# Can you bail yourself out of jail in Cook County IL? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-bail-yourself-out-of-jail-in-cook-county-il/665186 "2013-08-02T20:59:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-bail-yourself-out-of-jail-in-cook-county-il/665186/1 "2013-08-02T20:59:04Z")
Title pretty much sums it up. What’s the process? Is a bondsman involved? ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-bail-yourself-out-of-jail-in-cook-county-il/665186/2 "2013-08-02T21:03:21Z")
Need answer fast? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-bail-yourself-out-of-jail-in-cook-county-il/665186/3 "2013-08-02T21:34:10Z")
Let’s just say it’s not urgent… yet… ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-bail-yourself-out-of-jail-in-cook-county-il/665186/4 "2013-08-02T21:40:02Z")
Illinois is one of the [few states that has banned bail bondsmen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bail_bondsman), though it looks like you can use services like AAA (?!) and similar membership-based groups to handle it. Dunno if you can bail your own ass out or not. I hope you have a friend with some disposable income on hand! ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-bail-yourself-out-of-jail-in-cook-county-il/665186/5 "2013-08-03T00:11:58Z")
No one? Some of our law-talking-people at the Dope must practice in Cook County, no? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-bail-yourself-out-of-jail-in-cook-county-il/665186/6 "2013-08-03T17:44:54Z")
One last bump - No One?! ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-bail-yourself-out-of-jail-in-cook-county-il/665186/7 "2013-08-03T21:38:04Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > One last bump - No One?! Please forgive the snark, but is it going to kill you to call [THEM](http://www.cookcountysheriff.org/contact/contact_main.html) and get the answer from the source? In most jurisdictions a defendant can bail themselves out if they have the funds in their inmate account (any money on you is placed there upon processing into the jail) or if they have a valid credit card on them upon entrance ( **WARNING:** many jurisdictions only allow a certain amount to be charged for bail. Around here it’s $500 and $750 depending on jurisdiction) Folks can put money on your books to make up the difference for whatever you need for bail. I’m basing this on my experience in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. YMMV in Cook County, Il… ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-bail-yourself-out-of-jail-in-cook-county-il/665186/8 "2013-08-04T05:21:05Z")
IANAL I know that back in the early 80’s (in Houston, Texas), I wasn’t able to bond myself out of jail on a PI (public intoxication) charge, even though I had at least 4 times the necessary amount on me at the time. In cash! Pissed me, the fuck, off, that’s for damn sure! (My Dad, too.) :mad: Had to call my Dad to come down and post a cash bond, it was either that or pay a bail bondsman. ☹ The bond was only about $200, IIRC. I’m not sure if it’s still that way.