There is no single ADW bail amount in California. ADW means assault with a deadly weapon, and the bail comes from the schedule of the county where the arrest happened. For a charge under Penal Code 245(a)(1), many counties land between $25,000 and $50,000. Cases involving a firearm often start at $50,000 to $100,000. If you are paying a bail bond premium of 10%, that is roughly $2,500 to $5,000 on a $25,000 to $50,000 bail. Below we explain how the number is set, why it can change, and what to do in the first hours.
TL;DR
- ADW bail is the presumptive amount on the county bail schedule, so the same charge can cost different amounts in different counties.
- Typical California figures run $25,000 to $50,000 for ADW without a firearm and higher with one, but you must check the schedule for the arresting county.
- A bail bond premium is 10% of the total bail. Bail of $50,000 means a $5,000 premium, which is not refunded.
- A judge can raise or lower bail at the first court appearance, and a PC 1275.1 hold can delay release even when the money is ready.
- Call a licensed agent with the inmate's full name and booking number so the amount can be confirmed before you pay anything.
Table of Contents
- What ADW means and why the number varies
- ADW bail amounts: what the schedules show
- What can push the bail up
- Judges can change the number
- What a bail bond costs on an ADW charge
- Why release can stall even when you have the money
- Our perspective: confirm the number before you panic
- How to get an exact ADW bail amount
- Putting it together with a bond
- FAQ
- Sources
What ADW means and why the number varies
In many California bail schedules, ADW is shorthand for assault with a deadly weapon. Stanislaus County's schedule spells the abbreviation out in its key, next to others such as CS for controlled substance and BI for bodily injury. You will see the same shorthand on schedules across the state.
The core offense is Penal Code 245(a)(1): assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, or by force likely to produce great bodily injury. Other subsections cover firearms, peace officers, school employees and similar situations, each with its own line on the schedule.
Each county sets its own numbers. The schedule is the presumptive bail for a person arrested without a warrant. Santa Clara County's schedule says its purpose is to fix an amount for release before the first court appearance. If the arrest comes from a warrant, bail is usually whatever the warrant states.
ADW bail amounts: what the schedules show
We have pulled ranges from the county schedules we could verify. Use them as orientation, not as a quote for your case.
| Situation | Typical range | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| ADW without a firearm, PC 245(a)(1) | Commonly $25,000 to $50,000 | Santa Clara County 2026 schedule |
| Assault involving a firearm, PC 245(a)(2) | Frequently $50,000 to $100,000 | Santa Clara County 2026 schedule |
| ADW without a firearm on a peace officer, PC 245(c) | $50,000 | Lake County schedule |
| ADW without a firearm on a school employee, PC 245.5(a) | $50,000 | Kings County 2026 felony schedule |
Two things stand out. First, once the alleged victim is a peace officer or a school employee, the schedule jumps to a fixed higher figure. Second, a charge that is not on a county's schedule is not left blank. Lake County, for example, sets default amounts of $10,000 for an unlisted felony and $1,000 for an unlisted misdemeanor.
The schedule line is only the starting point. If you see a figure online that is not tied to a county and a year, treat it with caution. Schedules are revised, and counties publish new versions, such as the Orange County 2026 uniform bail schedule.
What can push the bail up
Officers booking someone can often increase the scheduled amount for specific circumstances. Marin County's felony schedule calls its figures presumptive bail and lets officers raise the amount, without a judge's prior approval, by the enhancement amounts it lists. Typical factors on schedules include:
- Use of a firearm. This moves a charge to a different subsection and a higher line.
- Great bodily injury. Serious injury to the alleged victim can add to the base amount.
- Prior convictions. Schedules often carry add-ons for a prior felony conviction (the "PFC" you may see in the abbreviations).
- Victim status. Peace officers and school employees carry set higher amounts, as in the table above.
- Multiple counts. Several charges in one arrest can add up, depending on county rules.
If the incident involved a partner or family member, there may also be a domestic violence charge alongside it. We cover that separately in our guide to domestic violence bail amounts in California. For a wider look at assault charges in general, see assault bail by charge and county.
Judges can change the number
Bail from the schedule is set at booking. At the first court appearance, a judge can raise it, lower it or deny it. California law tells judges to weigh the protection of the public, the seriousness of the offense, the defendant's criminal record and the likelihood of appearing in court. Public safety comes first.
This matters for ADW because it is a violent-offense charge. A family that bails someone out on the scheduled amount before arraignment may find the conditions or the amount look different at the hearing. If a bond is already posted and the amount changes, speak to your agent and the defendant's attorney promptly. Release can also come with conditions, which we explain in bail conditions in California.
What a bail bond costs on an ADW charge
A bail bond lets you pay a fee to a licensed agent instead of the full bail to the court. Our standard fee is California's 10% premium on the total bail, and that premium is non-refundable. A few worked examples:
| Total bail | 10% premium |
|---|---|
| $25,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $75,000 | $7,500 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
So the answer to "What is 10% of a $20,000 bond?" is $2,000, and the same arithmetic works for any bail number. The premium is the cost of the service. It does not go back to you when the case ends, even if charges are dropped.
We also write bonds on terms other than the standard 10% in some cases, and we offer payment plans. Ask about our 1% bail bond and 2% bail bond options when you call, since eligibility depends on the case. We also write bail without collateral in many cases, which matters when a family cannot put up a house or a car.
Why release can stall even when you have the money
This is the part families rarely hear about in advance. Under Penal Code 1275.1, a judge can examine where the bail money came from. The statute puts the burden on the defendant to show by a preponderance of the evidence that none of the consideration, pledge or security came from criminal activity, once a judge has found probable cause. Courts and prosecutors can ask for this review, and it can hold up release.
That is the PC 1275 hold. Practical steps that help:
- Keep bank statements, pay stubs and records showing where the premium money came from.
- Pay from the account of a person who can document the funds, not with cash of unclear origin.
- Tell your agent about the hold as soon as the jail or court mentions it.
- Ask the defendant's attorney to prepare for the hearing.
We walk through this in detail in the 24-hour rule for a PC 1275 hold, and our 1275 hold bail bond service exists for exactly this problem.
Our perspective: confirm the number before you panic
We get calls at 2 a.m. from relatives who found a figure online and assume it is final. Our advice is to slow down for five minutes and verify. Three things matter more than any headline range.
First, which county holds the person. The booking jail's county decides the schedule, not where the family lives. Second, which exact code section is on the booking sheet. 245(a)(1) and 245(a)(2) can be tens of thousands of dollars apart. Third, whether a hold or enhancement applies.
We use our free inmate search to find the booking details, then give you an upfront cost before you commit. Licensed agents answer our calls directly at any hour, and we have bilingual English and Spanish support on every shift. Most of what we do for ADW families is explain the number and the paperwork clearly, because a family in crisis should not be surprised by the cost later.
— Jake
How to get an exact ADW bail amount
- Find the booking. Search the county sheriff's inmate locator, or use our free inmate search, with the full legal name.
- Read the charge. Note the code section (for example 245(a)(1)) and any enhancements.
- Check the county schedule. Open the current superior court bail schedule for that county and match the section. Make sure it is the current year's version.
- Call an agent with the booking number. We can confirm the amount, explain the 10% premium and the payment options.
- Prepare the documents. Identification, proof of income for the person signing, and records of where the money came from.
- Sign and wait for release. Processing times at the jail vary, so ask the agent for a realistic window.
Putting it together with a bond
We provide 24-hour bail bonds across California, cover assault and battery charges on our assault bail bonds page, and can talk through weapons-related charges. Payment options include cash, credit and debit cards, Zelle and financing. If you are ready to start, reach us here with the inmate's name and booking number and we will tell you the amount and the cost.
One more point for families: a bond comes with obligations. If the defendant misses court, the bond can be forfeited, and the people who signed may owe money. Read what defendants and sureties must know about bail forfeiture before you sign.
FAQ
How much is bail for assault with a deadly weapon in California?
It depends on the county. Many schedules put ADW without a firearm around $25,000 to $50,000, and firearm cases often start at $50,000 or more. Check the county's current schedule for the exact code section.
How much do I pay a bail bondsman for $50,000 bail?
At the 10% California premium, you pay $5,000. That fee is non-refundable. Ask about payment plans and whether a lower-premium option is available for the case.
Can a judge change the bail set at booking?
Yes. At the first court appearance a judge can raise, lower or deny bail, weighing public safety, the seriousness of the offense and the defendant's record. Talk to the defendant's attorney before the hearing.
Does the 10% cover the whole bail?
The premium is the fee for the bond, and the bond covers the full bail amount with the court. You do not get the premium back after the case ends. You may still owe more if the defendant fails to appear.
Sources
- Santa Clara County Superior Court, 2026 criminal bail schedule
- Orange County Superior Court, uniform bail schedule
- Stanislaus County Superior Court, bail schedule effective January 1, 2026
- Lake County Superior Court, misdemeanor and felony bail schedule 2026
- Kings County Superior Court, 2026 felony bail schedule
- Marin County Superior Court, felony bail schedule January 2026
- California Penal Code section 1275
- California Penal Code section 1275.1