Brantley County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Brantley County bail and bond: Nahunta, the judge, and getting released
Brantley County is rural, and its adult jail is the Brantley County Detention Center at 95 John Wilson Street in Nahunta. The sheriff's website lists one phone, 912-462-6141, for the sheriff's office and the jail, and its own page for approved bondsmen is below. First use Brantley County Inmate Search to see whether the person is booked and whether a bond has been set. If the screen is blank or confusing, call that number. Bond comes from a judge, not from the deputy who answers the phone.
1. Is the Nahunta detention center holding my nephew?
Search his last name on Brantley County Inmate Search. If he is listed, note the charge, the booking time, and any bond. A man arrested an hour ago may not be there yet. Then phone 912-462-6141 and ask whether he is in Nahunta or was sent to another county.
2. Is there a different number for the jail and the sheriff?
The sheriff's contact page shows the same number, 912-462-6141, for both. The jail has its own fax line, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 251, Nahunta. That means one desk may answer everything. If the person who picks up cannot help, ask for a supervisor or ask when the shift changes. Write down the name of whoever gives you a bond figure.
3. Who decides the bond, and how soon?
A judge decides. Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 17-4-26, requires an arrested person to be brought before a judicial officer within 72 hours. For charges such as murder, rape, and armed robbery, only a superior court judge may grant bail (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1). Ask the jail desk which judge has your case.
4. Can I find the amount without driving to the jail?
Yes, try Brantley County Inmate Search before you leave home. The record shows a bond amount only after a judge has acted. If it shows none, the hearing may not have happened. Call 912-462-6141 after the next business morning and ask whether a first appearance has been held.
5. What do I take to pay a cash bond?
Georgia lets a person satisfy a bond by paying the full cash amount to the proper official, who must give a receipt (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4). Take photo ID, the full name and birth date, and the booking or case number. The jail page does not give bonding hours or a bond window. Phone 912-462-6141 to learn where to pay and which payment types are taken. The lobby kiosk that takes cash, debit, or credit is for jail account deposits, not for bond.
6. Does Brantley County post a bond chart?
The sheriff's jail page and the county site post no bond chart, so this page lists no dollar amounts. The amount for your case is the one the judge writes down. A lawyer can ask for a different one at a bond hearing. The public defender's office may be able to help if you qualify.
7. Why would a judge say no to release on a promise?
Georgia keeps a list of bail-restricted offenses in O.C.G.A. 17-6-12. It includes burglary, aggravated assault, DUI, drug offenses, family violence, and a long list of theft and fraud charges. For those, a judge cannot release on a plain promise. The person must use cash, a professional bondsman, or property approved by the sheriff.
8. How do bondsmen work here?
A bondsman posts your bond for a fee. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-30 the fee may not go above 15 percent of the bond's face amount, but a surety may charge $50 per bonded charge even when that is more than 15 percent. The sheriff's jail page lists three approved companies: Faith Bail Bonding, 912-288-4582; Lee Bonding, 912-670-4410; and Nahunta Bail Bonds, 912-462-6888. Georgia law says the sheriff of the county where the offense happened approves the surety (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1). Get the price in writing.
9. Could my family land back the bond?
Possibly. The sheriff of the county where the offense happened has to approve property (O.C.G.A. 17-6-12). The sheriff's jail page says a property bond needs a $20.00 money order for each bond as the bond fee. It does not state the equity needed or whether land outside the county counts. Call 912-462-6141 about location, the value needed, and who signs. Allow extra days for approval.
10. The arrest was by a state trooper or another agency. Does that change anything?
Not much. Any agency that makes the arrest must bring the person before a judge on the same 72-hour clock. The jail normally books the person. Ask the arresting agency for the report number, then check Brantley County Inmate Search.
11. Where are people held for a long sentence?
A third-party listing says people with less than a year to serve stay in the county, and longer sentences go to state prison. A person in Nahunta could be waiting for court, serving a short sentence, or waiting for transport. Ask the desk at 912-462-6141 which applies.
12. Who is my free lawyer if we cannot pay?
Brantley County belongs to the Waycross Judicial Circuit. The public defender office is at 300 Carswell Avenue, Waycross, GA 31501, phone 912-287-4360, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It also serves Bacon, Charlton, Coffee, Pierce, and Ware counties. The judge can appoint one if you ask at the first court date.
13. What happens to a teen who is picked up?
A young person who must be detained goes to the Waycross Regional Youth Detention Center, 3275 Harris Road, Waycross, GA 31503, phone 912-287-6680. It is operated by the state juvenile justice agency. Because youth files are confidential, a child will not appear on the adult search. Ask the court or the detention center for the hearing time.
14. What if he skips a court date after getting out?
The judge can order his arrest and keep the bond money. Reach a lawyer quickly. If a bondsman posted the bond, tell the bondsman. Some judges will reset a date if the person turns up fast.
15. How can I tell a real bond call from a scam?
A real office will never take a gift card, an app payment to a private account, or crypto. If a stranger says your son must pay in an hour, hang up and call 912-462-6141 yourself. Money placed on a jail account for phone time or store items is not bail.
What happens with a federal arrest?
Federal cases from Brantley County belong to the Southern District of Georgia, Waycross Division. The courthouse is 601 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501 (not always fully staffed), and the clerk answers at 912-283-2870. A federal magistrate judge holds the first hearing and sets any release terms. The U.S. Marshals Service keeps custody before trial, so the person may sit in a local jail that rents beds to the Marshals. After sentencing, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
Brantley County bail contacts
- Jail
- Brantley County Detention Center, 95 John Wilson Street, Nahunta, GA 31553; 912-462-6141
- Bond guide
- Bail and bond instructions for the jail
- Custody lookup
- Brantley County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's office
- 95 John Wilson Street, Nahunta; P.O. Box 251, Nahunta, GA 31553; 912-462-6141
- Approved bondsmen
- Faith Bail Bonding 912-288-4582; Lee Bonding 912-670-4410; Nahunta Bail Bonds 912-462-6888
- County offices
- 124 West Main Street, Suite 1, Nahunta; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 912-462-5438
- Public defender
- Waycross Circuit, 300 Carswell Avenue, Waycross, GA 31501; 912-287-4360
- Youth detention
- Waycross RYDC, 3275 Harris Road, Waycross, GA 31503; 912-287-6680
Phone numbers and rules change, and a judge may set an amount that surprises you. Check with the jail desk before you pay anyone. The facts here are general and are not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Brantley County Detention Center
The Brantley County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Brantley 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 Brantley 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 Brantley 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 Brantley County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Brantley County where the offense took place.
Call 912-462-6141 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Brantley County inmate locator.
Brantley County Detention Center
Address:
95 John Wilson Street
Nahunta, GA 31553
Phone:
912-462-6141
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Brantley County
Does Brantley County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Brantley County?
Who can set bail in Brantley County?
When is bail set in Brantley County Georgia?
Does Brantley County have bail?
Yes, Brantley County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Brantley 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 Brantley 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 Brantley 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 Brantley 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 Brantley 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 Brantley 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, Brantley 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 Brantley 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 Brantley County have bail?
Yes, Brantley County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Brantley 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 Brantley 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 Brantley County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Brantley 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 Brantley County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Brantley County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Brantley County.
What options are there to pay bail in Brantley 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 Brantley County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Brantley 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 Brantley 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 Brantley 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.