Bail Questions • Cost of Bail • Arizona
How Much Is Bail for Failure to Appear?
Bail for failure to appear is set by the judge who issued the warrant and often matches or exceeds the original bond.
Quick answer
Bail for failure to appear is set by the judge who issued the warrant and often matches or exceeds the original bond. It ranges from a few hundred dollars on a traffic matter to tens of thousands on a felony. In Arizona, missing court can also bring a new charge under A.R.S. 13-2506 or 13-2507.
Two bonds, not one: the original case and the new charge
Missing court sets two things in motion. The judge issues a bench warrant and names a bond amount on it. That amount is for the original case. At the same time, the prosecutor can file a separate charge: failure to appear in the first degree under A.R.S. 13-2506, a class 5 felony, when the missed hearing was in a felony case, or failure to appear in the second degree under A.R.S. 13-2507, a class 1 misdemeanor, for a misdemeanor case.
The new charge gets its own bail when the person is brought before a judge. So a defendant who missed court on a $5,000 felony bond can face a warrant bond on the original case plus a new bond on the FTA charge. Both have to be posted for release. The failure to appear page explains how the two cases run side by side.
What happens to the bond that was already posted
If a bail agent posted the original bond, the court starts forfeiture under Rule 7.6 and A.R.S. 13-3974: notice to the surety, a hearing date, and a window in which the agent can return the defendant to custody. If the person surrenders or is surrendered in time, the court usually sets aside the forfeiture and the bond can sometimes be reinstated. If not, the bond is forfeited, the surety pays the court, and the cosigner owes the full bail plus recovery costs under the indemnity agreement.
That is why the first call after a missed court date should be to the agent, not a search for a new one. An agent who already holds the bond has every reason to help arrange a prompt, orderly return. A cash bond posted by the family goes through the same forfeiture process. See what happens if you skip bail.
Typical amounts and how the new bail is posted
Judges often set the warrant bond at or above the original amount, because the person has now shown they may not return. A $2,500 misdemeanor bond can come back as $5,000; a $10,000 felony bond as $15,000 or $20,000, sometimes cash-only. Bail on the new FTA charge itself ranges widely: a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on the misdemeanor version, more on the felony version, especially with a record of prior misses.
The premium is 10% of each bond, set by filed surety rates and not refunded. A defendant with a fresh failure to appear is a harder underwrite, so the agent will want a strong cosigner and may ask for collateral even on a mid-size bond. A walk-through bond, where the surrender and the bond are arranged together, keeps the time in custody short. Details on turning yourself in with a bond.
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Related Questions
Is failure to appear a felony in Arizona?
It depends on the underlying case. Missing court in a felony case is failure to appear in the first degree under A.R.S. 13-2506, a class 5 felony. Missing court in a misdemeanor case is failure to appear in the second degree under A.R.S. 13-2507, a class 1 misdemeanor.
Can you bond out after a failure to appear?
Usually yes, if the judge set a bond on the warrant and on any new charge. Some judges make the warrant bond cash-only, which a bail agent cannot post. A defense attorney can ask the court to convert it to a regular secured bond.
Does a bail bondsman have to pay if you miss court?
The surety pays the court the full bail if the defendant is not returned within the period the court allows. The cosigner then owes the surety that amount plus costs. Returning the defendant promptly is the way to stop that chain before it starts.
How long do you have before a warrant is issued for missing court?
Often the same day. Arizona judges typically issue a bench warrant at the hearing the person missed. Some courts allow a short grace period for a defense attorney to explain the absence and ask that the warrant be quashed, but there is no guaranteed window.
What if the missed court date was a mistake?
Contact the agent and a defense attorney immediately. The attorney can ask the court to quash the warrant and reinstate the original release, and a quick voluntary return greatly improves the odds. Call One Stop Bail Bonds any hour and an agent will walk you through it.