Saguache County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate in Saguache County

Saguache County Jail

Address:
Rio Grande County Jail
640 Cherry Street
Del Norte , CO 81132

Phone:

719-657-4000

Frequently Asked Questions

Pay an Inmate's Bond Online

Saguache County Jail uses a service called allpaid (also known as GovPayNet) for paying an inmate's Bail Bond online for an inmate.

Register with them online or call them at 877-392-2455 for assistance.


To make a payment, you will need the following:

  • Court of Jurisdiction
  • Payment Amount
  • The Pay Location Code (PLC #) if you can get it. Call 719-657-4000 to ask for this.
  • Name of Arrestee/Defendant for whom payment is being made
  • Arrestee/Defendant's Date of Birth
  • Arrestee/Defendant's Booking Number

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Saguache County


Does Saguache County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Saguache County?

Who can set bail in Saguache County?

When is bail set in Saguache County Colorado?


 

 

Does Saguache County have bail?

Yes, Colorado is a bail state and therefore Saguache County has bail. Once bail is paid or the accused secures a bond accepted by the courts, the accused should be released within 6 hours of when the jail is notified, unless ankle bracelet monitoring or other conditions requiring more time have to be set up.


 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Saguache County?

Saguache County Colorado recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.


 

 

Who can set bail in Saguache County?

A bond hearing officer sets bail in Colorado.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 Saguache County Colorado?

Bail is set in Colorado the first time the accused is brought into court, usually directly from jail within 48 hours after the arrest. This first appearance to determine bail or bond is called initial appearance or 1st advisement. Bail can be determined before criminal charges are read. The judge will advise the arrested that they are being investigated and will set bail except for cases involving homicide. 

Bail and Bond Frequently Asked Questions for Saguache County Colorado

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in Saguache 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 Saguache 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 remain detained in the Saguache County 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, Saguache 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.  

What are the different types of bonds in Saguache 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 can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over. 

The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.

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.

(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.)

Does Saguache County have bail?

Yes, Colorado is a bail state. Once bail is paid or the accused secures a bond accepted by the courts, the accused should be released within 6 hours of when the jail is notified, unless ankle bracelet monitoring or other conditions requiring more time have to be set up.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Saguache County?

Saguache County Colorado recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.

Who can set bail in Saguache County?

A bond hearing officer sets bail in Colorado.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 Colorado?

Bail is set in Colorado the first time the accused is brought into court, usually directly from jail within 48 hours after the arrest. This first appearance to determine bail or bond is called initial appearance or 1st advisement. Bail can be determined before criminal charges are read. The judge will advise the arrested that they are being investigated and will set bail except for cases involving homicide. 

Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Saguache County Colorado? 

Yes, the accused can ask for bail reduction at the second court appearance if it was set by a judge at the first appearance.

In Saguache County Colorado, who can pay bail for me? 

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 to get their money back. 

A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Colorado could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.

Can bail be paid online in Saguache County Colorado?

Yes, each jail has an online payment system. To contact the jail for online payment information, go to the Saguache County Jail for more information about the jails in Saguache County.

What options are there to pay bail in Saguache County Colorado?

Cash is accepted. Personal checks are not accepted but a certified check, money order or cashier’s check are accepted. Payment of bail by credit cards is permitted.  

Contact your Clerk of Court, sheriff’s office or police station clerk to ask how cash can be paid for bail. To contact the jail for information about cash payments, go to the Saguache County Jail for more information about the jails in Saguache County.

Will I get all my bond money back in Colorado? 

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 Saguache 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 Colorado?

The jail or court can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies in Saguache County but they cannot recommend a specific company. You can read reviews about bond companies or get recommendations. 

Find out exactly how much a bondsperson would charge, including extra costs. 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.

Bail Bond Laws of Colorado

Effective January 1, 2022

1. Bond fees, booking fees, and other fees or debts never need to be paid to secure a person’s release on money bond. A payor need only pay the bond amount in order to secure release.

2. While never a basis to hold a defendant in jail, the following fees are chargeable as a debt to the defendant after release if the payor chooses not to pay the fees at the time of bonding: a $10 bond fee and a maximum 3.5% credit card payment fee. No other bond-related fees may be charged at any time, including any kiosk fees or fees for payment by cash, check, or money order.

3. Bond payments are to be made out to the holding county and are never to be made out in the name of the incarcerated person.

4. A sheriff must release a defendant within six hours after a personal recognizance bond is set and the defendant has returned to jail or within six hours after a cash bond has been set and the defendant has returned to jail and the defendant or surety notified the jail that bond is prepared to be posted, unless extraordinary circumstances exist. In the event of a delay of more than six hours, a surety and the defendant have a right to know what, if any, extraordinary circumstance is causing the delay. Supervisory conditions of release do not justify a delay in release; except that a sheriff may hold a defendant for up to 24 hours if necessary to ensure a defendant is fitted with required electronic monitoring.

5. Anyone who posts a money bond has the right to receive a copy of the bond paperwork, including documentation of the next upcoming court date.

6. A surety may never be asked to use posted bond money to pay a defendant’s debts. Only when defendants have posted their own money bond may they be asked if they would like to voluntarily relinquish bond money to pay their debts. Relinquishment of bond money by a defendant to pay a debt is never required and is entirely a voluntary choice by the defendant.

Instructions on how to post Bail or Bond in Saguache County

Bail bond procedures in Saguache County and Colorado can vary, so it is best to contact Saguache County Jail at 719-657-4000 or the court in the jurisdiction where the defendant was charged (e.g., Municipal Court, District Court) right after the arrest to confirm current policies.

Ask the staff at Saguache County Jail or the Saguache County Court Clerk these key questions:

  1. Is the defendant eligible for bail or bond?
  2. What is the amount of bail or bond, and are there additional fees?
  3. Where can I pay the bail or bond?
  4. Are there certain hours when bail cannot be posted?
  5. What types of payment are accepted—cash, money order, credit card, property, or surety bonds?
  6. Do I need to use a bail agent or bondsman?

If the bail amount seems high, you can contact a lawyer or the defendant’s public defender to explore options for a bail reduction. Starting the process early will help expedite the defendant’s release.

Having a lawyer or bail agent handle the details can help the process go smoothly.

Option 1 - How to Post Cash Bail at Saguache County Jail

To post a cash bond, you need to pay the full bail amount in cash, cashier’s check, or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.

Bail amounts range from $100 to $75,000 or more depending on the charges.

You can post a cash bond at Saguache County Jail or the court where the bail hearing took place. Going directly to the jail will speed up the process, as paperwork from the court must be transferred there.

Cashier’s checks and money orders should be made payable to Saguache County Jail, the Saguache County Sheriff’s Office, or the Saguache County Court.

Money orders can be obtained from Western Union, Moneygram, or any Post Office.

Option 2 - How to Post a Surety Bond for a Defendant at Saguache County Jail

If the full bond amount is not available, a surety bond is an option. A bail agent will post the bond in exchange for a premium, usually 10-15% of the total bail amount.

For example, if bail is set at $5,000, the premium will range from $500 to $750.

The bail agent may require collateral, such as property or valuables, to secure the bond in case the defendant fails to appear in court.

By signing an agreement with a bail agent, you become responsible for the full bail amount if the defendant does not appear in court.

Option 3 - How to Post a Property Bond for a Defendant at Saguache County Jail

If you own property in Saguache County, you may be able to post a property bond. All owners must be present to sign the bond agreement.

For properties outside of Saguache County, contact a local bail agent or attorney for guidance.

Click here for more details about posting bail at Saguache County Jail.

Who can post Bail or Bond for a Defendant at Saguache County Jail?

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 Colorado state licensed Bail Bond firm.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay a Saguache County Jail inmate's bond online?
Yes, you can pay a Saguache County Jail inmate's bond online using a third-party service called 'allpaid'. The instructions are easy... From their website, look up Saguache County Jail or Saguache County, input the inmate's name, and then use your credit or debit card to deposit the bond amount. As soon as the payment is processed and the information is sent to the Saguache County Jail, the jail will begin the release process. You do not have to be present for all of this to take place. Learn more about how to bail or bond out an inmate in the Saguache County Jail, call allpaid directly at 877-392-2455, or call the jail at 719-657-4000.

Search for an Inmate in Saguache County