Daphne Police Department Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Last updated by Mark Miclette

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Alabama • Baldwin County • Bail & bond help

Baldwin County bail and bond: the short answer and the steps

Adults arrested in Baldwin County are booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center, 200 Hand Avenue, Bay Minette. Call 251-937-0361 for the bond amount and any holds. The circuit clerk, at 312 Courthouse Square, Suite 10, 251-937-9561, keeps the court papers. A person picked up in Daphne, Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, or Robertsdale may sit in that city's cell first. To check county custody, use Baldwin County Inmate Search.

Is the person still in the Baldwin County jail?

Try Baldwin County Inmate Search, then phone the Baldwin County Corrections Center at 251-937-0361. A fresh arrest can take time to appear; the January 2026 opening of a new jail tower (capacity about 950) did not change the jail's address. Someone sitting in a city cell will not be on the county list at all, so ask the desk which agency has the person.

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What if a city police department made the arrest?

Daphne runs a short-stay jail for misdemeanors, and Spanish Fort sends its misdemeanor arrests there. Orange Beach has its own small misdemeanor jail. Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, and Robertsdale hold city cases in their own cells. Felony arrests are moved to the Bay Minette jail, in Daphne's case within about a day. Call the arresting department and ask whether it set a separate bond.

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Where do I get the exact bond amount?

The Corrections Center docket room gives the amount from the booking record, by phone only, at 251-937-0361. The clerk's office, 251-937-9561, has the signed order. When the two differ, the written order wins, so ask the clerk for a copy.

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Where do I post a cash bond, and what do I bring?

Go to the Corrections Center docket and bonding window at 200 Hand Avenue, or to the circuit clerk at 312 Courthouse Square, Suite 10. Come with photo identification, the case or booking number, and the full total as cash, a cashier's check, or a money order; personal checks are not taken. Call first to learn which window handles your payment type, and keep the receipt.

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When is the clerk open, and which courthouse do I use?

The Bay Minette courthouse, 312 Courthouse Square, opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m. The county also has courthouses at 1100 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope, 251-928-3002, and 201 East Section Avenue, Foley, 251-943-5061. Ask which courthouse holds your case before you drive there. The Baldwin court site lists the main numbers.

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How much is bond for my charge?

No county price list is posted, so use Alabama's own guide, Rule 7.2: Class B misdemeanor, $300 to $3,000; Class D felony, $1,000 to $10,000; drug trafficking, $5,000 to $1,500,000. A 2025 Silverhill arrest on child sex abuse charges was reported at $50,000. Judges can go higher or lower.

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Can a bail bond company help me?

Yes, if the judge's order allows a surety bond. Many agents want about a tenth of the bond as a fee, and that money is gone for good. Collateral may also be required. Get every cost in writing, check the agent's Alabama license, and confirm the clerk will accept the agent's paperwork. The jail's bond guide explains the choices.

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Can I use property as security?

A property bond pledges real estate instead of cash. Paperwork usually includes the deed and a tax or appraisal record, and every owner named on the deed may have to sign. Ask the clerk at 251-937-9561 whether land outside Baldwin County or outside Alabama is accepted. Approval is slow, so begin early.

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Can I pay by card or online?

A kiosk sits in the jail lobby, and an online bond vendor may exist, usually with a fee. Deposit services for calls, tablets, and the canteen fill an inmate account and do not post a bond. Phone the clerk at 251-937-9561 and ask whether a card payment will be applied to the bond itself before you send anything.

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Why is the bond different from what I was told?

A judge may change the amount at a hearing, and a new charge or second case can add to it. A friend or officer may also have read you an older figure. Request the latest written order, with the total for each charge, and pay only that.

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Can the bond be lowered, and who is my lawyer?

Only a judge can lower it, after the defense lawyer files a motion and argues the person's ties to the community. Baldwin County has no public defender office; it pays 36 contract private lawyers (fiscal year 2025) under state contracts. Request appointed counsel when the person first appears in court, and ask the clerk who takes those cases.

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How long until release after I pay?

The court must accept the bond, then jail staff finish their release steps. Busy hours and large release counts slow things down. Release also stops if the person has a second case or warrant, so ask the docket room about that before you pay.

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When can a judge refuse bail?

Three situations stand out. Capital murder, when the evidence is strong. Certain violent felonies, after a hearing under Aniah's Law. And after conviction, a sentence of death, life, or over 20 years. Breaking the rules of an earlier release can also cost a person bail. The clerk at 251-937-9561 can share the order.

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What if the arrested person is a juvenile?

Youth are held at the Baldwin County Regional Juvenile Detention Center, 43405 Nicholsville Road, Bay Minette, 251-580-2540, and the county's detention page says only a juvenile court officer can order release. You cannot buy a youth's release with bail. The center listing has more. Records are private.

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What if the person skips a court date?

Expect a warrant and a possible forfeited bond. Check the next setting with the clerk's office or the court website, and speak to a lawyer immediately. Quick action is the best protection for the money you posted.

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Will the money come back?

Court-held cash usually comes back after the case ends, unless it covers fines, costs, or a forfeiture. Extras can be a state bond fee plus later court costs, so ask the clerk to itemize your total. An agent's fee is not refundable. Keep the receipt and case number.

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How do I avoid bond scams?

If a stranger promises release for a wire, an app payment, or prepaid cards, stop. Contact the jail at 251-937-0361 or the clerk at 251-937-9561 directly. No real office releases anyone for a gift card.

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Key contacts for Baldwin County bond questions

County jail
Baldwin County Corrections Center, 200 Hand Avenue, Bay Minette, AL 36507; 251-937-0361
Circuit clerk
312 Courthouse Square, Suite 10, Bay Minette, AL 36507; 251-937-9561
Other courthouses
Fairhope, 1100 Fairhope Avenue, 251-928-3002; Foley, 201 East Section Avenue, 251-943-5061; court website
Sheriff's office
320 North Hoyle Avenue, Bay Minette, AL 36507; 251-937-0210
Custody lookup
Baldwin County Inmate Search
Juvenile
Baldwin County Regional Juvenile Detention Center, 43405 Nicholsville Road, Bay Minette, AL 36507; 251-580-2540

Court orders, bond amounts, payment methods, fees, and phone numbers can change. Call the jail or the court to confirm the requirements for a specific case before you send any money. This page is general information, not legal advice.

How do Bail Bonds work at Daphne Police Department Jail

How bail works at the Daphne Police Department Jail depends on the kind of charge.

Daphne city charges (misdemeanors and traffic). These go through the Daphne Municipal Court. The court's magistrates work in the Justice Center at 1502 US Hwy 98, the same building as the jail. They can explain bond on city cases: call 251-620-0500 or email court@daphneal.com. The magistrate's office is open Monday 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Tuesday 7:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m., and Wednesday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. If you are paying a ticket in person, the person who got the ticket must be there.

Other agencies' misdemeanor arrests. People held here for Spanish Fort police, the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, State Troopers or the U.S. Marshals follow that agency's court and bond rules. Ask the corrections staff at 251-620-0550 which court set the bond.

Felony charges. A felony arrest leaves Daphne for the county jail in Bay Minette, the Baldwin County Corrections Center, inside 24 hours. That is where felony bond gets handled, through the county docket and Baldwin County District Court.

Options for posting bond: put up the full amount in cash; pay a licensed bail bond company its nonrefundable fee to post it; pledge property when the court allows; or request release on recognizance from the judge. Under Alabama's constitution, bail is available in most cases, and every arrested person must go before a judge within 72 hours. Keep a written note of the next court date, because a no-show risks the bond and brings a fresh arrest warrant.

Daphne Police Department Jail

Address:
1502 US Hwy 98
Daphne, AL 36526
Phone:
251-620-0550

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Baldwin County

At the Daphne city jail, the charge decides who sets the bond. City cases stay in Daphne, while felonies move to Bay Minette.

Which Justice Center office decides bond on Daphne city offenses?

What hours does Daphne's magistrate keep?

Where is felony bond posted for a Daphne arrest?

What about a Spanish Fort or trooper arrest held in Daphne?

Which Justice Center office decides bond on Daphne city offenses?

Daphne Municipal Court magistrates in the Justice Center, 251-620-0500 or court@daphneal.com. Accepted payment types at the Daphne magistrate's window aren't posted; for whether cash, cards or a bondsman work, call the jail at 251-620-0550.

What hours does Daphne's magistrate keep?

Monday and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where is felony bond posted for a Daphne arrest?

At the Baldwin County Corrections Center, since felony arrests move there within 24 hours.

What about a Spanish Fort or trooper arrest held in Daphne?

Bond follows that arresting agency's court, and corrections officers at 251-620-0550 know which court applies. If the charge could bring jail time and you can't hire a lawyer, ask the municipal court about an appointed one; the Alabama Office of Indigent Defense Services explains how the state pays for that counsel. Felony bonds follow the Baldwin County Courthouse, 312 Courthouse Square, Bay Minette, 251-937-0280.

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in Baldwin County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance. 

The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program. 

Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee.  A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane. 

If a judge in Alabama Baldwin County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.  

Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court. 

If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Daphne Police Department Jail until the case is resolved or goes to trial. 

Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses. 

What is the difference between Bail and Bond?

Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different.

The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions.

Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.

The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Baldwin County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.  

The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.

DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.  

More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.  

Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond.  This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation. 

Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.

On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.  

(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information.  A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)

What are the different types of bonds in Baldwin County?

Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.

To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.  Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid. Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:

You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail.  The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.

You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front. 

If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you. 

Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.

Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.

You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value. 

A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).  

Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.  

There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back.  This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond. 

You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.  

A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met. 

With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved. 

Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee.  A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.

Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company.  Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.

Does Baldwin County have bail?

Yes, Alabama is a bail state, and Baldwin County allows bail. 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Baldwin County?

There four types of bonds accepted in Baldwin County:
1.    Judicial public bail/bond is the release of a defendant without any money but must have some kind of supervision while out on bail. 
2.    Cash bail is payment by the defendant or another person in part or in full of the total bail.  The Baldwin County Clerk of Court supervises this bond. 
3.    Property bail is when one or more people put up property owned in the state of Alabama to cover the bond.  
4.    Professional surety bail is when the defendant is released on bail by having a professional bond company execute the bond.

Who can set bail in Baldwin County?  

In Alabama, for violations of motor vehicle laws, a state trooper, sheriff’s office, police officers and constables can arrest and set bail for those violations not to exceed $300.

For non-motor vehicle violations, a bond hearing officer sets bail in Alabama. This officer must be an attorney and can set bail for any court in the state and is available on weekends and holidays via audio-visual technology that allows the public to view the hearing.

When is bail set in Baldwin County Alabama? 

Bail is set at the time of arrest for lesser offenses and within 48 hours at what is called the initial appearance for more serious offenses. 

Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Baldwin County Alabama? 

It is best to ask your attorney to reduce the bail amount, also called bond reduction. There is a formal motion that must be filed with your judge who will approach the Deputy District Attorney.  If the bail was set within the guidelines or if there are not extenuating circumstances, the bond reduction would likely be declined.  These are the bail guidelines for Alabama.

In Baldwin County Alabama, who can pay bail for me? 

The courts require that the person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court in order to get their money back. In Alabama, a surety is not responsible for court fees.  A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Alabama can pay bail, although it could be costly. Your attorney is not permitted to post bail. 

Can bail be paid online in Baldwin County Alabama?  

Yes, Alabama counties allow payment of bail on-line. The Baldwin County Clerk of Court can be paid on-line.  

What options are there to pay bail in Baldwin County Alabama? 

Cash payments may not be paid to the arresting officer but can be paid to the clerk of court.  Personal checks are not accepted but a certified check, money order or cashier’s check are accepted.  Payment of bail by credit cards are dependent on the court and the amount.

Will I get all my bond money back in Alabama? 

If you have attended all of the court appearances and met all of the conditions, the person who posted the bail will get the money back. In Alabama, the court fees are not taken out of the bail money for sureties (the person who signed on the bond for the arrested). You will lose the 10% that you paid the bond company. 

Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount.  If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back.

Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.

Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Baldwin County? 

The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.

A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front. 

If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you. 

Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.  A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.

What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Alabama?  

The Daphne Police Department Jail or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company.  You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.  

The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.

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