Bradford County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Bradford County bail and bond: the Starke jail and questions to ask first
Adults arrested in Bradford County are held at the Bradford County Jail, 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke, which the Sheriff's Office runs. Use Bradford County Inmate Search to see if someone is held and the bail set. The jail office, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., is at 904-966-6250 for anything the search cannot show, and judges handle the bond side at the courthouse on the same street.
Is my relative booked at the Bradford County Jail?
Start with Bradford County Inmate Search. For Bradford, enter the name, then read the booking date, charge, and bail. In Bradford, allow some time for a new arrest to post. For anything the screen leaves out, the jail office answers on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 904-966-6250.
Is the person in the county jail or in a state prison?
Several state prisons sit in Bradford County, among them Florida State Prison and New River Correctional Institution. Those hold people who were sentenced to prison. They are run by the Florida Department of Corrections, and there is no bail for a prison sentence. A person arrested on a new charge in Bradford County is booked into the county jail instead.
Where exactly is the jail?
The sheriff's website puts the jail at 945-A North Temple Avenue, Starke, FL 32091, and the Sheriff's Office and Court Services at 945-B, next door. The jail's mailing address is P.O. Box 310, Starke, FL 32091. Confirm the entrance by phone at 904-966-6250 before you drive over.
What hours can I post bond?
The sheriff's jail page does not list bond posting hours or accepted payment types. The jail office is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., so call 904-966-6250 and ask: Which window takes bond? Is it open at night? Does a bail agent need to check in first? In Bradford, note the name of whoever answers.
What payment is accepted?
Phone the Bradford jail office at 904-966-6250 about cash, cashier's checks, money orders, or cards. Ask who the check must be written to and whether the desk makes change. The lobby kiosk that takes cash or cards is for inmate commissary deposits, and that money is not bail. Keep the receipt and the case number.
What is the usual Bradford bond for common charges?
Florida's Supreme Court set one schedule for 2026 (order AOSC25-69) for release before the first court date. A third-degree felony without force is $2,500, and with force $5,000. For misdemeanors without force the figures are $500 and $150, and a first DUI is $500.
The judge at first appearance is not bound by these numbers. Charges for dangerous crimes are not on the schedule for early release at all.
When will a Bradford judge review the case?
Rule 3.130 gives 24 hours from arrest to the first appearance. Bradford hearings are held at the courthouse at 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke. The sheriff's jail page says first appearance is held daily around 10 a.m. A bond amount may not reach the jail staff until the judge's written order does, so you may wait after the hearing. The clerk at 904-966-6280 can confirm today's schedule.
Can the sheriff or a deputy change the amount?
No. Deputies carry out the judge's order or the 2026 statewide schedule, and only a judge can raise or lower a bond. A Bradford defendant or lawyer may seek a new amount at first appearance or later by motion.
What does a Bradford bail agent cost?
Bradford agents are licensed by the Florida Department of Financial Services, which sets the state bond premium at 10 percent of court-set bail. So a $2,500 bail costs $250 to an agent. Section 648.33 keeps every agent to the rate filed with the state. Bradford signers should see the rate, collateral, and no-show terms written down before signing.
Will a Bradford court accept land or a house?
Possibly. An individual surety must live in Florida or own Florida real estate (section 903.05), and a recorded property bond puts a lien on the land (section 903.26). Ask the clerk at 904-966-6280 how Bradford County handles the paperwork and which deed documents it wants.
Why does the person have no bond at all?
Article I, section 14 of the Florida Constitution allows pretrial detention for capital or life offenses when proof is evident, and when no release conditions can protect the public or the court process. Section 903.0471 lets a judge revoke release after a new crime. In Bradford, probation holds and outside warrants also block release.
My relative was arrested in Starke or another town. Where do they go?
Since March 2024 the Bradford sheriff's office has policed Starke, while deputies patrol all other Bradford areas. We could not confirm any city lockup, so expect the person to be transferred to the county jail. Bradford's arresting officer can give the report number.
What if the arrested person is a child?
Bradford County youths who are locked up stay at the Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center, 3440 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609. The Department of Juvenile Justice runs it, and the phone is 352-955-2105. Parents are the main visitors.
Who represents Bradford defendants who can't pay?
The Eighth Circuit Public Defender keeps a Bradford and Union office at 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke. Bradford defendants ask for that lawyer at first appearance. The main office number is 352-338-7370.
What happens after a missed Bradford court date?
The clerk can declare the bond forfeited. Under section 903.26, the money is due within 60 days after the notice is mailed, unless the court discharges it. Section 903.28 can return a share if the person is surrendered, and that share shrinks as months pass.
Does the money come back?
Bradford typically refunds cash bond after the case, deducting costs, fines, or fees. In Bradford, the Department of Financial Services says the premium is kept once the person is out but refunded if there's no release. After the court discharges the bond, the agent should return your collateral in 21 days. Hold onto every receipt.
Which calls about bail are fake?
A Bradford caller demanding gift cards, crypto, or a wire is a fraud. Dial the Sheriff's Office yourself at 904-966-6250, or the clerk at 904-966-6280.
What if ICE puts a Bradford jail hold on someone?
- ICE uses Form I-247A to ask Bradford jailers for more time.
- That extra hold in Bradford lasts up to 48 hours.
- Saturdays, Sundays and holidays all count in Bradford.
- Posting bond in Bradford does not end an ICE hold.
- The Bradford judge who sets bond learns of it (F.S. 908.105).
- The Bradford state attorney gets notice as well.
- F.S. 908.11 requires the Bradford sheriff to work with ICE under 287(g).
- ICE's official 287(g) list shows these models for Bradford:
- Task Force Model
- Warrant Service Officer
- To find a person ICE took from Bradford, try the ICE locator.
Bradford County bail contacts
- Jail
- Bradford County Jail, 945-A North Temple Avenue, Starke, FL 32091; jail office 904-966-6250
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Bradford County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Bradford County Sheriff's Office, 945-B North Temple Avenue, Starke, FL 32091; 904-966-2276
- Clerk of Court
- 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke, FL 32091; 904-966-6280
- Courthouse
- Bradford County Courthouse, 945 North Temple Avenue, Starke
- Public defender
- Bradford and Union office, 945 N. Temple Avenue, Starke; the office list shows no direct line, so use the main office 352-338-7370
- Juvenile detention
- Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center, 3440 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609; 352-955-2105
- Agent regulator
- Florida Department of Financial Services
Numbers, hours, and bond rules in Bradford County may change. Check with the Bradford Sheriff's Office or clerk before sending money, since a judge's order beats any chart. Legal advice comes from a lawyer, not from this page.
Bradford County Jail
Address:
945-A N. Temple Avenue
Starke, FL 32091
Phone:
904-966-6250
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Bradford County
Does Bradford County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bradford County?
Who can set bail in Bradford County?
When is bail set in Bradford County Florida?
Does Bradford County have bail?
Yes, Bradford County has bail and recognizes most types of bonds.
As of January 1, 2024, Florida moved to a statewide uniform bond schedule. The uniform bond schedule may change every year. The Bradford County Jail will let you know the amount of the bond.
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule. For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bradford County?
Florida offers bail in the form of cash bail or surety bond and bonds from a professional bondsperson.
Who can set bail in Bradford County?
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process by a judge, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule.
For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance. Bail is set by a judge in accordance with a precalculated schedule based on the seriousness of the offense.
When is bail set in Bradford County Florida?
In most cases bail is set immediately after arrest, based on the precalculated schedule. If a defendant is not eligible for immediate release bail may be set by a judge at the initial court hearing, or arraignment.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Bradford 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 Bradford 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 Bradford 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, Bradford 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 Bradford 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. A Florida bondsperson will not write a bond for under $250.
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.
A bondsperson might consider a transfer bond that is transferable across state lines but generally a bond company will only assume the loan to adjoining states. For a Florida resident arrested in another state, bond companies will do transfer bonds but the person putting up the security has to be a Florida resident.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety and ultimately, 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 Bradford County have bail?
Yes, Bradford County has bail and recognizes most types of bonds.
As of January 1, 2024, Florida moved to a statewide uniform bond schedule.
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule. For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bradford County?
Florida offers bail in the form of cash bail or surety bond and bonds from a professional bondsperson.
Who can set bail in Bradford County?
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process by a judge, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule.
For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance. Bail is set by a judge in accordance with a precalculated schedule based on the seriousness of the offense.
When is bail set in Florida?
In most cases bail is set immediately after arrest, based on the precalculated schedule. If a defendant is not eligible for immediate release bail may be set by a judge at the initial court hearing, or arraignment.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Bradford County Florida?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the judge know at your initial appearance. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Bradford County, who can pay bail for me?
Monetary bail may be posted by any friend or relative. Surety bonds are only accepted from registered bail bond agent. Bail may be posted at the county jail where the defendant has been charged. Please contact Bradford County Jail at 904-966-6250 for information related to types of payment accepted, hours of operation, and location.
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 Florida could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Bradford County Florida?
Some counties do accept online payment. Other only accept cash, money orders, or cashier’s checks. Contact the Bradford County Jail at 904-966-6250 for more information regarding accepted forms of payment.
What options are there to pay bail in Bradford County Florida?
Cash or surety bond. Surety bonds are only accepted from registered bail bond agents. Bail may be posted at the county jail where the defendant is charged. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Bradford County Jail for more information about posting bail in Bradford County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Florida?
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 Bradford County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bond will be an option however personal recognizance bonds are not offered in Florida, leaving few options for no money up front.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Florida?
The Bradford County 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.