Bibb County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds

Last updated by Mark Miclette

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Bibb County

Georgia • Bibb County • Bail & bond help

Macon-Bibb bail and bond: finding the person, the judge, and the way out

Adults arrested in Macon-Bibb County are held in the Bibb County Sheriff's Office jail buildings near downtown Macon, listed together on the Bibb County jails page. Put the name into Bibb County Inmate Search first. It shows if your person is booked, which charges they face, and whether a judge has set a bond. The jail's main line is 478-746-9441, and it is also the booking number on the sheriff's website. Because Macon and Bibb County share one government, city and county arrests end up in the same system.

Which building in Macon is my son in?

New arrests are booked at the Corrections Center, 668 Oglethorpe Street, which also houses the sheriff's office. The Bibb County Detention Center at 645 Hazel Street is a different building. The sheriff's website describes it as a work release and community service center with about 192 beds, and its line is 478-621-5666. Check Bibb County Inmate Search for the booking record. Then call the booking line at 478-746-9441 and ask which building holds him.

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Does Macon-Bibb have a separate city jail?

Macon and Bibb County merged their governments, so there is one sheriff and one county jail system rather than a separate city lockup. The Bibb County Sheriff's Office answers at 478-751-7500. If a person was arrested by Macon-Bibb police, the booking should still appear on Bibb County Inmate Search. If it does not, ask the jail desk at 478-746-9441 whether an outside agency has the person.

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When will a judge look at the bond?

Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 17-4-26, requires officers to bring an arrested person before a judicial officer within 72 hours. A weekend arrest can push the hearing out to Monday or later. A magistrate judge handles many first hearings, but the most serious charges are bailable only before a superior court judge (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1). The Civil and Magistrate Court is on the 4th floor of the Bibb County Courthouse, 601 Mulberry Street, and its main line is 478-621-5801, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A 2020 court policy said bond and first appearance hearings were held by video, so ask whether your person will appear by video or in the courtroom.

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Where do I learn the dollar amount?

The inmate search should show it once a judge has acted. A blank field usually means no bond has been set yet or the person is waiting for the first hearing. Check Bibb County Inmate Search again after the hearing. If it still shows nothing, call 478-746-9441 and give the full legal name and birth date.

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Can someone post a cash bond, and when?

Georgia lets a person satisfy a bond by depositing the full cash amount with the proper official, who must issue a receipt (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4). The sheriff's site gives no bonding window location or hours, so call 478-746-9441 and ask where to pay, the hours, and which payment forms are taken. Never carry large cash to a building you have not confirmed.

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How much does the sheriff's office decide?

The sheriff must accept bail from anyone who is allowed to be released, if the surety is one the sheriff approves (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1). He or she does not set the amount. A judge does. For questions about bonding companies the sheriff accepts, call the sheriff's office at 478-751-7500.

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Is there a chart of bonds by charge?

The court and sheriff pages we read post no Macon-Bibb bond schedule, so no dollar amounts appear here. The figure for your case is on Bibb County Inmate Search after a judge sets it. A defense lawyer or the public defender can ask for a lower figure at a bond hearing.

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What charges make it harder to get out?

A long list of charges are bail-restricted under O.C.G.A. 17-6-12, including burglary, aggravated assault, DUI, drug offenses, family violence, and many theft and fraud charges. Someone charged with one of these cannot leave on a signature only. Release needs a bond with security: cash, a professional bondsman, or property approved by the sheriff. Murder and rape can be bailed only by a superior court judge.

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Is a bail bondsman worth it?

A bondsman posts the bond for a fee. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-30, a surety may charge up to 15 percent of the bond's face amount, and it may ask for $50 on each bonded charge even if that is more than 15 percent. So a very small bond can cost the $50 floor. Ask for the price and every term in writing. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-1 the sheriff of the county where the offense happened must approve the surety. Ask the sheriff's office at 478-751-7500 who is approved in Bibb County.

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Can I put up property in Macon?

Yes, but only property the sheriff of the county where the offense happened approves (O.C.G.A. 17-6-12). Georgia's statutes on this do not tell us the equity needed or whether land outside Bibb County counts, so call the sheriff's office at 478-751-7500. Ask four things: the location rule, the equity needed, who signs, and how long approval takes.

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What if I paid money to a jail account? Is that bail?

No. The sheriff's site points families to an outside store vendor for items sent to a person in jail. That money buys store items and calls only. It does not pay a bond. Never send bond money through a deposit service.

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Who is the free lawyer for people who cannot pay?

Bibb County is served by the Macon Judicial Circuit Public Defender, 201 Second Street, Suite 550, Macon, GA 31201, phone 478-621-5950. The judge appoints a lawyer after you ask at the first hearing. The same office serves Crawford and Peach counties.

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Where do teenagers arrested in Macon wait for court?

A young person held in custody goes to the Macon Regional Youth Detention Center, run by the state Department of Juvenile Justice, at 4164 Riggins Mill Road, Macon, GA 31217. The number is 478-751-3407. The same road holds the Macon Regional Campus, which is a school program, not the place for new arrests. Juvenile paperwork stays private.

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What if my relative misses a hearing after release?

The court can order a pickup and keep the money posted. Reach out to a lawyer at once. If a bondsman posted the bond, call the bondsman the same day. A new warrant can keep a person from being released again on bond.

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Which numbers can I trust?

Use only the numbers on this page: the main jail line 478-746-9441 and the sheriff's office at 478-751-7500. No office frees a person for a wire, gift card, or crypto. If a caller pushes you to pay in minutes, hang up and call the jail.

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Which Macon courthouse office do I visit for papers?

The Bibb County Courthouse at 601 Mulberry Street holds several offices. The Clerk of Superior Court is in Suite 216 at 478-621-6527, and felony case records go there. Macon-Bibb Municipal Court, on the first floor, hears misdemeanors and ordinance cases at 478-751-7154. Walk-in payments there run 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday to Friday. The clerk posted a notice of limited office access, so call before you go.

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What if federal agents made the arrest?

Not every arrest stays in county court. A federal charge from Bibb County is filed in the Middle District of Georgia and heard in its Macon Division: William A. Bootle Federal Building & US Courthouse, 475 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201, phone (478) 752-3497. 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.

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Bibb County bail contacts

Jails
Bibb County jails and bond help: Law Enforcement Center, 668 Oglethorpe Street, Macon, GA 31201; jail main line 478-746-9441
Bond guide
Macon-Bibb bail and bond pages
Custody lookup
Bibb County Inmate Search
Sheriff's office
668 Oglethorpe Street, Macon; 478-751-7500
Magistrate court
601 Mulberry Street, 4th Floor, Macon; 478-621-5801
Clerk of Superior Court
601 Mulberry Street, Suite 216, Macon; 478-621-6527
Public defender
Macon Circuit, 201 Second Street, Suite 550, Macon, GA 31201; 478-621-5950
Youth detention
Macon RYDC, 4164 Riggins Mill Road, Macon, GA 31217; 478-751-3407

Rules, buildings, and phone numbers change, and a judge can order an amount you do not expect. Confirm with the jail desk before you send money or drive over. Nothing on this page is legal advice.

Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Bibb County

The Bibb County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Bibb 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 Bibb 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 Bibb 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 $1,500.00.
  • Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Bibb County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Bibb County where the offense took place.

Call 478-621-5666 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Bibb County inmate locator.

Bibb County Detention Center

Address:
645 Hazel Street
Macon, GA 31201
Phone:
478-621-5666

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Bibb County


Does Bibb County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Bibb County?

Who can set bail in Bibb County?

When is bail set in Bibb County Georgia?

 

 

Does Bibb County have bail?

Yes, Bibb County recognizes most types of bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Bibb 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 Bibb 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 Bibb 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 Bibb 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 Bibb 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 Bibb 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, Bibb 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 Bibb 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 Bibb County have bail?  

Yes, Bibb County recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Bibb 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 Bibb 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 Bibb County Georgia? 

Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.

In Bibb 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 Bibb County Georgia?  

Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Bibb County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Bibb County.

What options are there to pay bail in Bibb 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 Bibb County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Bibb 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 Bibb 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 Bibb 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Bibb County

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.