Salt Lake County Metro Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Salt Lake County bail and bond: the 24-hour jail window and what to bring
Adults arrested in Salt Lake County are booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, 3415 South 900 West, Salt Lake City. Look up the person with Salt Lake County Inmate Search, then go to the jail's Visiting Lobby if the charge allows bail. Bail is accepted 24 hours a day, every day, in person. Jail staff answer questions around the clock at 385-468-8400.
1. How do I find someone booked into the Salt Lake County Jail?
Use Salt Lake County Inmate Search and have the full name ready. The jail also gives each person a Sheriff's Office number, called an SO number, and you need it for payments, visits, and mail. Staff at 385-468-8400 can look up the number.
Booking is slow. Processing averages 6 to 8 hours from arrival and runs longer if the person is intoxicated or will not cooperate.
2. Where do I pay bail, and can I go at 3 a.m.?
Go to 3415 South 900 West and walk up the ramp to the Visiting Lobby. Bail is taken 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no fee. If the lobby is closed, press the silver button to the left of the first set of entry doors and wait for the operator to tell you to open the door.
Payment is in person. The jail's pay page does not offer phone or online bail.
3. What forms of payment does the window take?
Cash, cashier's checks, and certified checks. Make checks payable to the Salt Lake County Treasurer. The jail verifies cashier's and certified checks during business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., so plan for that.
Money you put on a commissary account is not bail. It cannot free anyone.
4. Why does the sheriff's mailing address differ from the jail's?
The Sheriff's Office mails from 3365 South 900 West, and the jail is at 3415 South 900 West. Bail goes to the jail at 3415. The Sheriff's main line, 385-468-9898, is answered Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Records questions go to 385-468-8870.
5. What is jail screening and release?
Pretrial screeners, who work 24 hours a day all year, run a background check and gather your family member's address, ties, work, and history. They use that to decide on release. Screeners may release people charged up to a non-violent second-degree felony.
If screeners decline, or the charge bars release, a judge can still order release. Criminal Justice Services answers at 385-468-8648, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, at 2001 South State Street, Suite S3-650.
6. Does the jail or a judge choose the amount?
A county jail official, meaning the sheriff or a designee, can release some people on their own promise and can set a financial condition for certain charges. Utah caps the jail official at $5,000 for an eligible felony, $1,950 for a class A misdemeanor, $680 for class B, and $340 for class C.
Once a magistrate starts reviewing, the magistrate sets one amount for the case and the jail's amount no longer controls.
7. When will a judge look at release?
The first appearance is when the pretrial status order is due. It can wait if the prosecutor asks for detention or a party needs more time. The statute sets no number of hours for this.
Judges weigh the offense, health, community ties, job, money, record, and any danger. They cannot decide on the offense type or a risk score alone.
8. Which charges can mean no bail?
The Utah Constitution has three exceptions: capital offenses, a new felony while on probation, parole, or release for a prior felony, and other crimes the law makes non-bailable when the court finds clear and convincing proof of danger or flight risk. Each also requires substantial evidence of the charge.
A person arrested for violating a protective order is held until the first appearance, and the judge may deny release. Anyone ordered detained may appeal quickly.
9. What fees come with a licensed bail bond agent?
Agents are licensed by the Utah Insurance Department. The premium is set between 10 and 20 percent of the bond by state rule. A document fee may reach $20 per set, and a card fee may reach 5 percent.
Insist on the one-page disclosure before your family member walks out. It must show the bail, each fee, collateral, and your duties.
10. Which court will hear this case?
Felonies are heard in the Third District Court at the Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State Street, 801-238-7300. The criminal clerk is 801-238-7321. Misdemeanors committed inside Salt Lake City go to the Salt Lake City Justice Court, 333 South 200 East, 801-535-6300.
The Salt Lake County Justice Court is at 2001 South State Street, Suite S4-300, 385-468-8200. It stops taking payments at 4:30 p.m. Ask the clerk which court holds your family member's case.
11. Can a lawyer be appointed?
Yes. Salt Lake County contracts with the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association for adults and the Utah Juvenile Defense Association for youth under 18. Ask the judge to appoint counsel at the first appearance.
The county explains the program on its indigent legal services page.
12. What if the family cannot pay within a week?
A defendant who cannot pay a financial condition within seven days may move to modify it. The law starts from the assumption that the person has no money for it. The judge may cut the amount or use conditions without a price tag, such as treatment, curfew, or electronic monitoring.
Judges also revisit release after a material change in circumstances.
13. What if my family member also has a hold?
Probation or parole, another county's warrant, or a judge's no-bail order can keep a person inside even after you pay one charge. Ask jail staff at 385-468-8400 which charges are active.
Then ask the lawyer who must clear each hold.
14. Is there locked detention for youth in Salt Lake County?
The state's Salt Lake Valley Youth Center, 3450 South 900 West, 801-269-5100, is the locked detention site in the county. The Third District Juvenile Court sits at the Matheson Courthouse, 801-238-7700, and at courthouses in Taylorsville, 801-957-7840, and West Jordan, 801-233-9600.
Young people are not shown in the adult search.
15. What happens before release, and can I get property back?
Before release, a person gets 15 to 30 minutes of free local calls to arrange a ride. Property can be released once every six months. Bring a government photo ID and complete a release form at the Jail Administration Office, 3415 South 900 West, open daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Property is ready about 48 hours later.
Release dates are not given out by staff.
16. Can I send money or write to the inmate?
Mail money orders or cashier's checks for the commissary and never mail cash. Account balances are released only to the inmate or a financial power of attorney. Visitors need a valid government photo ID, and booking a slot ahead reserves a time.
Prepaid phone accounts open at 877-650-4249.
17. What follows a failure to appear?
The court may issue a bench warrant and take the bond. If the failure was willful or repeated, the judge must also weigh whether requiring a bail bond would help.
Call the court clerk the same day and speak with the lawyer.
18. When does the court return cash bail?
Cash bail goes to the court within three days. The court can refund it to the original card or in cash, but it may first apply the money to criminal debts. Card payments are reduced by the processor's fee.
A bondsman's premium is not refunded the same way. Ask in writing.
19. Is a caller who asks for my card number legitimate?
The jail window is the way to pay bail. Do not send a card number, gift cards, or a transfer to a caller. Confirm the amount with 385-468-8400.
Key contacts for Salt Lake County bond questions
- County jail
- Salt Lake County Jail, 3415 South 900 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119; 385-468-8400
- Bond information
- Bail and bond guide for the jail
- Bail window
- Visiting Lobby, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Custody lookup
- Salt Lake County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's office
- 3365 South 900 West, Salt Lake City; 385-468-9898
- Release screening
- 2001 South State Street, Suite S3-650; 385-468-8648
- District court
- Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State Street; 801-238-7300
- City justice court
- 333 South 200 East; 801-535-6300
- County justice court
- 2001 South State Street, Suite S4-300; 385-468-8200
- Youth detention
- Salt Lake Valley Youth Center, 3450 South 900 West; 801-269-5100
Amounts, hours, and procedures can change. Call the jail at the number above to confirm the details before you travel or pay. Use this page as a general guide only, not as legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Salt Lake County Metro Jail
You can pay a fine or bail in person at the jail.
To make a payment follow the instructions below.
Look up the prisoner's Sheriff's Office prisoner number (SO#) online or by calling 385-468-8400.
Payment Types Accepted
- Cash
- Cashiers Check
- Certified Check
Note: Cashiers and Certified checks must be verified during business hours 8:00AM- 5:00PM.
Checks should be made out to "Salt Lake County Treasurer."
Bail is accepted 24/7, 365 days a year at the:
Salt Lake County Jail
3415 South 900 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
Salt Lake County Metro Jail
Address:
3415 South 900 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
Phone:
801-743-5000
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Salt Lake County
Does Salt Lake County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Salt Lake County?
Who can set bail in Salt Lake County?
When is bail set in Salt Lake County Utah?
Does Salt Lake County have bail?
Yes, Salt Lake County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Salt Lake County?
Salt Lake County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Salt Lake County?
For most less serious, non-violent crimes bail is set according to a bail schedule. More serious offenses require the bail be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Salt Lake County Utah?
If the offenders are charged, the charges are listed along with the bond amount per the established bail schedule.
This information is made known during booking, and the defendant will be informed as to the amount needed for bail.
For more serious offenses the defendant will need to see a judge at what is known as a bail hearing. This hearing is scheduled within 48 hrs. of arrest, not counting weekends or holidays.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake 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 detained in a jail or prison 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, Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake 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.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
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.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, 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 Salt Lake County have bail?
Yes, Salt Lake County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Salt Lake County?
Salt Lake County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Salt Lake County?
For most less serious, non-violent crimes bail is set according to a bail schedule. More serious offenses require the bail be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Utah?
If the offense charges is listed on the established bail schedule this information is known during booking and the defendant will be informed as to the amount needed for bail. For more serious offenses the defendant will need to see at judge at what is known as a bail hearing. This hearing is scheduled within 48 hrs. of arrest, not counting weekends or holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Salt Lake County Utah?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Salt Lake County Utah, who can pay bail for me?
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 Utah could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Salt Lake County Utah?
Yes, Utah does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Salt Lake County Metro Jail for more information about the jails in Salt Lake County.
What options are there to pay bail in Salt Lake County Utah?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Salt Lake County Metro Jail for more information about posting bail in Salt Lake County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Utah?
Bail 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 Salt Lake County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Utah?
The Salt Lake County Metro Jail 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.