A cash bond received by a peace officer must be deposited with the custodian of the funds of the court.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It stays with the officer until disposition
• D. It is deposited with the defendant

Answer: (A)

When a peace officer takes a cash bond, the money is security held for the defendant’s appearance and, ultimately, belongs to the court. It must be deposited with the court’s funds custodian to ensure proper custody, accurate accounting, and a clear audit trail. Keeping the funds personally or returning them to the defendant before the case is resolved would bypass the court’s control and create opportunities for mismanagement or disputes over disposition.

At disposition, the funds are released according to the court’s order—typically back to the person who posted the bond if the defendant appeared or the case was resolved favorably; or forfeited to the state if the bond is forfeited. This procedure upholds the integrity of the bond system and protects all parties involved.