Chattahoochee County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Chattahoochee County bail and bond: Cusseta court, the Columbus jail, and the next steps
Chattahoochee County and the city of Cusseta share one government, and the courthouse at 379 Broad Street, Cusseta, is a place for court papers, not a place to post money. Adults arrested here are said to be booked at the Muscogee County Jail, 700 E 10th Street, Columbus, so treat that as the jail that serves Chattahoochee County. Look the person up with Chattahoochee County Inmate Search to see the booking, the charges, and the bail amount. Sheriff office answers at 706-989-3644.
Where is my relative being held?
Use Chattahoochee County Inmate Search first. Deputies from this county are said to take adult arrests to the Muscogee County Jail in Columbus, and the search is the fastest way to see where a booking landed.
If the name is missing, call the sheriff's office at 706-989-3644. Ask which jail has the person and whether any other agency has placed a hold.
Why is the courthouse address on Broad Street the wrong place to go for a jail visit?
The building at 379 Broad Street, Cusseta, holds the Superior Court clerk, the Magistrate Court, and other county offices. It is where cases are filed and where a judge hears them. Do not drive there to see an inmate or hand over money for one before you have called.
Who should I call first, and what are the hours?
Call the Chattahoochee County Sheriff's Office at 706-989-3644. Its website lists business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For after-hours emergencies it says to dial 911. A bond question is not an emergency, so call back in the morning.
For the jail itself, the Muscogee County Jail desk is 706-653-4258.
What will the bond for my cousin cost, and who tells me?
The amount, if one is set, shows with the charges on Chattahoochee County Inmate Search. The Muscogee County Sheriff's Office says on its own site that you must call the jail at 706-653-4258 to learn a bond amount.
A brand-new booking may show nothing yet because a judge has not acted. Look again once the first hearing has happened.
Where do I hand over bond money?
Call before you drive. The Muscogee County Jail is at 700 E 10th Street, Columbus, GA 31901, and its phone is 706-653-4258. Ask the desk whether bonds are taken at the jail window or through the court clerk, what hours apply, and which forms of payment are accepted.
A second call to the Superior Court clerk in Cusseta at 706-989-3424 can confirm how that office handles bond papers.
Which judge sees my family member first?
O.C.G.A. 17-4-26 says a judge must see a person arrested on a warrant within 72 hours. The Chattahoochee County Magistrate Court is at 379 Broad Street, Cusseta, 706-989-3643. Ask the court whether the hearing is held at the courthouse or by video from the jail.
At that hearing the judge can set a bond, lower it, or release the person without money for some low-level charges.
Which charges need a superior court judge for bail?
For some serious charges, O.C.G.A. 17-6-1 says only a superior court judge can set bail. The list includes murder, rape, armed robbery, and certain drug sales. The accused can petition the superior court, which must hold a hearing within ten days.
For everything else a magistrate or other lower court judge may set bail. Call the clerk at 706-989-3424 to ask where a superior court bond hearing would be held.
How does a bail bondsman work if the jail is in Columbus?
A licensed bondsman usually posts the bond with the jail holding the person. Ask the Muscogee jail desk which companies it accepts before you sign anything. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-30, a bondsman can charge no more than 15 percent of the bond amount, with a $50 floor for each bonded charge. A $1,000 bond, for instance, would top out at $150. Ask for the fee, the collateral, and the missed-court terms on paper before signing.
Can land near Cusseta be pledged for a bond?
Maybe. Georgia's Judicial Council guidance for judges says property used for a secured bond needs unencumbered equity worth double the bail amount. Georgia law has the sheriff of the county where the offense happened approve the property, so the Chattahoochee sheriff may be the one to ask. Filing details can differ, so call 706-989-3644 before you gather papers.
If the person later skips court, the property can be lost.
Does money sent to the jail account count as bail?
No. The Muscogee County Sheriff's Office lists JailATM for inmate money and mail. A deposit pays for phone calls and store items and has no effect on release.
Which youth center takes a teen arrested in Cusseta?
Georgia youth held in custody from this county go to the Aaron Cohn Regional Youth Detention Center, 7700 Chattsworth Road, Midland, GA 31820, run by the Department of Juvenile Justice. The state department's main line, 404-508-6500, can connect you to the center.
Juvenile cases are filed with the clerk of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Records for a young person are kept apart from the adult list.
Is there a free lawyer in Columbus for a Cusseta case?
The Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Public Defender covers Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Talbot, and Taylor counties. The office is at 420 10th Street, Suite 001, Columbus, GA 31901, and the phone is 706-653-4301. Ask the judge for a court-appointed lawyer at the first hearing if you cannot pay one.
What happens if he does not show up at Magistrate Court?
The judge can issue a warrant for his arrest and the bond can be forfeited. Call the Magistrate Court at 706-989-3643 the same day to ask about resetting the date, and tell the bondsman at once.
Can I get cash bond money back?
Cash paid as bond is normally returned after the case ends, minus any fines or fees. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-4, cash that no one claims within two years goes to the county. Keep your receipt and ask the clerk at 706-989-3424 how to file a refund request.
What if a stranger calls asking for bond money?
Real offices do not ask for gift cards, crypto, or a wire to a person. Look up numbers yourself and use the ones on this page. If a caller says he is a Chattahoochee deputy and wants money right now, hang up and call 706-989-3644.
Which federal court covers this county?
If agents such as the FBI, DEA or ATF made the arrest, the case is federal. For Chattahoochee County, that means the Middle District of Georgia, Columbus Division, at 120 12th Street, Columbus, GA 31902 ((706) 649-7816). A federal magistrate judge, not a county judge, rules on bail. People held before trial are in the custody of the U.S. Marshals, who may place them in a county jail. People serving a federal sentence show up on the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
Chattahoochee County contacts
- Jail
- Muscogee County Jail, 700 E 10th Street, Columbus, GA 31901; 706-653-4258
- Bond guide
- Chattahoochee jails and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Chattahoochee County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Sheriff, Cusseta; 706-989-3644; business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Clerk of Superior Court
- 379 Broad Street, P.O. Box 120, Cusseta, GA 31805; 706-989-3424
- Magistrate Court
- 379 Broad Street, Cusseta; 706-989-3643
- Free lawyer
- Public Defender, 420 10th Street, Suite 001, Columbus, GA 31901; 706-653-4301
- Juvenile
- Aaron Cohn Regional Youth Detention Center, 7700 Chattsworth Road, Midland, GA 31820; state Department of Juvenile Justice 404-508-6500
Bond amounts, hours, payment rules, and phone numbers change, and a judge can order a different bond. Call the sheriff or the jail before you send money. Think of this page as a starting point, not legal advice from a lawyer.
How do Bail Bonds work at Chattahoochee County Jail
The Chattahoochee County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee County Jail, or the courthouse in Chattahoochee County where the offense took place.
Call 706-653-4258 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Chattahoochee County inmate locator.
Chattahoochee County Jail
Address:
379 Broad Street
Cusseta, GA 31805
Phone:
706-653-4258
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Chattahoochee County
Does Chattahoochee County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Chattahoochee County?
Who can set bail in Chattahoochee County?
When is bail set in Chattahoochee County Georgia?
Does Chattahoochee County have bail?
Yes, Chattahoochee County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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, Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee County have bail?
Yes, Chattahoochee County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Chattahoochee County Jail for more information about the jails in Chattahoochee County.
What options are there to pay bail in Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee County Jail for more information about posting bail in Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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 Chattahoochee 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.