Central Intake Bureau Inmate Bail & Bonds
Broward County bail and bond: the Main Jail, ways to pay, and the 2026 schedule
Adults arrested in Broward County are processed and held in the Broward County jails run by the Broward Sheriff's Office, with the Main Jail at 555 SE 1st Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Check Broward County Inmate Search for custody, the building, and the bail. The Main Jail lobby has an information window open 24 hours, and the Main Jail line is 954-831-5900. Any bond paperwork is separate from the court file at the clerk.
1. Is my husband in a Broward County jail, and which one?
Search the name in Broward County Inmate Search. Broward's record shows the booking, the bail amount, and sometimes which building holds him. Broward runs several jail buildings, so a move between them is routine. If the search leaves questions, the Broward sheriff lists 954-982-6924 and 954-982-6925 for charges and bonds; call either.
2. What are the Broward jail buildings?
The Broward Sheriff's Office runs the Main Jail and Central Intake in downtown Fort Lauderdale at 555 SE 1st Avenue. Phone 954-831-5900 to learn where a person sits.
3. Where in Broward do I bring money to post bond?
Cash bonds are paid at the Cash Bond window at the Main Jail, 555 SE 1st Avenue. Bring a valid photo ID. The sheriff says paying cash carries no service fee, and the lobby information window is open 24 hours. Money orders and cashier's checks also work if they show the defendant's name and arrest number. A list of local bail agents is posted in the Visitor's Lobby. The sheriff's Cash Bond Unit, 954-831-5932, is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
4. Can I pay a Broward bond without driving to the jail?
Yes, by card. The sheriff's bond page links to its online card payment site. Have the defendant's name, arrest or CIS number, and birth date ready. Broward card payers need ID matching the card name. Gift cards are refused, and a nonrefundable 2.5 percent service fee applies. Never pay a stranger who offers to do this for you.
5. Will a judge decide before I can pay?
That depends on the charge. Florida Rule 3.130 sets a limit of 24 hours after arrest for first appearance, and section 903.011 bars early release for several groups, such as people on probation at the time of arrest. Others can pay a listed bond right away. Check the amount first on Broward County Inmate Search.
6. How much is bond for ordinary charges this year?
Broward follows its own order, Administrative Order 2025-50-Crim, effective January 1, 2026, and it matches or goes above the Supreme Court's statewide floor. A third-degree felony is $2,500, or $5,000 if force or a threat against a person was involved. Broward's first-degree misdemeanor figure is $500, or $1,000 with force or threat. Broward sets $150 for a second-degree misdemeanor, or $250 with force or threat. A first DUI is listed at $500 and a second DUI at $2,000, and the person must meet the DUI release conditions in section 316.193(9) first.
These amounts cover release before the first court date. The order says it does not bind the first-appearance judge, and an attached list of specific offenses can show a higher number.
7. What about felonies more serious than third-degree?
The main text of the circuit order sets dollar amounts only for third-degree felonies and misdemeanors. It also lists offenses with no bond before first appearance, among them those in section 903.011(6). For more serious felonies, expect the person to wait for a judge. At the Broward hearing, a lawyer may argue for less money or release on conditions.
8. Which courthouse is used, and who is the clerk?
The Broward Clerk of the Courts and the main courthouse are at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The clerk answers at 954-831-6565, and the courthouse line listed for judges is 954-831-7019. Broward cases belong to the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit.
9. How is a bail agent paid?
The Florida Department of Financial Services, which licenses Broward agents, sets the premium at 10 percent of bail on a state bond. A $2,500 bail means a $250 premium. Section 648.33 bars charging more or less than the filed rate, so ask for a license number. Insist on a copy of the contract with every fee and every collateral item.
10. Can I use my house for a Broward bond?
Section 903.05 lets a private surety act if he or she lives in Florida or owns real estate here, and section 903.26 turns a recorded property bond into a lien. Ask the clerk at 954-831-6565 about Broward's checklist.
11. Why does the record show no bond?
Under Article I, section 14 of the Florida Constitution, a person charged with a capital or life offense can be held when proof is evident. A person can also be held if no conditions protect the public or the court process. A judge may revoke release after a new crime (section 903.0471), and a warrant or hold from elsewhere can keep someone in custody.
12. The arrest was by a city police department. Where do they go?
Broward's arresting agency has the report number and the booking time. Broward adults appear to be processed at Central Intake in Fort Lauderdale. Try Broward County Inmate Search after a few hours.
13. Where are Broward juveniles held?
Detention centers fall under the state Department of Juvenile Justice. Juvenile records are private.
14. How do I get a public defender?
In Broward, tell the judge you can't pay a lawyer. The elected public defender for the Seventeenth Circuit represents eligible people. The clerk at 954-831-6565 can direct you to the right office.
15. What if my brother misses court?
Skipping court can cost the bond. Section 903.26 gives 60 days from the mailing of notice, and section 903.28 allows some money back when the person is surrendered, with less returned later. In Broward, reach the agent and a lawyer today.
16. When does bond money return?
Broward's sheriff says cash bonds are refunded after the case ends and a disposition order issues, or 36 months after posting if sooner. Only the person who paid gets the refund unless the bond was formally assigned. Bring the blue bond receipt, the court disposition, and photo ID to the Cash Bond Unit. The clerk can withhold unpaid fines and costs. A Broward agent's 10 percent premium is kept after release, the Department of Financial Services says, and refunded if there's no release.
17. How can I recognize a bail scam?
Genuine Broward offices never seek gift cards, crypto, or person-to-person transfers. Look up the jail yourself and call 954-831-5900. If a caller rushes you, that is the warning.
18. How do ICE holds work at the Broward jail?
- ICE uses Form I-247A to ask Broward jailers for more time.
- The Broward hold can last up to 48 hours past release.
- Saturdays, Sundays and holidays all count in Broward.
- Posting bond in Broward does not end an ICE hold.
- F.S. 908.105 says the Broward bond judge must be told.
- The Broward prosecutor is told too.
- F.S. 908.11 requires the Broward sheriff to work with ICE under 287(g).
- ICE's official 287(g) list shows these models for Broward:
- Task Force Model
- Warrant Service Officer
- After ICE takes a Broward inmate, use the online detainee locator.
Broward County bail contacts
- Jails
- Broward County jails: Main Jail and Central Intake, 555 SE 1st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301; 954-831-5900
- Bond guide
- Broward bail and bond pages
- Custody lookup
- Broward County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Broward Sheriff's Office
- Cash bonds
- Cash Bond Unit, 954-831-5932, daily 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Clerk of Courts
- 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301; 954-831-6565
- Courthouse
- 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301; 954-831-7019
- Juvenile detention
- Broward Juvenile Detention Center, 222 NW 22nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311; 954-467-4563
- Agent regulator
- Florida Department of Financial Services
The Sheriff's Office and the clerk can change payment routes, hours, and numbers at any time, and judges set their own amounts. Call to confirm before you pay. Treat this Broward page as background, not legal counsel.
How Do You Post Bond for an Inmate Arrested in Broward County?
To pay an inmate's bond who has been arrested and jailed in Broward County, do the following:
Look up an Inmate's Bond online, call to get the information at 954-831-5900, or visit the information window, which is open 24-hours-a-day, located in the lobby of BSO's Main Jail at 555 SE 1st Ave.,
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Pay the bond in Cash, or
- Pay using Western Union to:
Sheriff of Broward County
Code City / State: COPS/FL
Account Number: Enter the Arrest/CIS number and Inmate Last/First Name, or - Pay using GovPayNow.com
The defendant's name
The defendant's Arrest/CIS number
The Date of Birth (Optional) - Pay over the phone using a credit card by calling 877-392-2455.
You will need:
The defendant's name
The defendant's Arrest/CIS number - Post a bond using a bon agent. there is a list in the lobby of the Main Jail.
555 SE 1st Ave.,
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Central Intake Bureau
Address:
555 SE 1st Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310
Phone:
954-831-5900
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Broward County
Does Broward County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Broward County?
Who can set bail in Broward County?
When is bail set in Broward County Florida?
Does Broward County have bail?
Yes, Broward County has bail and recognizes most types of bonds.
As of January 1, 2024, Florida moved to a statewide uniform bond schedule. The uniform bond schedule may change every year. The Central Intake Bureau will let you know the amount of the bond.
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule. For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Broward County?
Florida offers bail in the form of cash bail or surety bond and bonds from a professional bondsperson.
Who can set bail in Broward County?
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process by a judge, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule.
For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance. Bail is set by a judge in accordance with a precalculated schedule based on the seriousness of the offense.
When is bail set in Broward County Florida?
In most cases bail is set immediately after arrest, based on the precalculated schedule. If a defendant is not eligible for immediate release bail may be set by a judge at the initial court hearing, or arraignment.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Broward County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Broward County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Central Intake Bureau until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different.
The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions.
Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Broward County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Broward County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid. Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid. Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted. A Florida bondsperson will not write a bond for under $250.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
A bondsperson might consider a transfer bond that is transferable across state lines but generally a bond company will only assume the loan to adjoining states. For a Florida resident arrested in another state, bond companies will do transfer bonds but the person putting up the security has to be a Florida resident.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety and ultimately, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Broward County have bail?
Yes, Broward County has bail and recognizes most types of bonds.
As of January 1, 2024, Florida moved to a statewide uniform bond schedule.
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule. For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Broward County?
Florida offers bail in the form of cash bail or surety bond and bonds from a professional bondsperson.
Who can set bail in Broward County?
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process by a judge, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule.
For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance. Bail is set by a judge in accordance with a precalculated schedule based on the seriousness of the offense.
When is bail set in Florida?
In most cases bail is set immediately after arrest, based on the precalculated schedule. If a defendant is not eligible for immediate release bail may be set by a judge at the initial court hearing, or arraignment.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Broward County Florida?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the judge know at your initial appearance. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Broward County, who can pay bail for me?
Monetary bail may be posted by any friend or relative. Surety bonds are only accepted from registered bail bond agent. Bail may be posted at the county jail where the defendant has been charged. Please contact Central Intake Bureau at 954-831-5900 for information related to types of payment accepted, hours of operation, and location.
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Florida could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Broward County Florida?
Some counties do accept online payment. Other only accept cash, money orders, or cashier’s checks. Contact the Central Intake Bureau at 954-831-5900 for more information regarding accepted forms of payment.
What options are there to pay bail in Broward County Florida?
Cash or surety bond. Surety bonds are only accepted from registered bail bond agents. Bail may be posted at the county jail where the defendant is charged. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Central Intake Bureau for more information about posting bail in Broward County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Florida?
Money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Broward County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bond will be an option however personal recognizance bonds are not offered in Florida, leaving few options for no money up front.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Florida?
The Central Intake Bureau or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.