Cash only bonds in Sedgwick County work exactly the way the name sounds. The full amount has to be paid in cash before the person is released, and a bail bondsman cannot post it for a percentage. The Sheriff says these bonds show up on some charges, such as child support, and whenever a judge orders one. This page covers the jail’s rules for paying cash, what happens to the money afterward and the few ways a bondsman can still be useful.
Not sure whether a bond is cash only? Call Case Bail Bonds at (316) 900-1667 and we will read the jail record with you. We are at 705 N Broadway, three blocks from the jail.
On this page
- What is a cash only bond?
- 5 rules for cash bonds at the Sedgwick County Jail
- Why would a judge order cash only?
- Do you get a cash bond back?
- The 10% cash deposit most people have not heard of
- What can a bondsman do on a cash only bond?
- Cash or bondsman when you have the choice?
- Frequently asked questions
- Call Case Bail Bonds
What is a cash only bond?
Most bonds can be satisfied in more than one way. A cash only bond has one way.
| Type of bond | Who can post it | Cost to get out |
|---|---|---|
| Own recognizance | The person, by signature | $0 |
| Surety bond | A licensed bondsman | At least 10% of the bond as a premium |
| Cash bond, by choice | Anyone, paying in full | 100%, refunded later less costs |
| Cash only bond | Anyone, paying in full | 100%. No other option |
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s bond page explains that some charges, such as child support, and some bonds set by a judge must be paid in cash. It adds that any bond can be paid in cash if the family prefers.
5 rules for cash bonds at the Sedgwick County Jail
These come from the Sheriff’s published bond information for the Adult Detention Facility at 141 W Elm.
- Full amount. A cash only bond is paid at 100% of the figure on the record.
- No checks. Personal and business checks are not accepted for cash only bonds.
- Over $10,000, bring ID. For a cash bond above $10,000, the person posting it has to show photo ID and fill out an IRS reporting form, which the facility provides.
- The receipt is in the payer’s name. The inmate is listed as the beneficiary of the money. Keep the receipt. It is how the refund is traced.
- The Sheriff cannot refund it. Once posted, the money goes to the court that set the bond, and that court decides what happens to it.
Remember that each charge has its own line and its own bond amount. If one line is cash only and another is an ordinary bond, both must be covered. A bondsman can post the ordinary one while you pay cash on the other. Check every line on the Sedgwick County inmate search.
Why would a judge order cash only?
There are three common situations.
Child support. These are civil contempt matters, not ordinary criminal charges. The amount is usually tied to what is owed. The Sheriff’s instructions send people with a domestic case warrant to the Court Trustee at the courthouse, 525 N Main, between 8 AM and 4 PM. The court lists that office on the 6th floor at 316-660-5909, and the Sheriff lists the 7th floor and 316-660-5833, so call first. That office reviews the case and states the amount needed to withdraw the warrant.
Repeated missed court dates. A judge who has issued more than one bench warrant for the same person may want cash at stake.
City cases. Municipal courts set bonds under their own code, and K.S.A. 12-4301 lists cash first among the accepted methods.
One point about criminal cases in District Court is worth knowing. K.S.A. 22-2802 allows a cash deposit in place of a surety bond and then says the court may not exclude the option of posting a surety bond. If a criminal case in District Court shows cash only, ask a defense lawyer whether that order can be reviewed. The statute also lets any detained person ask for release conditions to be reviewed without unnecessary delay.
Do you get a cash bond back?
Yes, if every court date is kept. K.S.A. 22-2802 says a person who posts cash and makes all appearances is entitled to a refund after the case is finally disposed of, minus outstanding restitution, costs, fines and fees.
| Bond paid in cash | Court costs and fines owed at the end | Refund |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $0 | $1,000 |
| $1,000 | $350 | $650 |
| $5,000 | $1,200 | $3,800 |
The dollar figures in that table are examples. The court sets the real numbers.
Miss a court date and the picture changes. The bond is forfeited under K.S.A. 22-2807, and the cash is at risk. For a city case in Wichita, the Municipal Court clerk’s office on the 2nd floor of City Hall, 455 N Main, has the cash bond refund form.
Child support is different again. Money paid to clear a support warrant generally goes toward the support that is owed, so do not expect it back. Ask the Court Trustee how a payment will be applied before you make it.
More detail is in what happens to bail money when charges are dropped.
The 10% cash deposit most people have not heard of
Kansas has a middle option on small bonds. Under K.S.A. 22-2802, when the bond is $2,500 or less on certain lower level charges, a judge may allow the person to deposit 10% in cash with the court clerk. Conditions apply:
- The person must be a Kansas resident.
- Their criminal history must fall in the lowest categories.
- They must have no prior failure to appear.
- They must have no hold from another jurisdiction and no probation violation hold.
The judge decides whether to offer it. Unlike a bondsman’s premium, this deposit is refundable on the same terms as a full cash bond. A defense lawyer can ask for it at the first appearance in Sedgwick County.
What can a bondsman do on a cash only bond?
A bondsman cannot post a surety bond where the court will only take cash. We can still help in four ways:
- Confirm what the record really says. Make sure the bond is cash only before you gather the full amount.
- Post the other lines. If only one of several charges is cash only, we can cover the rest.
- Explain the route to a review. We can tell you which court set the bond so your lawyer knows where to file.
- Arrange a surrender. If the cash only bond is on a warrant that has not been served yet, see walk through bonds in Wichita.
When the record shows a regular bond, the cost through a bondsman is set by K.S.A. 22-2809b: at least 10% of the bond, with at least half of that paid before posting.
Cash or bondsman when you have the choice?
| Pay cash | Use a bondsman | |
|---|---|---|
| Needed today | The full bond | At least half of 10% |
| Back at the end | All of it, less costs and fines | Nothing |
| Money tied up | Until the case ends | No |
If you can leave the money with the court for months, cash costs less. If you need that money for rent or a lawyer, a premium is the cheaper way to get someone home tonight.
Frequently asked questions
Can a bail bondsman post a cash only bond?
No. Cash only means the full amount in cash.
Can I pay a cash only bond with a card or a check?
The Sheriff states that personal and business checks are not accepted. Ask the jail what other forms of payment it takes before you go.
What does a $0.00 bond mean?
It is not a cash only bond. Read what no bond means in Sedgwick County.
Who gets the refund on a cash bond?
The person named on the receipt.
Is a cash only bond the same as a cash bond?
No. Any bond can be paid in cash by choice. A cash only bond removes the other options.
Call Case Bail Bonds
We are a family owned company run by Tyson and Rachel Case. Call (316) 900-1667, 24 hours a day, or visit 705 N Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214.
Sources
- Sedgwick County Sheriff, how to post bond for an inmate
- K.S.A. 22-2802, release before trial and cash deposits, Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes
- K.S.A. 12-4301, appearance bonds in municipal court
- K.S.A. 22-2809b, compensated sureties
- Sedgwick County Sheriff, instructions to have a warrant withdrawn
This article is general information checked against the sources above in October 2026. It is not legal advice.
