The two ways to do it
- Cash: the full bail amount to the court or jail, refundable at exoneration minus court-ordered deductions.
- A bond: a surety bond with the defendant as their own indemnitor, paying the filed premium.
The second one is more common because almost nobody has the full amount available at 2 a.m. See can you bail yourself out of jail.
Why it is harder from inside
- Wallets, cards, and phones are in property storage during custody.
- Calls are limited and often collect-only.
- Signing, verification, and payment all have to happen through someone outside or through the facility's process.
- The clock is running against a transfer to county intake, which slows everything.
The source-of-funds problem
When self-posting makes sense
Small bail amounts, clean funds, and a case likely to resolve quickly. Larger amounts, urgency, or a plan to keep capital liquid point the other way — see reasons to get a bond even if you can pay your own bail.