Bail Questions • Cost of Bail • Arizona
How Much Is Bail for a Felony?
Bail for a felony in Arizona commonly runs from a few thousand dollars to $25,000 for lower felonies, and far higher for serious ones.
Quick answer
Bail for a felony in Arizona commonly runs from a few thousand dollars to $25,000 for lower felonies, and far higher for serious ones. Serious cases draw $50,000 to more than $1 million. A Maricopa County judge sets it at the initial appearance under A.R.S. 13-3967, and a bail agent charges 10% to post it.
Typical felony bail ranges in Maricopa County
There is no felony bail schedule in Arizona. The judge at the initial appearance, held within 24 hours of arrest under Rule 4.1, sets the amount case by case. Still, patterns show up across thousands of cases. Lower felonies such as drug possession, felony theft and aggravated DUI often draw a few thousand dollars to $25,000. Aggravated assault commonly runs from several thousand to well over $50,000. Possession for sale with large quantities or a weapon can be $50,000 or more. Armed robbery, kidnapping, serious injury cases and sex offenses that remain bailable can reach $100,000, $500,000 or more than $1 million.
Some people charged with lower felonies are released on their own recognizance or to pretrial services with no money at all. Others are held without bond under A.R.S. 13-3961 or after a detention hearing. Our felony bail bonds page breaks the ranges down by charge.
What moves felony bail up or down
A.R.S. 13-3967 tells the judge what to weigh: the nature and circumstances of the offense, the weight of the evidence, criminal history, past court attendance, employment, family and community ties, and the victim's views. In practice, a prior failure to appear is the single factor that raises bail fastest. An out-of-state defendant with no Arizona ties is next. Injury to a victim, a weapon, or being on probation at the time of arrest all push the number up.
Bail is not fixed once set. A defense attorney can ask the assigned judge to modify release conditions at or after arraignment, and bail is often lowered when the court hears about a job, a home and family support. If that happens before a bond posts, the premium drops with it. See what happens at initial appearance.
What a felony bond costs the family
The premium is 10% of whatever the judge set: $1,500 on $15,000, $5,000 on $50,000, $10,000 on $100,000. It is set by surety rates filed with DIFI and is not refunded. Felony bonds under about $25,000 are usually written on a qualified cosigner's signature. Larger bonds, or weaker cosigner profiles, may need collateral such as a vehicle title or real estate, which is returned at exoneration.
Payment plans let a qualified cosigner pay a down payment and installments without changing the total. A felony case in Superior Court often takes months, sometimes more than a year, and the bond stays in force the whole time. The bail bond calculator shows the premium for any amount.
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Related Questions
What is the lowest bail for a felony?
Some felony defendants in Maricopa County get no monetary bail at all: release on own recognizance or to pretrial services. When money is required on a lower felony, $1,000 to $5,000 is common for a first offense with local ties and no prior failures to appear.
Is bail for a class 2 felony higher than a class 6?
Generally yes. Class 2 felonies are the most serious non-capital offenses and routinely draw bail in the tens or hundreds of thousands. Class 6 felonies, the least serious, often draw a few thousand dollars or OR release. The judge still decides each case individually.
Can you get a bond on a felony charge in Arizona?
Yes, for most felonies. Exceptions are capital offenses and certain sexual offenses against children under A.R.S. 13-3961 when the proof is evident, and cases where the court holds the person after a detention hearing. Everything else is bailable, and a bail agent can post it.
How long does a felony bond last?
Until the case ends and the court exonerates the bond: dismissal, plea, acquittal or sentencing. Felony cases in Maricopa County Superior Court often take six months to a year, and complex cases longer. The cosigner's obligation lasts the entire period.
Does felony bail money get returned?
A cash bond posted with the court is refunded after exoneration, less fines and fees. A bail agent's 10% premium is not refunded. Collateral pledged to the agency is returned once the court exonerates the bond. Call One Stop Bail Bonds any hour and an agent will walk you through it.