Bail Questions • Bail Basics • Arizona
What Does No Bond Mean?
No bond means the judge has ordered the defendant held in custody with no amount of money that can secure release.
Quick answer
No bond means the judge has ordered the defendant held in custody with no amount of money that can secure release. In Arizona it happens under A.R.S. 13-3961 for capital and certain sex offenses, after a detention hearing, or when a hold from probation, parole or another agency blocks release.
When an Arizona judge orders no bond
Arizona law makes most offenses bailable, but A.R.S. 13-3961 lists exceptions. When the proof is evident or the presumption great, a person charged with a capital offense, sexual assault, sexual conduct with a minor under 15, or molestation of a child under 15 is held without bail. First-degree murder is the most common example in Maricopa County.
A judge can also order no bond after a detention hearing, where the state shows the person is a danger to the community or to a specific victim. That can happen at the initial appearance or at a later hearing the prosecutor requests. On the Sheriff's inmate search the entry reads "no bond" or shows no amount. Our guide to non-bailable offenses in Arizona goes deeper on the statute.
No bond because of a hold
The second meaning is a hold, and it is more common than people expect. Someone can have a bond set on the new charge and still show no bond on the system because another agency has a claim on them. A probation hold or parole hold means the person's supervising agency wants them kept in custody for a violation hearing. An immigration detainer asks the jail to hold the person for federal authorities. An out-of-county or out-of-state warrant means another court wants them first.
In these cases posting the bond on the Maricopa County charge does not open the door. A licensed agent checks for holds before taking a premium, because a bond that cannot produce a release wastes your money. Our probation violation bail bonds page explains what can and cannot be done on a hold.
What a family can do when there is no bond
A bail agent cannot post anything when the court has ordered no bond. The path runs through the court. A defense attorney can ask the judge to set bail, present evidence at a detention hearing, or request a bail review once more information about employment, residence and family ties is available. A probation hold ends when the probation court resolves the violation, which may itself result in a bond.
Watch the court record. Bond status changes, sometimes within days. The Sheriff's inmate search updates when a bond is set, and the inmate search guide shows how to read it. Once an amount appears and surety is allowed, a licensed agent can post it any hour. If a cash-only bond is set instead, the family pays the full amount at the Bond and Fine Room.
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
Does no bond mean you cannot get out of jail?
It means no amount of money will secure release right now. The person stays in custody until a judge sets bail, a hold is lifted, or the case resolves. A defense attorney can ask the court to revisit it; a bail agent cannot change it.
How long can someone be held with no bond in Arizona?
Until the court changes the order or the case ends. For a person in custody on a felony, speedy trial rules generally require trial within 150 days of arraignment, with excludable time. Holds from probation or immigration run on their own timelines.
What is the difference between no bond and bond denied?
They mean the same thing in practice. Bond denied usually describes a judge refusing to set bail after a detention hearing. No bond also covers the statutory non-bailable offenses under A.R.S. 13-3961 and holds placed by another agency.
Can a no bond hold be lifted?
Sometimes. A defense attorney can request a bail hearing or detention review, and the court can set an amount if the evidence or circumstances support release. A probation hold is lifted when the probation court finishes with the violation. Immigration detainers are federal and separate.
What does bond pending mean on the inmate search?
It usually means the initial appearance has not happened yet, so no bond has been set. In Maricopa County that hearing occurs within 24 hours of arrest. Call One Stop Bail Bonds any hour and an agent will walk you through it.