Booking Information and Bond Definitions

Bond

• A bond is a court-set amount determined by a judge, court-ordered warrant, or bond commissioner to ensure an individual appears in court. It must be paid for the persons release from jail.

Bond Commissioner

• Are agents of the court that, in some cases, may set Bonds for new arrestees before they appear in front of a judge.

Cash Bond

• A cash amount is paid by the defendant to cover the total cost of the bond. This can be paid in the form of cash, a money order, a credit card or bank checks. Personal checks are not accepted. There is an attached fee to post a cash bond.

Co-Signed Personal Recognizance Bond

• A co-signed personal recognizance bond sets a dollar amount, however a court-approved co-signer, other than the defendant, must sign to guarantee the defendants court appearance. If the defendant fails to appear, the co-signer is responsible for paying the bond amount.

No Bond

• A defendant does not qualify for a Bond until seen by a judge. In most cases this should happen within 48 hours of the arrest.

Personal Recognizance Bond (PR)

• A dollar amount of the bond is established; however, the defendant only has to sign the bond promising to appear on the future court dates. The defendant must have a mailing address and be approved through the courts or Bond Commissioners.

Property Bond

• This type of bond requires the courts approval. The defendant or family, friends, etc. must post property with the court that is of greater value than the bond. The courts would retain legal title to the property and could sell it in the event the defendant fails to appear in court.

Surety Bond

• The defendant or family, friends, etc. must contact a professional Bail Bondsman to post the bond. The Bondsman has an attached fee for their services and usually requires some type of collateral. Their fee is generally 15% and they usually require a minimum fee to provide the service. The Bondsmen are registered through the state. Staff members will not recommend a bondsman.

Book and Release

• The arresting officer can decide a defendant can be released after they are fingerprinted and photographed, depending on the severity of their charges and criminal history. This typically occurs with misdemeanor offenders; however, can be done with some felonies.

KIOSK

• A small, self-standing structure located in the jail lobby or alternative sentencing building. The kiosk allows you to place money on an inmate’s account by using cash or a credit card. There is a fee associated with using the kiosk.

Professional Bail Bondsman

• A bail bond agent, or bondsman, is any person or corporation, which will act as a surety and pledge money or property as bail for the appearance of a criminal defendant in court.

Sentences

• The amount of time a defendant is required to be incarcerated.