Bond amount is usually the amount he needs but if he goes through a bail bondsmen, he can probably get out of jail on 10% of the amount.  He can certainly try to hire an attorney to help him get out on his own recognizance so that he can continue to work and make payments.  If he has been arrested, that means either his payments are not being deducted from his paycheck at all, or improperly or the payments are bouncing.  If this is a child support order based on a court decision he made out of divorce or simply as a court ordered agreement with the mother, you may need to have your friend consider going back to court to amend his child support order based on his ability or lack of ability to pay and not be behind.