6/2/26 It is of particular importance in a second offense DUI situation to make sure the amount charged by the court for Maricopa County Jail fees is correct; although this fact is sometimes unknown and other times simply overlooked, the jail rates for second offense sentences are 50% less than for first offenses.
For instance, if a person is convicted of a second offense .08% DUI and sentenced to serve the mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail, as of July 1st the court might mistakenly charge that person $4,932.50 in jail fees ($702.56 1st day booking fee, plus $145.86 per day thereafter), when in fact the correct amount assessed should be $2,466.25. That is a big mistake but unfortunately many courts, including justice courts, may not be sure to use the correct rates, literally doubling the amount imposed.
If you are now required to serve a jail sentence in the Maricopa County Jail, current jail rates effective July 1, 2026 are as follows:
Year Booking Housing
2026-27 $702.56 $145.86
Maricopa County housing and booking rates have risen just over 1% for booking and over 6% for housing over last year.
You can find jail per diem rates on this Maricopa.gov website page. If you must serve a jail sentence in the Maricopa County Jail system, I would encourage you to visit the site to print out the current amounts and take them to court with you.
Maricopa County Jail costs have almost doubled over the past 10 years, well above the rate of inflation. Over the past 20 years those costs have nearly tripled.
If you’ve been charged with DUI or another criminal offense, getting help from an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer is one of the best things you can do for your case. Gordon Thompson has been practicing criminal and DUI law since 1979, and has used his vast experience to help countless people charged with DUI and other criminal offenses get the best result. Call Gordon Thompson now, 24/7, so he can put his many years of experience to use and help you get the best result for your DUI or criminal case.
