Pierce County Main Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Pierce County

Washington • Pierce County • Bail & bond help

Pierce County bail and bond: the Tacoma jails, the court clock, and how release works

Adults arrested in Pierce County are held in downtown Tacoma at the Pierce County Jail, which has two buildings: the Main Jail at 910 Tacoma Avenue South and the New Jail at 701 Nollmeyer Lane. One booking line serves both, 253-798-4590, and it answers day and night. Look up your person with Pierce County Inmate Search. In Washington a person can leave jail on a promise to return, on release rules, or by paying bail. This page shows how each works here.

Is my family member in the Pierce County Jail?

Search the name with Pierce County Inmate Search. Someone booked in the last few hours may not show yet, so call the booking line at 253-798-4590 if the name is missing. Most city police departments in the county bring adults here. Puyallup runs a small jail of its own, covered below.

Back to questions ↑

Main Jail or New Jail: which door do I use?

The Main Jail sits at Ninth Street and Tacoma Avenue. The New Jail sits at Nollmeyer Lane and Yakima Avenue. Both use the same booking line, 253-798-4590, so ask which building holds your person before you drive. Public pay parking is in the Blue lot off Yakima Avenue and the Green lot off South 11th Street. A Pierce Transit route serves the area.

Back to questions ↑

How soon will a judge see someone arrested in Tacoma or Pierce County?

A judge must find probable cause within 48 hours of an arrest without a warrant, and weekends and holidays count toward those hours. A second rule sets the first court appearance as soon as practicable, and no later than the close of business on the next court day.

Felony arraignments in Superior Court run at 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. in the Criminal Division courtrooms on the 2nd floor of the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South. After 10:30 a.m., find the name under Calendars on the court's LINX site, or call the Prosecutor's Office at 253-798-7400.

Back to questions ↑

What can the judge decide at that first hearing?

The judge may release the person on a written promise to appear, release the person with rules, set bail, or order the person held. The starting point is release on a promise unless the judge finds the person will not return or is likely to commit a violent crime or interfere with witnesses. The judge must choose the least restrictive rules that work and must weigh the person's money when setting a bond. A lawyer is provided at this hearing.

Back to questions ↑

What does "no charges filed" mean?

It means the Prosecutor's Office will not file felony charges in Superior Court for now. The person is usually released around 6 p.m. that day. City or district prosecutors can still file charges later, and the person can be summoned to court.

Back to questions ↑

What time do people walk out after release?

People freed on a promise to appear or on posted bail usually leave between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Plan an evening pickup, bring a ride and weather-ready clothing, and phone 253-798-4590 if the hour gets late.

Back to questions ↑

Where do I pay bail for someone in the Pierce County Jail?

Call 253-798-4590 with the full name and booking number. Ask for the bail amount, the court that set it, and which building takes the payment. The money belongs to the court handling the case. In Tacoma Municipal Court cases, cash-only bail must be paid in full. Learn the bail steps, and keep every receipt.

Back to questions ↑

Cash bond or bail bond: what is the difference?

With a cash bond you pay the whole bail amount. If the person attends every hearing, the money comes back when the case ends, whatever the outcome. With a bail bond you pay a bonding company a percentage of the bail, and that fee is not refunded. The company posts the full amount, answers to the court if the person misses a hearing, and may ask for collateral. Washington's constitution protects the choice to use a surety.

Back to questions ↑

Who may write a bail bond in Washington?

Only agents licensed by the Department of Licensing under chapter 18.185 RCW. Ask to see the license, and get the fee, the collateral, and the missed-court terms in writing. Never pay a caller who contacts you first. Licensing questions go to the Department of Licensing at 360-664-1809, weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Back to questions ↑

Can the bail amount be lowered?

Yes. The judge looks at how serious the charge is, family and community ties, risk of flight, and criminal history. A defense lawyer can ask for a new hearing. Bring proof of a job, a steady address, and anyone who will help the person get to court. The Clerk's Office at 253-798-7455 can tell you which court holds the case.

Back to questions ↑

Can a house or land back a bond?

Sometimes. The Department of Licensing licenses property bond agents, and each agent must list the courts that approved its property bonds. The judge decides whether to take property. Call the Clerk's Office at 253-798-7455 for felony cases, or District Court at 253-798-7487 for misdemeanors, before you gather deeds.

Back to questions ↑

Why does the record say no bail or a hold?

Washington allows a judge to deny bail for capital offenses and, after a hearing, for crimes that can carry life in prison when clear and convincing proof shows a propensity for violence and a substantial danger. Every class A felony qualifies. A warrant or hold from another agency also blocks release. A defense lawyer or the Clerk's Office can confirm the reason.

Back to questions ↑

What happens after a domestic violence or DUI arrest?

Officers must arrest in many domestic violence cases, and the person usually sees a judge the next judicial day. The judge can order no contact with the victim. A DUI arrest with a prior offense in the last ten years means the person stays in custody until a judge orders release. Bail may wait until that hearing.

Back to questions ↑

Which court will hear the case, and where is it?

Felonies go to Superior Court, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 334, 253-798-3654. Misdemeanors from unincorporated areas and from towns that use the county court go to District Court, Room 239, 253-798-7487, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. City cases go to a municipal court such as Tacoma, Puyallup, Lakewood, Fife, Gig Harbor, or Bonney Lake. Ask the jail which court issued the bail.

Back to questions ↑

What if Tacoma police made the arrest?

Tacoma Municipal Court, Room 841 of the County-City Building, 253-591-5357, handles misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors from inside Tacoma. A misdemeanor carries up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. A gross misdemeanor carries up to one year and a $5,000 fine. Cash bail is generally kept until the case ends, and a judge decides any early return.

Back to questions ↑

What about the Puyallup City Jail and Puyallup tribal land?

The Puyallup City Jail, 311 West Pioneer Avenue, holds misdemeanor offenders at 51 beds. Call 253-841-5425 to check a person held there. Puyallup Municipal Court is at 929 E. Main, Suite 120, 253-841-5450. The Puyallup Tribe has its own tribal jail and tribal court at 3009 Portland Avenue East, Tacoma, 253-680-5585, weekdays 8 to 5.

Back to questions ↑

Who is my lawyer if I cannot pay?

The Department of Assigned Counsel, 949 Market Street, Suite 334, 253-798-6062, handles Superior Court, District Court, Tacoma municipal cases, and juvenile delinquency. Pre-Trial Services or the judge decides eligibility, and a qualified person pays no fee. The office is open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Back to questions ↑

Where is a teen held after an arrest?

Remann Hall, 5501 6th Avenue, Tacoma 98406. Use the A building entrance at the roundabout. Juvenile Court answers hearing questions at 253-798-7900. Visits run Monday to Friday evenings and weekend mornings and evenings. Release rules can include house arrest, which requires a parent or approved adult at home around the clock.

Back to questions ↑

How do I get cash bail back?

If no charges are filed, the Prosecutor's Office tells the Sheriff's Department, and the person who paid collects a check at the Sheriff's Department on the first floor of the County-City Building. If charges are filed, the money moves to the Clerk's Office. When the case closes, ask the Judgments section, Room 110, 253-798-7455.

Back to questions ↑

Is money on a jail account the same as bail?

No. Deposits for phone time and store items go through TouchPay at 866-232-1899 and do not buy release. Only a bail payment or bond approved by the court releases a person. Say which one you mean when you pay, and keep the receipt.

Back to questions ↑

Key contacts

County jail
Pierce County Jail: Main Jail, 910 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma; New Jail, 701 Nollmeyer Lane, Tacoma, WA 98402; booking 253-798-4590
Bond guide
Pierce County jail and bond guide
Custody lookup
Pierce County Inmate Search
Sheriff's Department
930 Tacoma Avenue South, County-City Building; headquarters 253-798-7530
Superior Court
930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 334; 253-798-3654; Clerk, Room 110, 253-798-7455
District Court
Room 239; 253-798-7487; weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tacoma Municipal Court
Room 841; 253-591-5357
Prosecutor
253-798-7400
Puyallup
City jail 253-841-5425; municipal court 253-841-5450; tribal court 253-680-5585
Public defense
Assigned Counsel, 949 Market Street, Suite 334; 253-798-6062
Juvenile
Remann Hall, 5501 6th Avenue, Tacoma; Juvenile Court 253-798-7900

Orders, amounts, and office hours change, so confirm with the jail or the Clerk's Office before you send money. Nothing on this page is legal advice.

Pierce County Main Jail

Address:
910 Tacoma Ave. South
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone:
253-798-4590

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Pierce County


Does Pierce County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Pierce County?

Who can set bail in Pierce County?

When is bail set in Pierce County Washington?

 

 

Does Pierce County have bail?

Yes,  Pierce County recognizes most types of bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Pierce County?

Bonds in Pierce County are available in several forms including release on own recognizance, citation release, cash bail, property bond, and surety bond.

 

 

Who can set bail in Pierce County?

For minor, non-violent crimes bail is set according to a bail schedule. For more serious offenses a judge will set the bond following a hearing.

 

 

When is bail set in Pierce County Washington?

For minor, non-violent offenses when bail is set according to a bail schedule the defendant will be informed of bail during the booking process. For more serious offenses a bail hearing will be scheduled, usually on the next court date not including weekends or holidays.

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in Pierce 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. 

Washington State's suggested bail schedule, though a judge has the authority to set bail above or below the suggested amounts:

If a judge in Washington 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 Pierce County Main Jail 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, Pierce 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 Pierce 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 Pierce County have bail?  

Yes,  Pierce County recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Pierce County?

Bonds in Pierce County are available in several forms including release on own recognizance, citation release, cash bail, property bond, and surety bond.

Who can set bail in Pierce County?  

For minor, non-violent crimes bail is set according to a bail schedule. For more serious offenses a judge will set the bond following a hearing.

When is bail set in Washington?  

For minor, non-violent offenses when bail is set according to a bail schedule the defendant will be informed of bail during the booking process. For more serious offenses a bail hearing will be scheduled, usually on the next court date not including weekends or holidays.

Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Pierce County Washington? 

Yes, your attorney can file a motion to reduce or modify bail.

In Pierce County Washington, 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 Washington could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.

Can bail be paid online in Pierce County Washington?

Yes, Washington does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Pierce County Main Jail for more information about the jails in Pierce County.

What options are there to pay bail in Pierce County Washington? 

Cash, cashier’s check, credit card, debit card, surety or via the inmate’s jail account. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted and fees involved: Go to the Pierce County Main Jail for more information about posting bail in Pierce County.  

Will I get all my bond money back in Washington?

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 Pierce 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 Washington?  

The Pierce County Main 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 at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Pierce County

Human-verified information Manually curated

Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.