Bulloch County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Bulloch County bail and bond: Statesboro, the judge, and how people go home
Statesboro is the Bulloch County seat, and the county's jail, also called the Arnold R. Akins Public Safety Complex, sits at 17257 U.S. Highway 301 North; see the Bulloch County jails page. Check the person on Bulloch County Inmate Search to see if they are booked and if a judge has set a bond. The Sheriff's Office lists 912-764-8888 as its main number, and the sheriff's site sends bond questions to that line. Many Bulloch cases begin with the Sheriff's Office, Statesboro police, or Georgia Southern University police, so the arresting agency matters when a name does not show up.
1. My daughter was arrested near Georgia Southern. How do I find her?
Search her last name on Bulloch County Inmate Search. If the arrest was by campus police, city police, or the sheriff, the booking should reach the county jail. It can take a few hours. Ask the arresting agency for the report number, then call 912-764-8888.
2. What is the Arnold R. Akins Public Safety Complex?
A third-party listing uses that name for the county jail on U.S. Highway 301 North, which the Sheriff's Office runs at 17257 U.S. 301 North. A second place sits nearby at 17301 U.S. Highway 301 North, the Bulloch County Correctional Institution. The county calls it a work camp that holds state inmates under a contract and inmates sentenced by the county, and Warden runs it at 912-764-6217. A person waiting for court on a new arrest is normally in the jail, not the work camp. Ask the desk at 912-764-8888 where your person is housed.
3. Which number do I use for jail questions?
The sheriff's contact page lists one number, 912-764-8888, with no separate jail line. Use it for custody and bond questions. For the correctional institution, use the warden's number in the answer above. The county's main office, 115 North Main Street, answers at 912-764-6245 but does not run the jail.
4. When does a judge see someone arrested in Bulloch County?
Within 72 hours, under O.C.G.A. 17-4-26. A magistrate judge usually handles the first appearance. The Magistrate Court is at 101 Oak Street, Statesboro, 912-764-6458, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and a chief magistrate judge leads the court. The county notes that the building is under long-term repair, so call before you go. Murder, rape, and armed robbery can be bailed only by a superior court judge (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1). Ask the desk which judge got the case.
5. Where do I find the bond amount?
Read it on Bulloch County Inmate Search once a judge has set it. A blank field often means the hearing has not happened yet. It can also mean a hold from another agency. Call 912-764-8888 and ask which.
6. How do I post a cash bond, and where?
A cash bond under O.C.G.A. 17-6-4 means paying the entire sum to the proper official, who gives a receipt. The sheriff's site gives no bonding window or hours and tells families to call its main line with bond questions. The Clerk of Courts is at 20 Siebald Street, 912-764-9009, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and that office takes cash, cashier's checks, and money orders for fines. Call 912-764-8888 to confirm the place, the hours, and which payment types are accepted.
7. Can I pay with a card at a kiosk?
Not confirmed for bond. The sheriff's site points families to commissarydeposit.com for jail account deposits, which are not bail. Ask the jail desk at 912-764-8888 what is allowed for bond, what the fee is, and who runs the service.
8. Is there a Bulloch County bond chart?
The county and sheriff sites post no Bulloch bond schedule, so no dollar amounts are given here. The amount for your case is what the judge sets, and a lawyer can ask for a lower figure. The public defender's office can tell you if you qualify for help.
9. Which crimes are hard to bond out on?
O.C.G.A. 17-6-12 lists bail-restricted offenses, including burglary, aggravated assault, DUI, drug offenses, family violence, and many theft and fraud charges. A judge cannot release a person charged with one on a plain promise. Release needs cash, a professional bondsman, or property approved by the sheriff.
10. Should I use a bondsman?
If you cannot pay the full bond, a bondsman can post it for a fee. Georgia limits that fee to 15 percent of the bond's face amount, and lets a surety ask for $50 on each bonded charge even if that is more (O.C.G.A. 17-6-30). Ask for the exact price and all terms in writing. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1) says the sheriff of the county where the offense happened approves the surety, so ask the sheriff's office at 912-764-8888 who is approved.
11. Can I use land or a house in Bulloch County?
Often yes, if the sheriff approves it (O.C.G.A. 17-6-12). General web text says owners must show clear title and equity, but that is not a confirmed Bulloch rule. Ask the sheriff's office four things: does the land need to be in Bulloch, how much equity is needed, who signs, and how long approval takes.
12. Where do people serve short sentences?
A third-party listing says people sentenced to less than a year serve time in the county, and longer sentences go to state or federal prison. So the person you search for may be waiting on court, serving a short term, or waiting for transport. Ask the jail desk which at 912-764-8888.
13. Who is the public defender for Bulloch County?
Bulloch belongs to the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit. The public defender office is at 30 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458, phone 912-764-6292. It also serves Effingham, Jenkins, and Screven counties. Request an appointed lawyer from the judge at your first hearing.
14. Where does a Bulloch teenager wait for court?
A young person who must be detained goes to the Claxton Regional Youth Detention Center, 3609 Bill Hodges Road, Claxton, GA 30417, phone 912-739-4807. It is a state-run facility. A minor's record is confidential, so the adult search will stay empty.
15. What if he fails to show up for a hearing?
A missed hearing can trigger a warrant and loss of the bond. Speak with a lawyer that same day. Tell the bondsman at once if one is on the bond.
16. Is a deposit to a jail account the same as bail?
No. Money on an account covers calls and commissary. A bond goes to the court or a bondsman. Never pay a caller who wants gift cards or an app transfer, and confirm everything by calling 912-764-8888 yourself.
17. Can I bond someone out of the Bulloch County Prison?
No. The Bulloch County Prison is a state facility for people already sentenced, not a bonding site. The Georgia state inmate search shows who is housed there, while the county inmate search is for the jail.
What if the charge is federal?
A federal charge goes to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, not to a county court. Bulloch County cases are heard in the Statesboro Division, 52 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458 (not always fully staffed); the clerk's line is 912-650-4020. 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.
Bulloch County bail contacts
- Jail
- Bulloch County Jail (Arnold R. Akins Public Safety Complex), 17257 U.S. Highway 301 North, Statesboro, GA 30458; 912-764-8888
- Bond guide
- Bulloch bail and bond pages
- Custody lookup
- Bulloch County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's office
- 17257 U.S. 301 North, Statesboro; 912-764-8888
- Magistrate court
- 101 Oak Street, Statesboro; 912-764-6458
- Clerk of Courts
- 20 Siebald Street, Statesboro; 912-764-9009
- Public defender
- Ogeechee Circuit, 30 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458; 912-764-6292
- Youth detention
- Claxton RYDC, 3609 Bill Hodges Road, Claxton, GA 30417; 912-739-4807
- State inmate search
- Georgia state inmate search (for the Bulloch County Prison and other state facilities)
Phone numbers and rules change over time, and a judge may set an amount that differs from what you expect. Confirm with the jail desk before you pay. This page offers general information, not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Bulloch County Jail
The Bulloch County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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 Bulloch County Jail, or the courthouse in Bulloch County where the offense took place.
Call 912-764-8888 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Bulloch County inmate locator.
Bulloch County Jail
Address:
17257 U.S. Highway 301 North
Statesboro, GA 30458
Phone:
912-764-8888
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Bulloch County
Does Bulloch County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bulloch County?
Who can set bail in Bulloch County?
When is bail set in Bulloch County Georgia?
Does Bulloch County have bail?
Yes, Bulloch County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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, Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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 Bulloch County have bail?
Yes, Bulloch County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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 Bulloch County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Bulloch 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 Bulloch County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Bulloch County Jail for more information about the jails in Bulloch County.
What options are there to pay bail in Bulloch 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 Bulloch County Jail for more information about posting bail in Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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 Bulloch 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.