Columbia County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Columbia County bail and bond: the Appling detention center and the Evans courthouse
Adults arrested in Columbia County are held at the Columbia County Detention Center on County Camp Road in Appling, run by the Sheriff's Office. Search Columbia County Inmate Search first to see whether the person is booked and what the bond is. The detention center number is 706-541-0754. Bond is usually set by a magistrate judge at the courthouse complex at 640 Ronald Reagan Drive in Evans, not at the jail.
Is my loved one in the Columbia County Detention Center?
Put the name into Columbia County Inmate Search. The record should show the charge and any bond. If nothing appears, the booking may still be under way, so look again after a while. The detention center answers at 706-541-0754 for what the search cannot show.
Where is the jail?
It is the Columbia County Detention Center on County Camp Road in Appling, GA 30802, and the Sheriff's Office runs it. The sheriff lists its own address as 2273 County Camp Road. Evans, where the courts sit, is a different place, so do not drive to the courthouse looking for a prisoner.
Who sets the bond, and where?
Magistrate judges usually set bond, according to the county's Magistrate Court page. The court is at 640 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, GA 30809, and its listed number is 706-868-3316. The court does first appearances. Judges are on call every day of the year for arrest warrants, so a warrant can be signed at night.
What does the judge look at?
The county says bond is there to make sure the person comes back for trial, not to punish. The judge weighs the facts of the case and the person's history. Outside misdemeanors, a judge may refuse bond only when no amount would ensure the person appears or when the person is a danger to the community.
How soon must a judge see my loved one?
O.C.G.A. 17-4-26 says a person arrested on a warrant must be brought before a judicial officer within 72 hours. Call the Magistrate Court at 706-868-3316 and ask for the first appearance time. Ask also whether it is held at the courthouse or by video.
Which crimes need a superior court judge for bond?
Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-1, only a superior court judge may grant bond on a short list that includes murder, rape, armed robbery, trafficking, and aggravated child molestation. A lawyer can petition the superior court, which must set a hearing within ten days. Superior Court is also at 640 Ronald Reagan Drive.
Where do I pay a cash bond?
Call the detention center at 706-541-0754 and ask where cash is taken, the hours, and what forms of payment count. The county does not post a bonding window online. Ask for a receipt that names the case, and do not hand money to anyone outside the building.
Which bonding companies work in Columbia County?
Ask the jail desk for the list of companies it accepts. Some websites show companies with out-of-state phone numbers, so confirm that the company is licensed and does business here before you pay. Georgia limits the price. O.C.G.A. 17-6-30(a) lets a surety take at most 15 percent of the bond's face value, with a $50 floor for each bonded charge. So on a $5,000 bond the cap is $750. Get the fee, collateral, and missed-court terms in writing.
Can property be pledged?
Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 17-6-12, says property for a bail-restricted charge is approved by the sheriff of the county where the offense happened. For Columbia County, the detention center at 706-541-0754 can say what deed papers, tax records, and equity are needed.
What does "no bond" mean on the record?
It can mean a superior-court-only charge that has not yet been before that judge. A probation hold, an out-of-county warrant, or a federal hold also keeps a person in. Ask the detention center which one applies, then ask the Magistrate Court at 706-868-3316 about the next hearing.
What if a Grovetown or Harlem officer arrested my relative?
Ask the department for the report number and where the person was taken, then check Columbia County Inmate Search. Ask the jail desk if the booking has reached the detention center. Some city cases are heard in the city's own court, so ask which one has the case.
Is there a published bond chart for the county?
The county posts no chart of amounts. The magistrate decides, so the figure is on the booking record. If it is empty, ask the court at 706-868-3316 whether bond has been set.
What if the person arrested is a juvenile?
Youth from Columbia County go to the Augusta Regional Youth Detention Center, 3485 Mike Padgett Highway, Augusta, GA 30906, under the state Department of Juvenile Justice. The department's main line is 404-508-6500. Columbia County Juvenile Court is at 7045 Evans Town Center Boulevard, Evans, 706-868-3320. Because juvenile records are confidential, a child will not turn up in the adult search.
How do I get a public defender?
Ask the judge at the first appearance, and fill out the county's public defender application. The Columbia Circuit Public Defender is at 7045 Evans Town Center Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Evans, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 706-447-6750. Bring proof of income.
How do I avoid scams and get a refund?
A deposit to a commissary or phone account is not a bond. No court takes gift cards. Call the detention center at 706-541-0754 yourself. Keep every receipt, and ask the clerk of court how cash bonds come back when a case ends.
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. Columbia County cases are heard in the Augusta Division, 600 James Brown Blvd., Augusta, GA 30901; the clerk's line is 706-849-4400. 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.
Columbia County bail contacts
- Jail
- Columbia County Detention Center, County Camp Road, Appling, GA 30802; 706-541-0754
- Bond guide
- Columbia County jail bail and bond instructions
- Custody lookup
- Columbia County Inmate Search
- Magistrate Court
- 640 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, GA 30809; 706-868-3316
- Superior Court
- 640 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, GA 30809; 706-312-7230
- Public defender
- 7045 Evans Town Center Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Evans, GA 30809; 706-447-6750
- Juvenile Court
- 7045 Evans Town Center Boulevard, Evans, GA 30809; 706-868-3320
- Youth detention
- Augusta Regional Youth Detention Center, 3485 Mike Padgett Highway, Augusta, GA 30906; state Department of Juvenile Justice 404-508-6500
Columbia County hours, costs, and phone lines may change, and the judge has the last word on any bond. Ask the jail or court before you pay. This is a general guide, not advice from a lawyer.
How do Bail Bonds work at Columbia County Detention Center
The Columbia County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Columbia County where the offense took place.
Call 706-541-0754 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Columbia County inmate locator.
Columbia County Detention Center
Address:
2273 County Camp Road
Appling, GA 30802
Phone:
706-541-0754
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Columbia County
Does Columbia County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Columbia County?
Who can set bail in Columbia County?
When is bail set in Columbia County Georgia?
Does Columbia County have bail?
Yes, Columbia County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia 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, Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia County have bail?
Yes, Columbia County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Columbia 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 Columbia County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Columbia County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Columbia County.
What options are there to pay bail in Columbia 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 Columbia County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Columbia 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 Columbia 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 Columbia 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.