Barrow County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Barrow County bail and bond: the Winder Detention Center and courthouse campus
Barrow County arrests end up at the Barrow County Detention Center, 652 Barrow Park Drive, Winder, part of the same courthouse campus as the clerk and magistrate. Sheriff runs it. Check Barrow County Inmate Search to see if your person is in custody and what bond was set. For anything else, the 24-hour line is 770-307-3080. Most families need three offices: the jail, the magistrate, and the superior court clerk.
Is my husband in the Winder jail tonight?
Look him up on Barrow County Inmate Search. It shows if he is booked and what bond is listed. A booking from the past hour may be missing. After that, call the detention center at 770-307-3080, the number the sheriff's site lists, and ask for the booking desk.
Where is everything in Winder?
The detention center is at 652 Barrow Park Drive, Winder, GA 30680, on the courthouse campus. The Sheriff's Office administration is at 233 East Broad Street, Winder, and also answers at 770-307-3080. The county's own page says the detention center keeps weekday office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Who is the sheriff?
The elected sheriff's office runs the jail. The sheriff does not decide bond amounts. He enforces what the judge orders. Questions about holds, transfers, or the jail's rules go to 770-307-3080.
Where is Magistrate Court?
It is at 652 Barrow Park Drive, Suite F, Winder, GA 30680, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The county lists the chief clerk at 770-307-3050. Magistrates handle first appearances, and ask for the extension of the office you need.
Where does the Clerk of Superior Court sit?
the Clerk of Superior Court, works at 652 Barrow Park Drive, Suite B, Winder, GA 30680, phone 770-307-3035. Go there for felony case files, dates, and bond papers filed in superior court.
How fast does a judge see someone arrested?
O.C.G.A. 17-4-26 sets a limit of 72 hours for bringing a person arrested on a warrant before a judge who can set bail. In Barrow County that first look usually happens in the magistrate's office. Call 770-307-3050 to ask for the date.
Does Barrow County approve its bondsmen?
Yes. The Sheriff's Office posts an Approved Bonding Companies page, and it says the companies named there are the only ones authorized to write bonds in Barrow County. The list changes, so check it before you sign with anyone. State law, O.C.G.A. 17-6-30, lets a surety take up to 15 percent of the bond, or $50 per bonded charge if that is higher, and no more. Ask for every term in writing. The Georgia Department of Insurance also licenses these agents. Call the detention center at 770-307-3080 if you want to confirm that a company is on the list.
Can I pay a bond myself?
Ask the detention center at 770-307-3080 how and where it takes payments, and what hours apply. The magistrate and superior court clerks may handle bonds tied to their cases. Bring a government ID and the booking number. Get a receipt that shows the case number.
How is the dollar figure picked?
A judge sets it after reading the charge, using O.C.G.A. 17-6-1. A short list of serious crimes, such as murder, rape, and armed robbery, can be bailed only by a superior court judge. A magistrate can handle most other charges. Ask the magistrate's office at 770-307-3050 if a posted schedule covers the charge.
Why did it say "no bond"?
It often means a hold or a charge that needs a superior court judge. Probation holds and other-county warrants count too. Georgia's SB 63, effective July 1, 2024, grew the list of bail-restricted offenses. Those need secured bail rather than a promise. Call the clerk at 770-307-3035 for the right judge.
Can we use our land as security?
Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-12, the sheriff in the county where the charge arose must approve property. For Barrow County, ask 770-307-3080 what documents are needed and whether property in another county is accepted. Plan on a slow process, and know that every owner signs.
Can the jail drop the bond?
No. Jail staff carry out the order. A lawyer asks the judge for a hearing. Proof of a job, family, and a Barrow County address helps.
What if the arrest was made by Winder, Auburn, or Statham police?
Ask the arresting officer for the report number and the charge. Most adults then go to the Winder detention center. Search Barrow County Inmate Search later in the day, and call 770-307-3080 if the name is missing.
Who is my free lawyer if I cannot pay?
The Piedmont Circuit Public Defender has a Barrow County office at 652 Barrow Park Drive, Suite C, Winder, GA 30680. Call 770-307-3006. The circuit's main office in Jefferson is 706-387-6317. At the first hearing, ask the judge to appoint one.
Where is a teenager held?
The Department of Juvenile Justice lists the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center, 450 Crescent Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501, for Barrow County. Its number is 770-531-4597. A minor's case is confidential and will not appear on the adult search. Ask the clerk at 770-307-3035 which court hears it.
What if he misses a court date?
The judge can order an arrest and keep the bond. Call the clerk at 770-307-3035 and the lawyer or bondsman at once. A fast call can help get a new date.
Is bond money returned?
Cash paid to the court is often returned after the case ends, less fines and costs. The bondsman statute gives no refund right on the fee, so ask the company. Keep the receipt and ask the clerk at 770-307-3035 for the refund steps.
What does a bond scam look like?
It asks for gift cards, crypto, or an app payment to a person. No Barrow County office works that way. Call 770-307-3080 to check before you send a dollar.
What if federal agents made the arrest?
Not every arrest stays in county court. A federal charge from Barrow County is filed in the Northern District of Georgia and heard in its Gainesville Division: Sidney O. Smith Federal Building & US Courthouse, 121 Spring Street SE, Room 201, Gainesville, GA 30501-3789, phone 678-450-2760. A federal magistrate judge decides whether the person can go home before trial. The U.S. Marshals hold federal detainees, sometimes in a county jail by contract. For someone already sentenced, check the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
Key contacts for Barrow County bond questions
- Jail
- Barrow County Detention Center, 652 Barrow Park Drive, Winder, GA 30680; 770-307-3080
- Bond guide
- Detention center bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Barrow County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Sheriff's Office; Administration Annex, 233 East Broad Street, Winder, GA 30680; 770-307-3080
- Magistrate Court
- 652 Barrow Park Drive, Suite F, Winder, GA 30680; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 770-307-3050
- Clerk of Superior Court
- 652 Barrow Park Drive, Suite B, Winder, GA 30680; 770-307-3035
- Public defender
- Piedmont Circuit, 652 Barrow Park Drive, Suite C, Winder, GA 30680; 770-307-3006; main office 706-387-6317
- Youth detention
- Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center, 450 Crescent Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501; 770-531-4597
Amounts, hours, payment rules, and phone numbers can change. Confirm with the sheriff or a clerk before paying. Barrow County residents should read this as general help, not legal advice.
Instructions on How to Post Bond Online in Barrow County
Barrow County Detention Center uses an online cash bonding company called CashBondOnline.com so you don't have to bond out your inmate at the Barrow County Detention Center or at the Barrow County Courthouse.
Here's how it works:
1. Once you find out that your inmate has been arrested, go here and select Georgia.
2. Next select Barrow County Detention Center, or if it is not listed like that, try Barrow 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.
Barrow County Detention Center
Address:
652 Barrow Park Drive
Winder, GA 30680
Phone:
770-307-3080
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Barrow County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Barrow County?
Who can set bail in Barrow County?
When is bail set in Barrow County Georgia?
Does Barrow County have bail?
Yes, Barrow County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Barrow County?
Georgia offers several types of pre-trial release including own recognizance, cash bond, property bond & surety. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Barrow County?
In many cases Georgia follows a pre-set bail schedule, so sheriffs & constables are able to accept bail immediately after processing. For those offense where immediate release in not permitted, or when a defendant does not qualify for immediate release, bail will be determined by a judge.
When is bail set in Barrow County Georgia?
Georgia uses a pre-set bail schedule, meaning the bail is set based on the offense and thus us know to police at the time of arrest. In cases where bail is not pre-set, or the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, a judge of the superior court will determine bail at a bail hearing. This hearing shall be scheduled with 48 – 72 hours depending on the classification of the crime the defendant is accused.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Barrow 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 Barrow 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.
A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid and usually happens before arraignment. A Bond hearing is a determination by a magistrate to determine an amount a person may pay to be released while the case is pending. Sometimes certain crimes will have preset bonds, that can become payable the moment an arrest is made.
The minimum bond in Georgia is $1,000. If a court seeks a bond lower than that then it must be an OR bond, meaning the accused shall be released on their own recognizance, with no money down. During bond proceedings, the defendant is not required to have an attorney but has the right to an attorney if the defendant want one.
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 Barrow 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, Barrow 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 Barrow 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 Barrow County have bail?
Yes, Barrow County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Barrow County?
Georgia offers several types of pre-trial release including own recognizance, cash bond, property bond & surety. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Barrow County?
In many cases Georgia follows a pre-set bail schedule, so sheriffs & constables are able to accept bail immediately after processing. For those offense where immediate release in not permitted, or when a defendant does not qualify for immediate release, bail will be determined by a judge.
When is bail set in Georgia?
Georgia uses a pre-set bail schedule, meaning the bail is set based on the offense and thus us know to police at the time of arrest. In cases where bail is not pre-set, or the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, a judge of the superior court will determine bail at a bail hearing. This hearing shall be scheduled with 48 – 72 hours depending on the classification of the crime the defendant is accused.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Barrow County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Barrow County Georgia, 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 Georgia could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Barrow County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Barrow County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Barrow County.
What options are there to pay bail in Barrow County Georgia?
Cash or security; credit card in some counties. The security may be either cash or property. Bail may be posted at the appropriate county jail or sheriff’s office in which the defendant is charged.
Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Barrow County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Barrow County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Georgia?
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 Barrow 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 Georgia?
The Barrow 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.