Cherokee County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate in Cherokee County

Cherokee County Detention Center

Address:
110 Cedar Bluff Road
Centre, AL 35960

Phone:

256-927-6435

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Bail Bonds work at Cherokee County Detention Center

Rush Bail Bonds (205) 245-5751
AAA Professional Bail Bonding (256) 630-5770            
Big Red's Bail Bonds (256) 298-0938
Connie's Bail Bonds (256) 630-2824
 
Bail Bonds may be made at any time, 7 days a week, except for the following times:
5AM - 7AM
11AM - 1PM
5PM - 7PM


The Cherokee County Detention Center also uses an online cash bonding company called CashBondOnline.com so you don't have to bond out your inmate at the Cherokee County Detention Center or at the Cherokee County Courthouse.

Here's how it works:

1. Once you find out that your inmate has been arrested, go here and select Alabama.

2. Next select Cherokee County Detention Center, or if it is not listed like that, try Cherokee County.

3. Next, input your inmate's name or ID Number and then click 'Find'.

4. If your inmate is elegible for a cash bond, the amount will be noted next to their criminal charges.

  • You can only use one credit card, so make sure you have enough available credit on it, and the only acceptable cards are Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
  • You will need an email to do this online, but if you don't have an email, call CashBondOnline at 888-726-6301 and you can process the bond over the phone.
  • If you want to contact support by email, their address is: info@cashbondonline.com.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Cherokee County


Does Cherokee County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Cherokee County?

Who can set bail in Cherokee County?

When is bail set in Cherokee County Alabama?


 

 

Does Cherokee County have bail?

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


 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Cherokee County?

There are four types of bonds accepted in Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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. 

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee County Detention Center 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, Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee County have bail?

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

What kind of bonds are accepted in Cherokee County?

There four types of bonds accepted in Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee County Alabama?  

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

What options are there to pay bail in Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee County Detention Center 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.

Instructions on how to post Bail or Bond in Cherokee County

The Cherokee County Detention Center accepts the following types of bail bonds:

  1. Property - All property bonds require 2 signatures. Each signature must have property equal to the amount of the bond each, and can not have mortgaged property.
  2. Cash Bond - Must be paid in full at the Cherokee County Circuit Clerk's Office.
  3. Bonding Company - Bonding Companies must be licensed in Cherokee County to make bonds.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office recommends Licensed Bonding Companies:

Connies Bail Bonds - (256) 630-2824           

4you Bail Bonding - (256) 927-2245

 

Bail Bonds may be made at any time, 7 days a week, except for the following times:

5AM - 7AM

11AM - 1PM

5PM - 7PM


All Inmates in the Chrokee County Detention Center who have a bond amount of zero, can only be released by:

  1. Court Order from the presiding Judge in the case releasing the Inmate - OR -
  2. If there are fines owed by the inmate to be released, all fines must be paid at the Cherokee County Circuit Clerk's Office. The Cherokee County Circuit Clerk's Office can be reached at 256-927-3637.

If you are a landowner in Cherokee County you may be able to post a property bond. Property within Cherokee County may be used as collateral to bail someone out. All owners of the property must be present to sign the bond in order for this to happen.

To find if property located outside of Cherokee County can be used as collateral, call the bond agents listed above, or contact a defense lawyer tio find out other options.

Click here for additional information on how to post bail at Cherokee County Detention Center, or download the Cherokee County Sheriff's app from either the Apple Store or Google Play store. **Note** The inmate roster in the app includes bond amounts for each inmate.

Who can post Bail or Bond for a Defendant at Cherokee County Detention Center?

Anyone over the age of 18 who can produce a valid government-issued photo ID can post bail. Accepted forms of ID include a Photo Driver's License, Passport, or Motor Vehicle issued ID.

In many circumstances, if the defendant has the resources, they can post their own cash bail from jail.

Surety Bonds are arranged by a third party, typically a Alabama state licensed Bail Bond firm.

Juveniles may only be bailed or bonded out of custody by a parent or legal guardian.

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