
For most misdemeanor offenses, bail is set automatically from the county's standard bail schedule - a pre-set dollar amount for common charges that allows release without a judge's involvement. If the charges are on the schedule, the person can be released as soon as bail is paid. For more serious charges, or if the schedule doesn't cover the offense, bail requires a judge's order at arraignment.
What you should do: Get the bail amount from the inmate roster or by calling the jail. If bail is set, contact a licensed Idaho bail bondsman. You can post bail at any time, even before arraignment for scheduled charges.
Idaho law requires arraignment within 48 hours of arrest, not counting weekends and holidays. At arraignment, a magistrate judge formally reads the charges, the defendant enters a plea (almost always "not guilty" initially to preserve options), and bail is formally set or modified by the judge. This is a critical hearing. A defense attorney present at arraignment can argue for lower bail and begin shaping the defense strategy from day one.
What you should do: Contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible - before arraignment if at all possible. Call the Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (208) 334-4500 or use our free line for connection to bail bondsmen and local attorneys.
If bail has been posted (either by cash or through a bondsman), the person is released from custody. This typically takes 2 to 6 hours after bail is posted for processing. The person is given a written notice of their next court date - they must appear at every scheduled hearing or face a bench warrant and bail forfeiture.
What you should do: Keep the court date notice in a safe place. Mark every court date on your calendar. Contact a defense attorney to represent the person through the rest of the process.
If someone close to you was arrested in Idaho, take these steps in order.
Use our county jail directory or call our free line at (208) 991-4676. We search all 44 Idaho counties at once. Have the person's full legal name and approximate location of arrest ready.
Once located, note the bail amount from the inmate roster or by calling the jail directly. Also note the specific charges and the booking number - both are needed by a bondsman.
Call a licensed Idaho bail bondsman before arraignment if possible. Pre-arranging bail allows for release immediately after arraignment. Call our free line to be connected with bondsmen in any Idaho county, available 24/7.
Early legal representation matters. An attorney at arraignment can argue for lower bail and begin building a defense while evidence is fresh. Contact the Idaho State Bar LRS at (208) 334-4500 or search for a licensed Idaho criminal defense attorney directly.
To receive calls from the inmate, you must set up a prepaid account with the jail's phone vendor before receiving a call. Contact the specific jail to get their phone system provider's information. Most Idaho jails use third-party phone services.
After arraignment, the defendant receives a written notice of future court dates. Missing any court date results in a bench warrant and bail forfeiture. All court dates must be attended. The Idaho iCourt portal at mycourts.idaho.gov can show upcoming hearings.
Booking typically takes 2 to 4 hours at most Idaho county jails, though major metro jails like Ada (Boise) or Canyon (Caldwell) with higher volumes can occasionally take longer during busy periods. Small rural county jails may also take longer due to limited staff. During this time, the person is photographed, fingerprinted, medically screened, and their property is inventoried. They will not appear in the online inmate roster until booking is complete.
Yes. After booking, the person will typically have access to a phone to make calls. The first call should be to a family member who can contact a bail bondsman and attorney. Calls from jail are typically recorded (except attorney-client calls), so the person should not discuss the details of their case on these calls. You can facilitate getting them an attorney without the person having to make the first call themselves by contacting our free line.
Arrests are processed in the county where they occur, not the defendant's home county. If someone from Boise (Ada County) is arrested in Twin Falls County, they will be booked into the Twin Falls County Jail and face prosecution in Twin Falls County courts. A bail bondsman licensed in Idaho can post bail in any Idaho county regardless of where their office is located. An Idaho-licensed defense attorney can typically appear in any Idaho county court.