Getting a phone call that a family member has been arrested in Tulsa is one of the most stressful moments a person can go through. Your mind races. You do not know who to call, what to do first, or how much this is going to cost. Most families have never dealt with the bail system before and have no frame of reference for what happens next.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do when a family member gets arrested in Tulsa, step by step, from the first phone call to the moment they walk out. Signature Bail Bonds has been helping Tulsa families through this process since 2006. Everything below is based on how the system actually works at David L. Moss, Tulsa Municipal Jail, and every facility in the area.
Step 1: Find Out Where They Are Being Held
The first thing you need to know is which facility is holding your family member. In Tulsa, there are two main jails and the answer depends on the type of charges.
- David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center (300 N. Denver Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74103) handles felony and state-level misdemeanor charges. This is the Tulsa County jail. Call (918) 596-8900 to check if someone is in custody.
- Tulsa Municipal Jail (600 Civic Center, Tulsa, OK 74103) handles city-level offenses like public intoxication, driving on a suspended license, and certain misdemeanor charges. Call (918) 596-9253 for the Municipal Courts Bonds Office.
If you are not sure which facility, start with David L. Moss. Most arrests in Tulsa County end up there. The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office jail information page links to the online inmate search, where you can check booking status by name. You can also call the jail directly at (918) 596-8900.
Step 2: Get the Bail Amount
Once you know where your family member is, find out the bail amount. Bail is the dollar figure the court sets as a guarantee that the defendant will show up for all future court dates. In Oklahoma, bail can range from a few hundred dollars for minor offenses to tens of thousands for serious felony charges.
You can get the bail amount by:
- Calling the jail directly and asking for the bond amount by the defendant’s full legal name and date of birth
- Searching the online inmate lookup, which often shows the bond amount alongside booking information
- Calling a bail bondsman who can look it up for you
If bail has not been set yet, your family member may need to wait for a bond hearing. At David L. Moss, judges typically set bail within 24 to 48 hours of arrest. At the Tulsa Municipal Jail, arraignment dockets run every weekday at 8:30 a.m.
Step 3: Call a Bail Bondsman
Unless you can pay the full bail amount in cash directly to the court, you will need a bail bondsman. A bail bond allows you to pay a percentage of the total bail (the standard in Oklahoma is 10%) instead of the full amount. The bondsman posts the rest with the court.
For example, on a $10,000 bail, the bond premium is $1,000. Signature Bail Bonds offers a 20% discount on qualifying bonds over $5,000 when paid in full with a qualifying cosigner. We also offer zero down bail bonds and 0% interest financing for families who cannot cover the premium upfront.
Call 918-SIGNOUT (918-744-6688) any time. We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. We can start the paperwork over the phone and have an agent at the jail within the hour.
Step 4: Gather the Information Your Bondsman Needs
When you call a bail bondsman, have the following information ready:
- The defendant’s full legal name and date of birth
- The facility where they are being held
- The charges (if you know them)
- The bail amount (if it has been set)
- Your name, phone number, and relationship to the defendant
If you do not have all of this, that is okay. A bondsman can look up most of it using just the name and date of birth. Do not wait until you have every detail before calling. The sooner you call, the sooner the process starts.
Step 5: Sign the Paperwork and Post the Bond
Once you agree on the bond terms, the bondsman will prepare the paperwork. As the cosigner (also called the indemnitor), you sign an agreement that guarantees the defendant will appear at every court date. This is a serious responsibility. If the defendant misses court, the bond can be forfeited and the cosigner may be financially liable. Learn more about cosigner responsibilities before signing.
After the paperwork is signed and payment is arranged, the bondsman takes the bond to the jail and files it with the court. At Signature Bail Bonds, we handle all of the filing and court paperwork so you do not have to step foot inside the jail.
Step 6: Wait for Release
After the bond is posted, the jail processes the release. At David L. Moss, this typically takes 2 to 6 hours depending on the time of day, staffing levels, and how many other releases are being processed. Weekends and holidays can extend that window. The Tulsa Municipal Jail tends to process releases faster because the facility is smaller.
During this time, your bondsman should stay in contact with you. At Signature Bail Bonds, we check on the status of every bond we post and keep the family updated until the defendant walks out.
If hours have passed and the release has not happened, a hold from another agency may be the reason. Call the jail or your bondsman to check.
What NOT to Do After a Family Member Is Arrested
The first few hours after an arrest are emotional and chaotic. Avoid these common mistakes:
- Do not discuss the case on the phone with the defendant. Jail phone calls are recorded and can be used as evidence. Keep conversations to logistics only: “I am calling a bondsman” and “I will be there when you get out.”
- Do not post about the arrest on social media. Anything posted publicly can be found by prosecutors, employers, and insurance companies.
- Do not pay more than you can afford. If you cannot cover the full premium, ask about payment plans and financing before draining your savings. A good bondsman will work with your budget.
- Do not wait until morning. The longer the defendant sits in jail, the more they miss work, the more stress the family carries, and the harder the situation gets. Bail bondsmen work around the clock for this reason.
How Much Will This Cost?
The standard bail bond premium in Oklahoma is 10% of the total bail amount. On a $5,000 bond, the premium is $500. On a $20,000 bond, the premium is $2,000. This fee is nonrefundable because it is the bondsman’s payment for posting the full bail amount with the court on your behalf.
Signature Bail Bonds offers a 20% discount on qualifying bonds over $5,000 when paid in full with a qualifying cosigner. We also offer zero down options and 0% interest financing. Use our bail bond cost calculator for a quick estimate based on your specific bail amount.
Call Signature Bail Bonds Right Now
If a family member was just arrested in Tulsa, you do not have to figure this out alone. Signature Bail Bonds has been helping families through this exact situation since 2006. We answer every call with a live agent, we explain the process in plain language, and we get your loved one home as fast as the system allows.
Call 918-SIGNOUT (918-744-6688) any time, day or night. You can also start the process online through our bail bond application.
