Bartow County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Bartow County bail and bond: what to do after an arrest in Cartersville
People arrested in Bartow County are booked into the Bartow County Jail, 104 Zena Drive, Cartersville, which the Sheriff's Office runs. The quickest way to find out if someone is there, and what bail is set, is Bartow County Inmate Search. Use the phone for the rest: the jail line is 770-382-5050 and the Sheriff's Office is 770-387-5195. Bartow is a busy county, so a new booking can take a while to finish.
How do I confirm my daughter is in the Cartersville jail?
Type her name into Bartow County Inmate Search. If she is not listed, wait an hour or two. Bartow handles many arrests, and a booking may not post at once. After that, ask the jail at 770-382-5050 whether she was brought in, transferred, or sent to another agency.
Where is the jail, and who runs it?
The Sheriff's Office runs the jail at 104 Zena Drive, Cartersville, GA 30121, and the Georgia Department of Corrections lists the same address and jail phone for it. The jail line is 770-382-5050, and the sheriff's office line is 770-387-5195. Call ahead before you drive over to ask where to park and which entrance to use.
Which office has the court file?
The Clerk of Superior Court is at 135 W. Cherokee Avenue, Suite 233, Cartersville, GA 30120. The phone is 770-387-5025. Ask there which court has the case, what the next date is, and what the file shows about bond.
How is my son's bail decided?
A judge decides it. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-1, certain serious offenses can be bailed only by a superior court judge. A lower court of inquiry, such as a magistrate, covers most others. Some courts also use a posted schedule. Ask the clerk at 770-387-5025 which court is handling his charge.
How soon is there a first hearing?
O.C.G.A. 17-4-26 says a person arrested on a warrant must be brought before a judge who can set bail within 72 hours. A weekend arrest may mean a longer wait for the hearing. Call the clerk at 770-387-5025 for the time and the room.
Where do I pay, and what do I bring?
Phone the jail at 770-382-5050 and ask where bond is taken and during which hours. Have the full legal name, birth date, booking number, and a government ID with you. If you see a kiosk in the lobby, it is usually for inmate account deposits, which are different from bail. Ask for a receipt that lists the case number.
What forms of payment work?
Cash, a cashier's check, or a money order are the typical answers in Georgia, but the jail decides. Do not count on a personal check or card. Call 770-382-5050 and ask about each one by name.
Should I use a bail bondsman?
If the full amount is out of reach, a Georgia-licensed bondsman can post it for a fee. O.C.G.A. 17-6-30 puts the ceiling at 15 percent of the bond's face value, and it lets the company set a $50 floor on each bonded charge. A $10,000 bond would therefore cost at most $1,500. Get the fee, the collateral, and what happens after a missed court date in writing. The Georgia Department of Insurance regulates bondsmen. Ask the Sheriff's Office at 770-387-5195 whether the jail restricts which agents may post a bond.
Can I post land or a home?
Maybe. O.C.G.A. 17-6-12 says the sheriff in the county where the offense happened must approve property for release. Call the Sheriff's Office at 770-387-5195 to learn which papers it needs and whether land in another county counts. Every owner must sign. Plan for days, not hours.
What does it mean when no bond is listed?
Murder, rape, armed robbery, and some trafficking offenses can be bailed only by a superior court judge. A hold from probation, parole, or another county also blocks release. Georgia's SB 63, in effect since July 1, 2024, added more offenses to the bail-restricted list, which need secured bail. Call the clerk at 770-387-5025 to learn which judge must act.
Can I ask the jail to reduce the amount?
No, jail staff follow the court order. Only a judge can change it, usually after a lawyer asks. Gather proof of a job, family ties, and a Bartow County address.
Who comes to a first hearing if we have no money for a lawyer?
The Cherokee Judicial Circuit Public Defender serves Bartow County from 128 W. Cherokee Avenue, Cartersville, GA 30120, at 678-721-3254. At the first hearing, tell the judge you need a court-appointed lawyer.
What happens to a teenager who is arrested?
The Department of Juvenile Justice lists the Bob Richards Regional Youth Detention Center, 200 Marable Way, Rome, GA 30165, for Bartow County. Its phone is 706-295-6035. Juvenile files are confidential, so a minor will not appear on the adult search. Ask the clerk at 770-387-5025 which court hears the case.
What if city police made the arrest?
Ask the officer for the report number and the charge. Adults from city arrests are usually brought to the county jail, so check Bartow County Inmate Search later in the day. If the name never appears, ask the jail at 770-382-5050 which agency has the person.
What if he does not come to court?
The judge can order his arrest and forfeit the bond. Reach the clerk at 770-387-5025 and your lawyer or bondsman the same day.
How do I get money back?
Cash given to the court is usually returned after the case ends, less fines and costs. The bondsman statute does not grant a refund of the fee, so ask the company. Hold on to the receipt and ask the clerk at 770-387-5025 how to request a refund.
Is a text about posting bail real?
Treat it as a scam if it asks for gift cards, crypto, or an app transfer. Look up the jail yourself and call 770-382-5050.
What if the charge is federal?
A federal charge goes to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, not to a county court. Bartow County cases are heard in the Rome Division, Harold L. Murphy Federal Building & US Courthouse, 600 East First Street, Rome, GA 30161-3149; the clerk's line is 706-378-4060. A federal magistrate judge decides on release, often within a day or two of arrest. Deputy U.S. Marshals move people to and from court, and the person may be housed in a county jail under contract. Once sentenced, look the person up with the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
Key contacts for Bartow County bond questions
- Jail
- Bartow County Jail, 104 Zena Drive, Cartersville, GA 30121; 770-382-5050
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Bartow County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 770-387-5195
- Clerk of Superior Court
- 135 W. Cherokee Avenue, Suite 233, Cartersville, GA 30120; 770-387-5025
- Public defender
- Cherokee Circuit, 128 W. Cherokee Avenue, Cartersville, GA 30120; 678-721-3254
- Youth detention
- Bob Richards Regional Youth Detention Center, 200 Marable Way, Rome, GA 30165; 706-295-6035
Hours, amounts, payment rules, and phone numbers change. Check with the jail or the clerk before paying. Use this Bartow County guide as plain help, not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Bartow County Jail
The Bartow County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Bartow County.
However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:
- You can always pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Bartow County, or in some cases the state of Georgia, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Bartow County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
- The typical fee for a bond in Georgia is between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15% or less. So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Bartow County Jail, or the courthouse in Bartow County where the offense took place.
Call 770-382-5050 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Bartow County inmate locator.
Bartow County Jail
Address:
104 Zena Drive
Cartersville, GA 30121
Phone:
770-382-5050
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Bartow County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bartow County?
Who can set bail in Bartow County?
When is bail set in Bartow County Georgia?
Does Bartow County have bail?
Yes, Bartow County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bartow 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 Bartow 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 Bartow 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 Bartow 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 Bartow 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 Bartow 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, Bartow 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 Bartow 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 Bartow County have bail?
Yes, Bartow County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bartow 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 Bartow 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 Bartow County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Bartow 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 Bartow County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Bartow County Jail for more information about the jails in Bartow County.
What options are there to pay bail in Bartow 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 Bartow County Jail for more information about posting bail in Bartow 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 Bartow 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 Bartow 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.