Sunnyside City Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Yakima County bail and bond: the Front Street jail, the approved-company rule, and three other lockups
Adults arrested in Yakima County are usually held by the Yakima County Department of Corrections at 111 N. Front Street in Yakima. The booking desk answers at 509-574-1700. Look up custody with Yakima County Inmate Search. Only bail bond companies the county has approved may post in the Yakima County courts. City jails operate in Yakima and Sunnyside, and the Yakama Nation runs its own jail in Toppenish. Each is explained below.
1. Is my son in the Yakima County jail on North Front Street?
Run his name through Yakima County Inmate Search. The Department of Corrections holds adults at 111 N. Front Street. The booking desk answers at 509-574-1700. Someone booked in the last hour or two may not appear yet.
2. When can I walk in and ask a question?
The jail lobby is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit scheduling takes calls at 509-574-2929 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visits and bail are separate matters, so ask for the right desk when you call.
3. What deadlines start after an arrest in Yakima County?
Police that arrest without a warrant must obtain a judge's finding of probable cause within 48 hours, and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays count. The preliminary appearance comes as soon as practicable and no later than the close of business on the next court day, when the court supplies a lawyer and rules on release.
4. Is paying always necessary to go home?
No. Release on a written promise to appear is the court's starting point. A judge departs from it only after finding the promise will not bring the person back, or that a violent crime or witness threats are likely. The judge uses the least restrictive conditions that work and considers the person's finances when setting money bail.
5. Where do I take the money?
Phone 509-574-1700 and give the person's name and booking number. Ask which counter takes the payment for that charge, what forms it accepts, and whether any other hold blocks release. Then phone the clerk of the court that issued the order, so the bail posts to the right case.
6. Which bail bond companies can post in Yakima County courts?
Only companies that Yakima County has justified. The county approves companies for two-year periods, and the current period runs from August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2027. Ten companies hold approval for Superior Court and District Court. The county bail bond page shows the full list. The county does not recommend any company.
7. Can my own bondsman from Spokane or Seattle post the bond?
No. A posting from an out-of-county company is refused unless the company is justified in Yakima County. Yakima Municipal Court keeps a separate list for city cases. Before you pay anyone a fee, ask the company to show its approval for the court that holds the charge.
8. How do I check that an agent is licensed?
Washington requires a Department of Licensing license to write bail bonds. Phone the department's bail bond program at 360-664-1809, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Insist on a written contract. The fee is not refunded, and collateral should come with a written receipt.
9. If he misses court, what happens to the bond?
A warrant can issue and the court can forfeit the bond. Without written notice to the surety inside 30 days of the unexplained miss, the forfeiture is void. Surety bonds are lost only when the person fails to appear. The fee is the agent's to keep whatever happens.
10. What if the City of Yakima made the arrest?
The city runs a jail for city arrests, and Yakima Municipal Court at 200 S. 3rd Street handles the city charges. Its number is 509-575-3050. Ask the clerk about bail and about the court's list of approved bonding companies. County charges go to the county courts at 128 N. 2nd Street.
11. What about the Sunnyside city jail?
The Sunnyside Law and Justice Center, 401 Homer Street, holds city arrests and contract-agency prisoners. It has 91 beds. Staff answer questions about charges, bail, court and release at 509-836-6212. Bail is accepted there 24 hours a day. The jail has no online search, so use the phone. The records clerk is at 509-836-6200.
12. Where do Toppenish and the Yakama Nation fit in?
Toppenish cases go to Sunnyside Municipal Court, 509-839-4427. The Yakama Nation runs its own jail, the Correction and Rehabilitation Facility, 1020 Fort Road in Toppenish. The main control line is 509-865-8911, and the tribal court answers at 509-865-5121. Ask the tribal court how release works for a tribal charge.
13. Is a no-bail hold possible in Yakima County?
Only in narrow cases. The state constitution permits it for capital offenses and for offenses punishable by life in prison, which includes every class A felony. A hearing is required, and the proof of violent propensity must be clear and convincing. The accused can seek expedited review.
14. How does a domestic violence arrest change things?
The person is held until the first appearance, so release depends on what the judge decides. The judge commonly issues a no-contact order that covers phone calls, texts, social media and messages through relatives, and may bar the person from the shared home. A violation is a crime even if the protected person invites contact.
15. Does a DUI arrest carry its own hold?
Yes. If the officer knows of a prior offense within ten years, or of a pending charge that would count as one, the driver must be held until a judge releases him. A first-time driver follows the ordinary release rules. Ask the jail desk whether a hold applies before you bring money.
16. Who pays for a lawyer in Yakima County court?
The court must provide a lawyer at the first appearance. Tell the judge the person cannot afford one, and the judge screens the request. For case questions, the District Court office at 509-574-1804 and the Superior Court office at 509-574-2710 can say who was appointed.
17. Which court will hear this case?
Superior Court, at 128 N. 2nd Street, Room 314, hears felonies. The clerk is in Room 323, 509-574-1430. District Court, Suite 217, hears county misdemeanors, and a branch at 1313 W. Wine Country Road in Grandview serves the lower valley. Selah, Wapato, Granger and Zillah run municipal courts of their own.
18. Where does Yakima County keep a detained youth?
The Yakima County Juvenile Justice Center at 1728 Jerome Avenue runs the detention unit, open around the clock at 509-574-2101. The main line is 509-574-2110. Visits happen on weekdays, only for parents or guardians. A youth whose case is declined by juvenile court goes before an adult court by the end of the next court day.
19. Do I get cash bail back?
The court returns cash bail once the case ends and the bond is exonerated, less any fines or costs the judge orders. Keep the receipt with the case number. The clerk of the court that took the money handles the refund, not the jail.
20. Does putting money on an inmate account free him?
No. Money added to an inmate account pays for phone time and store items. It never buys release. If a caller wants a gift card, an app payment or a wire to free someone, hang up and phone 509-574-1700 yourself.
Yakima County bond contacts
- County jail
- Yakima County Department of Corrections, 111 N. Front Street, Yakima, WA 98901; 509-574-1700
- Bond guide
- Yakima County jails and bond guides
- Custody lookup
- Yakima County Inmate Search
- Jail lobby
- Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Superior Court
- 128 N. 2nd Street, Room 314; 509-574-2710; clerk 509-574-1430
- District Court
- 128 N. 2nd Street, Suite 217; 509-574-1804
- Yakima Municipal Court
- 200 S. 3rd Street; 509-575-3050
- Sunnyside city jail
- 401 Homer Street, Sunnyside, WA 98944; 509-836-6212
- Yakama Nation jail
- 1020 Fort Road, Toppenish, WA 98948; 509-865-8911
- Juvenile
- Juvenile Justice Center, 1728 Jerome Avenue; detention 509-574-2101
- Bondsmen
- county bail bond page
Lobby hours, approved-company lists and court calendars change. Phone the jail or the clerk before you bring cash or sign a contract. This overview is for orientation and is not legal advice.
Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Yakima County
The Yakima County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Yakima County.
However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:
- You can always pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Yakima County, or in some cases the state of Washington, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Yakima County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
- The typical fee for a bond in Washington is between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15% or less. So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1,500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Sunnyside City Jail, or the courthouse in Yakima County where the offense took place.
Call 509-837-2120 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Yakima County inmate locator.
Sunnyside City Jail
Address:
401 Homer Street
Sunnyside, WA 98944
Phone:
509-837-2120
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Yakima County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Yakima County?
Who can set bail in Yakima County?
When is bail set in Yakima County Washington?
Does Yakima County have bail?
Yes, Yakima County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Yakima County?
Bonds in Yakima 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 Yakima 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 Yakima 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 Yakima 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 Sunnyside City 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, Yakima 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 Yakima 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 Yakima County have bail?
Yes, Yakima County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Yakima County?
Bonds in Yakima 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 Yakima 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 Yakima County Washington?
Yes, your attorney can file a motion to reduce or modify bail.
In Yakima 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 Yakima County Washington?
Yes, Washington does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Sunnyside City Jail for more information about the jails in Yakima County.
What options are there to pay bail in Yakima 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 Sunnyside City Jail for more information about posting bail in Yakima 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 Yakima 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 Sunnyside City 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.