Bail Questions • Warrants and Jail Time • Arizona
Can You Bond Out on a Felony Charge?
Yes, most felony charges in Arizona are bailable, and a judge sets a bond amount at the initial appearance.
Quick answer
Yes, most felony charges in Arizona are bailable, and a judge sets a bond amount at the initial appearance. The exceptions are capital offenses and certain sexual offenses against children under A.R.S. 13-3961, and cases where the state wins a detention hearing. Felony bonds commonly run from a few thousand dollars to $100,000 or more.
Which felonies are bailable in Arizona
The default under A.R.S. 13-3967 is that a person charged with a bailable offense is released on own recognizance or on bail. Nearly every felony qualifies: drug possession and sale, aggravated assault, theft and fraud, burglary, weapons charges, aggravated DUI, most domestic violence felonies, and many more. The judge sets a secured bond when a financial condition is needed to ensure the person returns to court.
A.R.S. 13-3961 carves out the exceptions. Capital offenses, sexual assault, sexual conduct with a minor under 15, and molestation of a child under 15 are not bailable when the proof is evident or the presumption great. The court can also hold a person with no bond after a detention hearing where the state shows the person is a danger to others. Our guide to non-bailable offenses in Arizona covers those cases.
What felony bail typically costs
Felony bail follows the charge, the record and the circumstances. Many lower felonies run a few thousand to $25,000. Aggravated assault commonly runs from several thousand to well over $50,000. Possession for sale with large quantities or weapons can be $50,000 or more. Serious felonies can be $100,000, $500,000 or more than $1 million. Second-degree murder and manslaughter bail, when set, is commonly in the hundreds of thousands. All of these are illustrations; the judge sets each case individually.
The premium on a surety bond is typically 10%: $2,500 on a $25,000 bond, $5,000 on $50,000, $10,000 on $100,000. It is not refundable. Bonds under about $25,000 are often written on a signature with one qualified cosigner. Larger bonds may need collateral such as a vehicle title or real estate, returned when the bond is exonerated. Run the numbers on the bail bond calculator or read about large bail bonds.
Holds that can block release even with a bond
A bond amount on the record does not guarantee the person walks out. A probation hold, a parole hold, an immigration detainer or a warrant from another county keeps the person in custody after the bond is posted. We check for holds before posting, because a premium paid on a bond that releases nobody is money lost. Immigration detainers are federal, and immigration bonds are federal bonds we do not write.
Felony cases also come with release conditions: no contact orders, no alcohol, pretrial check-ins, sometimes electronic monitoring. Violating one can bring revocation and a higher bond or no bond at all. Once the bond is posted and the person is released, the bond stays in force until the case ends, often months and sometimes more than a year. Our felony bail bonds page covers paperwork, cosigners and timing.
Need a bond now?
A licensed agent answers any hour, confirms the custody location and bail amount, and posts the bond while you stay home.
Related Questions
What felonies are not bailable in Arizona?
Under A.R.S. 13-3961, capital offenses, sexual assault, sexual conduct with a minor under 15, and molestation of a child under 15 are not bailable when the proof is evident or the presumption great. A judge can also deny bail after a detention hearing on dangerousness.
How much is bond for a felony?
It varies widely. Lower felonies often carry a few thousand to $25,000; aggravated assault and sale-quantity drug cases often carry $50,000 or more; serious felonies can reach $100,000 to over $1 million. The surety premium is typically 10% of whatever the judge sets.
Can you bond out on a class 2 felony?
Usually, yes, unless the charge falls under A.R.S. 13-3961 or the court orders detention. Class 2 felonies carry higher bonds, often well into five or six figures. Larger bonds may require collateral, and the agent will discuss what the cosigner can provide.
Do you need collateral for a felony bond?
Not always. Many bonds under about $25,000 are written on a signature with a qualified cosigner. Larger bonds or weaker cosigner profiles may require collateral such as a vehicle title, real estate or cash, which is returned when the court exonerates the bond.
How long does it take to bond out on a felony?
Bail is set at the initial appearance within 24 hours of arrest. After that, paperwork is signed electronically and the agent posts at 4th Avenue; release typically takes two to eight hours. Call One Stop Bail Bonds any hour and an agent will walk you through it.