Colquitt County Correctional Institution Inmate Bail & Bonds
Colquitt County bail and bond: the Moultrie jail and the courts that handle it
People arrested in Colquitt County are booked into the Colquitt County Jail, run by Sheriff at 200 Veterans Parkway North in Moultrie. Run the name through Colquitt County Inmate Search to see if the person is in custody and what the bond is. The jail number is 229-616-7430. Read this page for the bond steps, then call before you hand over money.
How can I tell if my relative is at the Colquitt County Jail?
Use Colquitt County Inmate Search. A person booked a few minutes ago may not appear yet, so check again later. The sheriff's office lists the jail at 229-616-7430 for questions the search cannot answer. Ask whether another agency has a hold on the person.
Where is the jail, and who is the sheriff?
The office and jail address is 200 Veterans Parkway North, P.O. Box 188, Moultrie, GA 31788. The county also runs a correctional institution for sentenced prisoners, so ask the jail desk which building holds your relative.
Who decides how much the bond is?
A judge does. The Magistrate Court lists setting bail among its jobs. It is in the Courthouse Annex, 101 E. Central Avenue, Office 175, Moultrie, and answers at 229-616-7450, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Chief Magistrate Judge leads the court. Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 17-4-26, says a person arrested on a warrant must be brought before a judge within 72 hours.
Are some charges too serious for a magistrate to set bond?
Yes. O.C.G.A. 17-6-1 reserves bond for a superior court judge on certain crimes, including murder, rape, armed robbery, trafficking, and aggravated child molestation. For those, a lawyer can ask the superior court for a hearing, and the court must hold one within ten days. The superior court office answers at 229-616-7445.
Where do I take bond money in Moultrie?
The sheriff's page does not post a bonding window or hours, so call the jail at 229-616-7430 before you leave. Ask where the county takes a cash bond and which kinds of payment it takes. Ask the Clerk of Superior Court, Room 214 of the courthouse at 9 South Main Street, at 229-616-7420 whether the clerk handles any part of it.
Which bonding companies can I use?
The sheriff keeps a list of approved bonding companies, and it is posted as a PDF on the sheriff's page. Pick a company from that list, not one that finds you by phone or text. Get the fee, the collateral, and the missed-court terms in writing.
What will a bonding company charge?
Georgia sets the ceiling. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-30(a), a company may take no more than 15 percent of the face amount of the bond, though it may charge a flat $50 for any one bonded charge even when that is more than 15 percent. A $2,000 bond, for example, tops out at $300. Companies often quote less, so compare two from the sheriff's list, and keep a copy of the signed papers.
Can I use a house or land?
A property bond can work, but the details for Colquitt County come from the sheriff and the court that set the bond. Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 17-6-12, says the sheriff of the county where the offense happened approves property for the restricted charges. Call 229-616-7430 and ask about deeds, tax values, and mortgages.
Why is there no bond listed in Colquitt?
A charge that only a superior court judge can set bond for will show no bond until that judge acts. A hold from probation, parole, or another county also stops release. The jail at 229-616-7430 can say which one applies.
What if the arrest was made by Moultrie police or another city officer?
Ask the arresting department where your relative is and for the report number. Then check Colquitt County Inmate Search. The county jail desk at 229-616-7430 can tell you if the booking has arrived.
Is there a chart of bond amounts for each charge?
The county pages post no fixed chart, so the number comes from the judge or the booking sheet. If the amount is blank, call the magistrate's office at 229-616-7450 and ask if a bond has been set.
What if the person arrested is under 17?
Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice sends youth from Colquitt County to the Crisp Regional Youth Detention Center, 130 Haralson Road, Cordele, GA 31015, at 229-271-4901. The adult search leaves out children, because juvenile records are closed to the public. Ask the center when the hearing will be.
How do I ask for a free lawyer?
Tell the judge at the first appearance that you cannot hire one, and bring proof of income. The Circuit Public Defender has an office in the courthouse at 9 South Main Street, Office 105, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 229-616-7070. A lawyer can also ask for a lower bond.
What if the person misses court, and how do I get cash back?
A missed date can bring a new warrant and cost you the bond. Call a lawyer and the clerk the same day. A cash bond is held by the court, so ask the clerk at 229-616-7420 how and when it is returned, and keep every receipt.
How do I avoid being cheated?
Money you send to a commissary or phone account is a deposit, not a bond. No deputy or clerk takes gift cards or app transfers to free a person. Hang up on pressure calls, and dial the jail yourself at 229-616-7430.
Is the Colquitt County Prison a state facility?
The Colquitt County Prison, also called a county correctional institution, is a state facility, so its inmates are not in the county's jail search. To look up someone housed there, use the Georgia state inmate search. The jail is the place for new arrests and bond; the prison holds people already sentenced.
What if federal agents made the arrest?
Not every arrest stays in county court. A federal charge from Colquitt County is filed in the Middle District of Georgia and heard in its Valdosta Division: 401 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA 31601, phone (229) 242-3616. 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.
Colquitt County bail contacts
- Jail
- Colquitt County Jail, 200 Veterans Parkway North, Moultrie, GA 31788; 229-616-7430
- Bond guide
- Colquitt County bail and bond help
- Sheriff
- P.O. Box 188, Moultrie, GA 31788
- Custody lookup
- Colquitt County Inmate Search
- Magistrate Court
- Courthouse Annex, 101 E. Central Avenue, Office 175, Moultrie; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 229-616-7450
- Clerk of Superior Court
- Courthouse, Room 214, 9 South Main Street, Moultrie; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 229-616-7420
- Public defender
- Courthouse, Office 105, 9 South Main Street, Moultrie; 229-616-7070
- Superior Court
- 229-616-7445
- Bonding companies
- Sheriff's page with the approved list
- Youth detention
- Crisp Regional Youth Detention Center, 130 Haralson Road, Cordele, GA 31015; 229-271-4901
- State inmate search
- Georgia state inmate search (for the Colquitt County Prison and other state facilities)
Colquitt County fees, rules, and numbers can be updated, and a judge may pick a different bond. Confirm with the jail or clerk before paying. This page offers general help only, not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Colquitt County Correctional Institution
The Colquitt County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Colquitt 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 Colquitt 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 Colquitt 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 Colquitt County Correctional Institution, or the courthouse in Colquitt County where the offense took place.
Call 229-616-7490 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Colquitt County inmate locator.
Colquitt County Correctional Institution
Address:
200 South Vanderburg Drive
Moultrie, GA 31768
Phone:
229-616-7490
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Colquitt County
Does Colquitt County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Colquitt County?
Who can set bail in Colquitt County?
When is bail set in Colquitt County Georgia?
Does Colquitt County have bail?
Yes, Colquitt County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Colquitt 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 Colquitt 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 Colquitt 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 Colquitt 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 Colquitt 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 Colquitt County Correctional Institution 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, Colquitt 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 Colquitt 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 Colquitt County have bail?
Yes, Colquitt County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Colquitt 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 Colquitt 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 Colquitt County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Colquitt 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 Colquitt County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Colquitt County Correctional Institution for more information about the jails in Colquitt County.
What options are there to pay bail in Colquitt 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 Colquitt County Correctional Institution for more information about posting bail in Colquitt 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 Colquitt 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 Colquitt County Correctional Institution 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.