Bail Questions • Bail Basics • Arizona
What Does Secured Bond Mean?
A secured bond means the defendant must post money or a surety bond before being released from jail.
Quick answer
A secured bond means the defendant must post money or a surety bond before being released from jail. In Arizona a judge sets a secured appearance bond under A.R.S. 13-3967 when a promise to appear is not enough, and the family satisfies it with cash or a licensed bail agent's bond.
What makes a bond secured
A bond is secured when something of value backs it before release. The judge names an amount, and the defendant stays in custody until that amount is posted in cash or guaranteed by a surety bond from a licensed bail agent. The security is what the court keeps or collects if the defendant fails to appear.
Arizona judges choose a secured appearance bond when the factors in A.R.S. 13-3967 point to flight risk: the seriousness of the charge, the weight of the evidence, prior failures to appear, criminal history, and weak ties to the community. In Maricopa County it is set at the Initial Appearance Court inside the 4th Avenue Jail within 24 hours of arrest. The Initial Appearance Court page explains what happens there.
Two ways to satisfy a secured bond
The first way is cash. The family pays the entire amount at the 4th Avenue Jail Bond and Fine Room or the court clerk, and the court refunds it when the case ends if the defendant appeared at every hearing. On a $25,000 bond that means $25,000 out of pocket for months.
The second way is a surety bond. A licensed agent posts the full amount for a premium, typically 10%, so the same $25,000 bond costs about $2,500. The premium is not refundable. A cosigner signs an indemnity agreement, and many bonds under about $25,000 are written on signature alone. Larger bonds may need collateral. Both methods get the person released the same way; the difference is what you pay now and what comes back later.
Secured bond compared to the other release types
Secured is the only release type that requires money before the jail doors open. The alternatives under A.R.S. 13-3967 are own recognizance (a signed promise, no amount), pretrial services supervision (check-ins and testing, no amount), and an unsecured appearance bond (an amount owed only if the person misses court). A cash-only bond is a stricter form of secured bond where surety is not allowed.
A judge can also hold with no bond under A.R.S. 13-3961 for certain serious offenses or after a detention hearing. If the person got a secured bond, that is the middle of the range, and a defense attorney can ask the court to lower the amount or change the type at a later hearing. Our OR release guide covers the no-money options.
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Related Questions
Is a secured bond the same as a cash bond?
A cash bond is one way to satisfy a secured bond. The other is a surety bond from a licensed agent. Both are secured because value is posted before release. A cash-only bond is a secured bond where the court will take only cash.
Can you get out on a secured bond without paying?
Not without someone posting it. The person stays in custody until cash or a surety bond is filed. A defense attorney can ask the judge to lower the amount or change the release to own recognizance or an unsecured bond at a later hearing.
What does secured appearance bond mean on an Arizona court record?
It means the judge ordered money or a surety posted as a condition of release, in the amount shown. Once the initial appearance has occurred, the Sheriff's inmate search shows that amount, and a licensed agent can post a surety bond for it.
Does a secured bond get refunded?
A secured bond posted in cash is refunded after the case ends and the bond is exonerated, less any fines or fees. A secured bond posted through an agent is not; the premium is the agent's fee and the agent never received the bail amount itself.
How much does a secured bond cost through a bondsman?
Typically 10% of the amount the judge set, from rates filed with DIFI: $500 on $5,000, $2,000 on $20,000. Payment plans are available to qualified cosigners. Call One Stop Bail Bonds any hour and an agent will walk you through it.