No bond on a Sedgwick County Jail record means that, right now, there is no dollar amount anyone can pay to get the person released. It does not always mean the person will stay in jail until trial. In many cases a judge has simply not set the amount yet, or a hold from another agency is in the way. The Kansas Constitution says all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties except in capital cases, so on most charges a bond amount does come.
Case Bail Bonds reads these records every day from 705 N Broadway, three blocks from the jail. Call (316) 900-1667 with the name and date of birth and we will tell you which kind of no bond you are looking at.
On this page
- What does $0.00 mean on the bond amount line?
- 6 reasons a record shows no bond
- How long can someone be held with no bond?
- What can the family do?
- Is there a bond that is set so high it works like no bond?
- Frequently asked questions
- Call before you drive downtown
What does $0.00 mean on the bond amount line?
The Sedgwick County inmate search lists each charge on its own line with a bond amount next to it. The Sheriff’s bond page explains how to read it:
- Each amount applies to the charge on that line.
- The total bond is the sum of the bond amount column.
- $0.00 appears when no bond is allowed, when a judge has ordered no bond, or when several charges share one case number.
That last one causes the most confusion. Say a person has three counts in one District Court case with a $5,000 bond. The record may show $5,000 on the first line and $0.00 on the next two. The $0.00 lines are not holds. The $5,000 covers the whole case.
So read the full record before you panic. If every line reads $0.00, one of the reasons below applies.
6 reasons a record shows no bond
1. No judge has set the bond yet
Some charges have no preset amount. The person has to go in front of a judge first. K.S.A. 22-2901 requires that to happen without unnecessary delay, and K.S.A. 22-2802 says the judge at the first appearance must order release on a bond in an amount that will assure the person returns to court and that the public is safe. An arrest on Friday night can mean no bond until court on Monday. See our guide to the first appearance in Sedgwick County.
2. The charges share a case number
As explained above, $0.00 can simply mean the bond for that case is printed on a different line.
3. A judge ordered no bond
A judge can hold someone without bond for a period, most often after a bond violation, a missed court date or a probation matter. This is a court order, and only a judge can change it. A defense lawyer asks for a bond hearing.
4. A hold that cannot be bonded
The Sheriff lists four kinds of inmates who are not bondable at the jail:
| Hold | What it is |
|---|---|
| State arrest and detain order | Usually issued by a probation officer |
| State parole violation | A hold from the Kansas Department of Corrections |
| Juvenile hold or warrant | Handled in juvenile court |
| Convicted, awaiting transport | Sentenced and waiting to go to state prison |
The jail also books federal inmates. A federal hold is decided in federal court, and a local bail bond does not release it.
5. An out of state warrant
If the arrest is on a warrant from another state, the Sheriff does not allow bond until a judge of the 18th Judicial District sets one. The person sees a Wichita judge first, and the question of returning to the other state comes up at that hearing.
6. A domestic violence cooling off period
People booked for domestic violence must serve a court ordered cooling off period before they can bond out. The Sheriff says the length and the bond amount vary by municipality. Once the hold runs out, the bond can be posted. More in domestic violence bail bonds in Wichita.
One narrower rule sits in K.S.A. 22-2901. A person arrested for trespass in defiance of a protection order cannot post bond before the first appearance, as long as that hearing is held within 48 hours of the arrest.
How long can someone be held with no bond?
It depends on the reason.
| Reason | How long it usually lasts |
|---|---|
| Waiting for a judge | Until the first appearance, which must come without unnecessary delay |
| Cooling off period | Until the court ordered hold runs out |
| Out of state warrant | Until a Sedgwick County judge sets bond or the other state picks the person up |
| Judge ordered no bond | Until a judge changes the order |
| Parole hold or prison transport | No bond is available |
For city charges there is a firm clock. K.S.A. 12-4213 requires bond to be set within 18 hours of custody in a municipal case. The Wichita Municipal Court bond guide explains it.
What can the family do?
- Find out which reason applies. The jail’s automated line is 316-660-5245. A bondsman can also read the record and tell you whether it is a hold, a timing issue or a judge’s order.
- Check for more than one case. A person can have a bondable Wichita case and a hold from Butler or Harvey County on the same record. Posting the first bond will not open the door if the second hold stays. Read our guide to an out of county warrant.
- Go to the first appearance. That is when the amount is usually set. Family can sit in the courtroom at 525 N Main.
- Hire or ask for a lawyer. K.S.A. 22-2802 lets a detained person apply to have release conditions reviewed, and the court must hear it without unnecessary delay. A lawyer files that motion.
- Have the bond ready. We can complete the paperwork ahead of time. The minute a judge sets an amount, the bond can be posted.
Is there a bond that is set so high it works like no bond?
Yes. A 2025 change to K.S.A. 22-2802 requires a bond of at least $750,000 for a person charged with certain sex crimes who has a prior conviction for a sexually violent crime. The judge can lower it only after an evidentiary hearing.
For any other charge, a bond that a family cannot reach can be challenged through the same review process. Kansas law also sets a floor on what a bondsman charges, 10% of the bond, so a $100,000 bond means a premium of at least $10,000. Our page on how bail bond payment plans work explains what can be financed.
Frequently asked questions
Why would an inmate have no bond?
The six common reasons are: no judge has set it yet, the charges share a case number, a judge ordered it, a hold that cannot be bonded, an out of state warrant, or a domestic violence cooling off period.
Is it possible to get out of jail with no bond?
Yes, if a judge releases the person on their own recognizance or later sets an amount. Read about the OR bond in Sedgwick County. Not on a parole hold or while awaiting prison transport.
Does no bond mean the person is guilty or dangerous?
No. It describes the status of the paperwork, not the strength of the case.
Can a bail bondsman remove a hold?
No. A bondsman posts bonds that a court has set. Holds are lifted by the agency or judge that placed them.
Call before you drive downtown
Tyson and Rachel Case run Case Bail Bonds, a family owned company at 705 N Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214. Call (316) 900-1667 any time.
Sources
- Sedgwick County Sheriff, how to post bond for an inmate
- K.S.A. 22-2802, release before trial, Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes
- K.S.A. 22-2901, appearance before the magistrate
- K.S.A. 12-4213, persons under arrest in municipal cases
- 2025 Session Laws of Kansas, chapter 120 (SB 186), Kansas Secretary of State
- Kansas Constitution, Bill of Rights, section 9
This article is general information checked against the sources above in October 2026. It is not legal advice.
