Bail Questions • Bail Basics • Arizona
What Is Cash Bail?
Cash bail is the full bail amount paid directly to the court or jail in cash to secure a defendant's release before trial.
Quick answer
Cash bail is the full bail amount paid directly to the court or jail in cash to secure a defendant's release before trial. In Arizona it is refunded when the case ends if the defendant appears at every hearing, less any fines or fees the court applies. A bail bond costs less up front.
How cash bail is posted in Maricopa County
When the judge sets a secured appearance bond, the family can satisfy it by paying the whole amount in cash. For anyone in Maricopa County custody, cash is accepted at the 4th Avenue Jail Bond and Fine Room, 201 S 4th Avenue, Phoenix, which is open 24 hours. The clerk's office or the court that set the bail can also take it during business hours.
The county does not accept bail by phone, app, wire or electronic transfer, and never asks for payment by text or email. Anyone who does is running a scam. The person who pays gets a receipt in their own name, and that receipt is what the court uses to send the refund at the end of the case. Keep it.
When cash bail is refunded and when it is not
Cash bail is held as security, not spent. When the case ends through dismissal, plea, acquittal or sentencing and the defendant has appeared at every hearing, the court exonerates the bond and refunds the cash to the person who posted it. Processing often takes several weeks. The court can deduct fines, fees or restitution from the refund.
If the defendant misses court, the judge issues a bench warrant and begins forfeiture under Rule 7.6 and A.R.S. 13-3974. After notice and a hearing, the court can keep the entire amount. A defense attorney can ask the court to set aside the forfeiture when the person returns promptly with a good explanation, but that is not guaranteed. Our bail money refund guide covers the timeline.
Cash bail compared to a bail bond
Cash bail costs more up front and less overall, because most of it comes back. A bail bond costs less up front and the premium is never refunded. On a $10,000 bail, cash bail means $10,000 to the court now and a refund months later. A bail bond means a premium of about $1,000 to a licensed agent, who posts the full $10,000 through a surety.
For bail of a few hundred dollars, cash usually makes sense. For $5,000 and up, most families cannot tie up that much without putting rent and bills at risk, so they use a bond, often on a payment plan. One exception: if the judge ordered a cash-only bond, surety is not allowed and the full amount must be paid in cash.
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Related Questions
Can you pay cash bail with a credit card?
Maricopa County does not take bail payments by phone, app or electronic transfer, and the Bond and Fine Room is set up for cash. A licensed bail agent takes debit and credit cards for the premium on a surety bond, which is how most families pay.
Who gets the cash bail refund?
The person named on the receipt, not the defendant, unless the defendant posted it. The court mails the refund after the bond is exonerated at the end of the case. If a relative paid, they should keep the receipt and a current mailing address on file with the court.
What happens to cash bail if the person is found guilty?
It is still refunded if the defendant appeared at every hearing, because bail guarantees appearance, not the outcome. The court may first deduct fines, fees and restitution ordered at sentencing, so the refund can be smaller than the amount posted.
Is cash bail the same as a cash-only bond?
Not exactly. Cash bail describes paying the full amount in cash, which you can choose on any secured bond. A cash-only bond is a court order that forbids a surety bond, so cash is the only way to post it. An agent cannot help with cash-only.
How much cash bail do you have to pay in Arizona?
The full amount the judge set. There is no partial cash option with the court; 10% is the premium on a surety bond, not a deposit with the court. Call One Stop Bail Bonds any hour and an agent will walk you through it.