Bail Questions • Cost of Bail • Arizona
How Much Is Bail in Arizona?
Bail in Arizona ranges from no money at all for many first-time misdemeanors to $1 million or more for the most serious felonies.
Quick answer
Bail in Arizona ranges from no money at all for many first-time misdemeanors to $1 million or more for the most serious felonies. Judges set the amount case by case under A.R.S. 13-3967. Most families pay a bail agent a premium of about 10% rather than the full amount.
Typical bail amounts by charge in Maricopa County
There is no fixed schedule; the judge sets bail at the initial appearance after weighing the offense, the evidence, criminal history, past court appearances, employment, family ties and the victim's views. The ranges below are illustrations from cases we see, not promises.
- Misdemeanors: often own recognizance, or a few hundred to a few thousand dollars
- First-time misdemeanor DUI: often OR or a low bond; extreme, repeat and aggravated DUI a few thousand to $25,000 or more
- Lower felonies (drug possession, theft): a few thousand to $25,000
- Aggravated assault: several thousand to well over $50,000
- Possession for sale with large quantities or weapons: $50,000 or more
- Serious violent felonies: $100,000, $500,000 or more than $1 million
- Failure to appear and bench warrants: set by the issuing judge, often tracking the original bond
Charge-specific detail is on the felony and misdemeanor bail pages.
Bail amount vs what you actually pay
The number the judge sets and the number you pay are different. The bail amount is the full security the court requires. If you post it in cash, you pay all of it and get it back at the end of the case if the person appears. Most families cannot raise $25,000 overnight, so they use a surety bond instead.
With a surety bond you pay a premium to a licensed agent, set by surety rates filed with DIFI and typically 10% of the bail. On $5,000 bail the premium is about $500. On $20,000 it is about $2,000. On $100,000 it is about $10,000. On $1,000,000 it is about $100,000. The premium is the agent's fee and is not refunded. Payment plans spread it out for qualified cosigners without changing the total. The bail bond calculator gives the premium on any amount.
When bail is zero, cash-only or denied
Three outcomes change the math. First, many defendants pay nothing: the judge releases them on own recognizance, to pretrial services, or on an unsecured bond, all of which require no money up front. Second, the judge may order a cash-only bond, which must be paid in full with no surety; a bail agent cannot help with that until a defense attorney asks the court to change it.
Third, some people are held with no bond. A.R.S. 13-3961 makes capital offenses and certain sexual offenses against children non-bailable when the proof is evident or the presumption great, and the court can deny bail after a detention hearing where the state shows the person is a danger. Holds for probation, parole, immigration or other counties also keep someone in custody regardless of bail. See non-bailable offenses in Arizona.
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Related Questions
How much is bail for a first offense in Arizona?
Many first-offense misdemeanors in Maricopa County result in release on own recognizance with no bail. When a bond is set it is often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. First-time lower felonies commonly run a few thousand to $25,000 depending on the charge.
Who decides how much bail is?
A judge or commissioner at the initial appearance, within 24 hours of arrest. Arizona law, A.R.S. 13-3967, lists the factors: the offense, the evidence, criminal history, record of appearing in court, employment, family and community ties, and the victim's views.
How much is bail for a felony in Arizona?
Lower felonies often carry bail from a few thousand dollars to $25,000. Aggravated assault commonly runs from several thousand to well over $50,000. Serious violent felonies can be $100,000, $500,000 or more than $1 million. The judge sets each case individually.
Can bail be lowered in Arizona?
Yes. A defense attorney can ask the court to modify release conditions, and bail is frequently reduced at or after arraignment when the judge hears more about employment, residence and history. The court can also change a secured bond to own recognizance.
What is the most common bail amount?
There is no single common figure. Many Maricopa County misdemeanor defendants are released with no bail, and lower felony bonds cluster between a few thousand and $25,000. The premium on a $10,000 bond is about $1,000. Call One Stop Bail Bonds any hour and an agent will walk you through it.