Expected Financial Costs

This is an approximate breakdown of the costs that will be incurred as you enter this new phase of life, both as an individual going through the criminal justice system and the registry, and a family member and supporter of your loved one.

If the judge approves bail, to secure  release after your initial arrest, the expense for bail would depend on how much the judge sets the amount for. You can pay a cash bond which requires the total bail amount to be paid upfront, refundable at the end of the court process if the defendant adheres to all conditions. A property bond which involves paying cash 10% of the bail and submitting collateral in the form of real estate or other valuable assets. Or you can pay a surety bond where a bail bond company pays the full bail amount if the defendant does not comply with court requirements.

If you hire an attorney or a criminal defense firm, the cost starts roughly at $25,000 and up increasing the longer the case is in pre-trial and court.

While on pre-trial, if you choose to be proactive in your case and provide the prosecutors and judge with supporting evidence of your attempt to prove your risk level, you can find a psychologist to take a psychological assessment. You will undergo multiple computerized tests and in-persons assessments: MMPI, MCMI, Personality Assessment Inventory, etc. This is an out-of-pocket expense if you do not have insurance.

While on pre-trial, if you choose to be proactive in your case and provide the prosecutors and judge with supporting evidence of your attempt to prove your risk level, you can find a therapy provider to take a psychosexual evaluation. You will undergo multiple document assessments and a number of computerized tests: Sexual Offender Specific and Evaluation Risk Assessment (SOSERA), Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS), and Abel Screening. This is an out-of-pocket expense if you do not have insurance.

If the judge approves bail and you secure your release, it may be set with a condition of GPS Electronic ankle monitoring. There are two options, you can choose to use a third party agency with an expense of $10 a day, or you could use the jail's program with a cost of $3 a day. If you're out on bail for 4 months before sentencing (should you take a plea) the cost adds up.

Costs per minute of phone usage in correctional facilities varies from county to county. Many facilities offer alternative electronic messaging and video services.  

Meals provided in correctional facilities don't have enough of the required daily calories. Utilization of commissary to supplement your diet will be a requirement. Expenses for toiletries like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair products, and items like sweat pants and sweat shirts for winter and pillows add to the costs. 

Restitution costs per month will depend on what the judge sets. You are required to meet with your probation/parole officer twice a month at the Adult Probation & Parole office, each month costs $30. Probation can last as long as 10 years however you can apply for early termination if you complete treatment, and have paid your restitution and probation fees. 

For individuals who did not successfully transition/complete a sex offense specific program while incarcerated, outpatient treatment will require at least 12 months weekly individual and group treatment. Treatment program duration may be longer than 12 months depending on the risk level and needs of the client. Individual hour long sessions can range from $100 to $140 as an out-of-pocket expense if you don't have insurance. Group treatment costs an additional $40 per session for a tow and a half hour session. Over the course of 12 months, without insurance the expense can be $6,720 at the low end. Under Utah Rule R251-109-6 (Corrections, Administration. Sex Offender Treatment Providers. Program Requirements.) the expectations of provider and patient requirements to complete the SOTP treatment are outlined. This Rule was   last modified and became effective on May 4, 2016 which phased out the Penile Plethysmography (PPG) use in sex offender treatment in favor of the Abel Assessment for Sexual Interests 3 (AASI-3) and the Visual Reaction Time (VRT) as outlined in UDC's SOTP Development 4/3/2017.

During treatment, you will complete several assignments and present them during group session. After presenting these assignments, you will be required to take your first Polygraph, approved polygraphers charge between $200 and $300 per test. An additional exit Polygraph is required towards the end of treatment. 

After treatment and probation/parole,  you are required to register annually at your local police department or sheriff's office. Before July 1, 2026, registration involves an annual state fee of $100 and an optional local fee that can be up to $25. The $100 fee is paid to the Utah Department of Corrections (DOC), while the local fee (up to $25) is paid to the registering agency, which may be a local police department. These fees are typically due in the offender's birth month. H.B. 425  during the 2025 legislative session increased the annual registration from $100 to $125 to take effect after July 1, 2026.