Bail Questions • Bail Basics • Arizona
What Is an Appearance Bond?
An appearance bond is a defendant's promise to return to court, backed by a dollar amount the court can collect if they do not.
Quick answer
An appearance bond is a defendant's promise to return to court, backed by a dollar amount the court can collect if they do not. In Arizona it comes in two forms under A.R.S. 13-3967: unsecured, with nothing paid before release, and secured, which must be posted in cash or by a bail agent first.
What the word appearance means on a bond
Every bail bond in Arizona is an appearance bond, because the only thing it guarantees is that the defendant will appear at each court date. It does not guarantee good conduct, pay fines or settle the case. The judge sets it at the initial appearance, within 24 hours of arrest under Rule 4.1, after weighing the factors in A.R.S. 13-3967: the offense, the evidence, criminal history, past court attendance, employment, family ties and the victim's views.
The order names an amount. What happens next depends on whether the judge made it secured or unsecured. For Maricopa County arrests the order is entered at the Initial Appearance Court in the 4th Avenue Jail, and the amount shows on the Sheriff's inmate search afterward. Our guide to what happens at the initial appearance explains the hearing.
Secured vs unsecured appearance bond
A secured appearance bond must be posted before release. The family pays the full amount in cash to the court, or a licensed bail agent posts a surety bond for a premium, typically 10%. The person stays in custody until one of those happens. This is the type most families mean when they say "bail."
An unsecured appearance bond releases the person on signature. The amount is owed only if they fail to appear. No cash, no agent. The court record states which type was ordered, and a licensed agent will confirm it for you before taking any payment. On a secured bond, use the bail bond calculator to see the premium, and know that qualified cosigners can split it into installments.
How an appearance bond ends
An appearance bond ends one of two ways. The good way is exoneration: the case concludes by dismissal, plea, acquittal or sentencing, the court discharges the bond, cash is refunded to whoever posted it, and an agent returns any collateral. The premium on a surety bond is not refunded.
The other way is forfeiture. If the defendant misses a hearing, the judge issues a bench warrant and the court follows Rule 7.6 and A.R.S. 13-3974: notice to the surety, a hearing date, and a period in which the agent can return the defendant before judgment. If the person is not returned, the amount is collected, from the cash deposit or from the cosigner under the indemnity agreement. The defendant also faces a failure to appear charge. Read what happens if you skip bail in Arizona before anyone decides not to show.
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Related Questions
Is an appearance bond the same as bail?
Bail is the amount; the appearance bond is the order and the promise built around it. In everyday use the words overlap. When Arizona court paperwork says appearance bond, it means the release order, and the word secured or unsecured tells you whether money is needed.
Who signs an appearance bond?
The defendant signs the promise to appear. On a secured bond posted through a licensed agent, a cosigner also signs an indemnity agreement with the agency, and the agent signs the surety bond filed with the jail on behalf of the insurer.
Can an appearance bond be posted at night?
Yes, in Maricopa County. The 4th Avenue Jail Bond and Fine Room accepts cash and surety bonds 24 hours a day, every day. Release after posting usually takes two to eight hours, longer on weekend nights and holidays.
What conditions come with an appearance bond?
The judge can add conditions under A.R.S. 13-3967: no contact with a victim, no alcohol or drugs, no firearms, pretrial services check-ins or electronic monitoring. Violating one can lead to revocation and a new, higher or cash-only bond.
What is the appearance bond amount for a first offense?
It depends on the charge and the judge's findings. First-time misdemeanors are often OR or a few hundred to a few thousand dollars; lower felonies often run a few thousand to $25,000. Call One Stop Bail Bonds any hour and an agent will walk you through it.