How much is bail for a misdemeanor

These numbers come from each county's posted schedule. If one amount covers a whole set of charges, that set is named.

Some charges can be filed either as a felony or as a misdemeanor, and these are called wobblers. That's why San Diego and Alameda set bail for wobblers far higher than for an ordinary misdemeanor, at $5,000 and $10,000.

History matters too. Harris County lists a first Class B at $500, while a new case during bond, probation, or parole jumps to $5,000. Ada County raises driving without privileges from $500 the first time to $2,000 by the third.

In some counties, an unlisted misdemeanor simply carries no money amount. Los Angeles County sets $0 for unlisted misdemeanors and wobblers, while San Bernardino County lists them as needing no bail.

Other counties use a signed promise rather than cash. Release on recognizance means the person promises to return and pays nothing. Leon County does that for most second degree misdemeanors when the court can verify an address, with $250 used when it cannot.

A few states work differently. Illinois and Kentucky don't use commercial bail agents at all, and Wisconsin's laws don't mention them. Illinois ended money bail as of January 1, 2023; people are now released, sometimes with supervision, or held after a hearing. Kentucky has barred commercial bail bonding since 1976 and relies on promises to appear, unsecured bonds, cash, or property. Wisconsin, for its part, offers recognizance release, cash bail, or a deposit of 10% in cash.

When the posted figure is out of reach, a licensed bail agent can post the whole bond. You pay the agent a premium, a fee that stays with the agent even if the case ends in your favor.

For a $5,000 California bond, the common premium is $500. California treats that fee as nonrefundable, and since January 1, 2022, renewal charges are against the law. Florida makes the premium a single charge for the case, and no extra premium is owed if the case goes to a higher court, unless the bond amount goes up. Nevada bars renewal fees and anything past real expenses.

Ohio has another path. Ohio courts may allow a deposit bond, where you pay a tenth of the bail straight to the court instead of paying a fee to a bail agent. That can make release far more affordable. Franklin County shows how much the type of bond matters. A first-degree misdemeanor is $500 when the court allows any type of bond, including a simple promise-to-appear bond, but $2,000 when it accepts only cash or a bond from a bail agent.

Yes, a judge can. The schedule only gives the jail a starting number ahead of the first hearing. In California, a judge may grant recognizance release, choose a different bail, add conditions, or order detention. In Arizona, a judge can let the person go on recognizance or attach conditions to bail, for example limits on travel or a cash deposit left with the clerk of court.

Ohio tells courts to pick the least restrictive conditions that will get the person back, and it lets the defendant choose a 10% deposit or a surety, property, or cash bond instead. If the amount is more than you can manage, don't lose heart. At the first hearing, the judge can look at the situation again and may lower bail or release the person on a promise to return.