You can bail yourself out of jail in Kansas, and there is more than one way to do it. The simplest is release on your own recognizance, where you sign a promise to appear and pay nothing. You can also post your own bond in cash, ask a judge for a 10% cash deposit on a small bond, or work with a bondsman who is willing to write the bond on your signature alone. What you cannot do is sign as your own surety on an ordinary bond. This page explains each route for people held at the Sedgwick County Jail.
You can reach Case Bail Bonds at (316) 900-1667, and the office is three blocks away at 705 N Broadway.
On this page
- 5 ways to bail yourself out of jail in Kansas
- How to call a bondsman from the Sedgwick County Jail
- When you cannot bail yourself out
- If nobody posts bond
- Frequently asked questions
- Call from the jail
5 ways to bail yourself out of jail in Kansas
| Way | Money needed | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Own recognizance | $0 | Booking sergeant at the jail, or a judge |
| Full cash bond | 100% of the bond | You, if you have the money |
| 10% cash deposit with the clerk | 10% of the bond, refundable | A judge, on bonds of $2,500 or less |
| Driver’s license deposit | Your license | Available only on city traffic ordinance arrests |
| Bondsman with no cosigner | Premium of at least 10% | The bondsman |
1. Own recognizance
K.S.A. 22-2802 allows a person to be released on their own recognizance by guaranteeing payment of the bond amount if they fail to appear, with no cash deposit.
At the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility, the Sheriff’s rules are:
- You live in the metro area: Sedgwick, Harvey, Butler, Sumner, Reno or Kingman County. The booking sergeant may approve a Kansas resident from elsewhere.
- People from out of state generally do not qualify unless a judge authorizes it.
- Your identity is known. No release for someone booked as John or Jane Doe.
- After a DUI arrest, you wait for a sober adult to pick you up, or until the sergeant decides you can function alone. The sergeant may observe you for up to four hours.
- There is no fee.
Full details are in OR bond in Sedgwick County.
2. Pay your own bond in cash
The Sheriff states that any bond can be paid in cash. If you have the full amount, the bond can be posted and you get it back after the case, less costs and fines, as long as you make every court date.
The practical problem is access. Your wallet and cards were inventoried at booking. The Sheriff does allow an inmate to release personal property and money to someone outside. That person comes to the front lobby at 141 W Elm between 6 AM and 10 PM with a physical, unexpired photo ID. The release can only be done once, so decide what you are handing over before they come. That person can then post the bond for you. See Sedgwick County Jail release and property.
3. The 10% cash deposit
Under K.S.A. 22-2802, when the bond is $2,500 or less on certain lower level charges, a judge may let you deposit 10% in cash with the court clerk. You must be a Kansas resident with little or no criminal history, no prior failure to appear and no hold from another jurisdiction. The deposit comes back on the same terms as a cash bond. Ask for it at your first appearance.
4. Driver’s license deposit, city traffic cases only
K.S.A. 12-4301 gives one more option when the arrest is for violating a city traffic ordinance. A valid Kansas driver’s license can be left with the arresting officer or the municipal court clerk in place of a bond. The receipt serves as a temporary license until the hearing date. If you then miss court, the license goes to the Division of Vehicles and your driving privilege is suspended.
5. A bondsman, on your signature alone
A bondsman is not required to have a cosigner. It is a business decision. A bondsman may write a bond on your signature when you have a steady job, a local address, a clean record of showing up for court and a way to pay the premium. Kansas law sets that premium at no less than 10% of the bond, with at least half paid before the bond is posted.
| Bond | Minimum premium | Minimum due before posting |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | $50 | $25 |
| $1,500 | $150 | $75 |
| $5,000 | $500 | $250 |
On larger bonds, expect to be asked for a cosigner or collateral. See bail bond cosigner responsibilities.
How to call a bondsman from the Sedgwick County Jail
Inmates call out through the jail’s phone provider. You cannot receive calls. Under the Keep Families Connected program, each inmate gets two free calls a week. All calls are recorded, so talk about the bond and not about the case.
Have this ready when you call:
- Your full legal name and date of birth
- Your address, your employer and how long you have been at both
- The charges and bond amounts, if you were told them
- The name and number of anyone who might cosign
A bondsman can look up the rest on the jail record. More on calls is in Sedgwick County Jail phone calls and visitation.
When you cannot bail yourself out
Some records have no bond that anyone can post.
| Situation | Why |
|---|---|
| Arrest and detain order, or a parole hold | The Sheriff lists these as not bondable |
| Out of state warrant | No bond until a Sedgwick County judge sets one |
| Domestic violence booking | A cooling off period comes first |
| Judge ordered no bond | Only a judge can change it |
Our page on what no bond means in Sedgwick County explains each one. If the bond exists but is out of reach, a lawyer can ask for a lower one. See bond reduction in Sedgwick County.
If nobody posts bond
You still see a judge. Kansas law requires a first appearance without unnecessary delay, and the judge must set conditions of release. In a city case, K.S.A. 12-4213 says a person arrested without a warrant and held 48 hours with no first appearance before a municipal judge must be released on personal recognizance.
Sedgwick County also runs a Pretrial Services Program whose staff interview people in the jail and give judges verified information for release decisions. Answer their questions accurately. See Sedgwick County pretrial services.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bail yourself out of jail in Kansas with a debit card?
Ask booking staff what forms of payment the jail accepts for a cash bond. The Sheriff’s page says only that checks are not accepted on cash only bonds.
Can I be my own cosigner?
No. A cosigner is a second person who guarantees the bond. A bondsman can choose to write a bond without one.
Is it cheaper to bail yourself out?
Own recognizance is free. Cash is free in the end if you make every court date. A bondsman costs a premium that is not refunded.
What happens if I miss court on my own recognizance?
A warrant is issued, you owe the bond amount, and after 30 days you can be charged with failure to appear under K.S.A. 21-5915.
How long does it take to be released on your own recognizance?
There is no fixed time. It depends on booking and on any holds.
Call from the jail
Case Bail Bonds is family owned and run by Tyson and Rachel Case. Call (316) 900-1667, 24 hours a day. The office is at 705 N Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214.
Sources
- Sedgwick County Sheriff, how to post bond for an inmate
- Sedgwick County Sheriff, release of inmate money and property
- K.S.A. 22-2802, release before trial, Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes
- K.S.A. 12-4301, appearance bonds in municipal court
- K.S.A. 22-2809b, compensated sureties
This article is general information checked against the sources above in October 2026. It is not legal advice.
