Dougherty County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Dougherty County bail and bond: the Albany jail and the city bond desk
Adults arrested in Dougherty County are held at the Dougherty County Jail, 1302 Evelyn Avenue, Albany, a large pretrial jail. Use Dougherty County Inmate Search to see if the person is in custody and what the bail is. The jail's line is 229-430-6500. Albany city charges are paid at a different place than county charges, and the sections below explain each bond route.
How do I tell whether my son is at the Evelyn Avenue jail?
Look up the full name in Dougherty County Inmate Search. It shows custody and the bail line. The jail is a large pretrial building at 1302 Evelyn Avenue, Albany, and its main line is 229-430-6500. For booking questions the intake desk is 229-430-6531.
A person who was arrested only minutes ago may not be in the search yet.
Was the arrest made by Albany police, the sheriff, or the state patrol?
It decides where you pay. The City of Albany says that if your relative is held on state charges, or by the county police, the Sheriff's Office, or the Georgia State Patrol, you deal with the county jail. The city's own number for that is 229-431-2153, and the jail's main line is 229-430-6500.
If the charge is a city ordinance charge, the City of Albany takes its own bonds. That is covered next.
Where do I pay a city of Albany bond?
The City of Albany accepts cash bonds, bonding company bonds, and property bonds for its charges. From Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays, go to the City Treasurer's Office, 240 Pine Avenue, 229-431-2118. After hours, on weekends, and on holidays, bonds are taken at the main desk of the Albany police at 201 West Oglethorpe Boulevard, 229-431-2100.
Where do I pay a county bond?
The county's jail pages describe no bonding window, hours, or payment types. Call the jail at 229-430-6500 and ask who takes bonds, when, and in what form. For the Sheriff's Office, 225 Pine Avenue, use 229-302-3600.
Georgia treats a full cash payment as a deposit with a receipt (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4). Keep that receipt and the case number.
How much is the bond for my charge?
A judge or schedule sets it, and the county posts no bond schedule, so no dollar amounts appear here. The superior court fee list online covers court costs, not bail. Read the amount in Dougherty County Inmate Search. Georgia bars excessive bail and does not allow a misdemeanor to be refused bail (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1).
Who are the magistrate judges, and where do they sit?
Chief Judge, Judge, and Judge serve the Magistrate Court. It issues warrants and holds committal hearings. The county lists the court's number as 229-431-3216 and its address as 222 Pine Avenue, Albany. Hours are not posted, so call first.
What about Albany Municipal Court and in-custody arraignments?
Albany Municipal Court, 240 Pine Avenue, Room 150, handles city charges. It holds in-custody arraignments at the county jail at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Its number is 229-431-2865, and the office is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Does the jail run a pretrial release program?
Yes. The inmate handbook describes a Pretrial Release Program that a Pretrial Services deputy selects people for. A person needs a bond on all charges, five good references, a valid address, a working phone, and must follow a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew unless working. A forcible felony charge, a hold from another agency, or a failure-to-appear charge makes a person ineligible. Ask the jail at 229-430-6500 whether your relative can be considered.
Is a bondsman a good idea?
A bondsman charges a fee, which Georgia caps at 15 percent of the bond's face amount, with a $50 minimum for each bonded charge (O.C.G.A. 17-6-30). On a $10,000 bond, 15 percent is $1,500. That law has no refund rule, so read the contract. Sureties need the sheriff's approval (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1(j)), so ask the Sheriff's Office at 229-302-3600 which companies it accepts for county charges. The City of Albany points families to the local phone directory for companies.
Can real estate be used?
For city charges, the City says it accepts property bonds. For county charges, Georgia allows property the sheriff approves in the county where the offense occurred (O.C.G.A. 17-6-12). The county posts no rules on equity or papers, so call 229-302-3600 before you collect deeds.
What does no bond mean?
It can mean no judge has set an amount, or that parole, probation, or another county has a hold. A handful of charges, including murder, rape, and armed robbery, can be bailed only by a superior court judge (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1(a)). Ask a lawyer to petition that court, which must hold a hearing within ten days. The Clerk of Superior Court is at 229-431-2198.
Can any charge be released on a promise alone?
Georgia lists many bail-restricted offenses, such as DUI, burglary, and family violence (O.C.G.A. 17-6-12). For those, the release has to be secured with cash, a bondsman, or sheriff-approved property.
How soon will my relative see a judge?
For a warrant arrest, within 72 hours of the arrest (O.C.G.A. 17-4-26). Call the jail at 229-430-6500 for the date.
Where do I get a free lawyer?
The Dougherty Circuit Public Defender is at 225 Pine Avenue, Room 100, Albany, 229-483-6240, open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The jail handbook says a person who qualifies and is released before a lawyer is assigned must report to that office within 72 hours, and it lists a $50 application fee.
Which youth center does Albany use?
A child's record is private, so Dougherty County Inmate Search will not list one. Georgia sends Dougherty County youth to the Terrell Regional Youth Detention Center, 1666 Albany Highway, Dawson, GA 39842, 229-995-8550. The state agency's headquarters line is 404-508-6500.
What if my cousin skips his next date?
A judge can issue a warrant and keep the bond. Ask the clerk at 229-431-2198 for the next date, then call a lawyer.
When is cash returned, and how do I avoid scams?
Cash returns after the case ends, less fines and costs, and unclaimed cash can go to the county after two years (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4). A bondsman's fee follows its contract. No office frees anyone for gift cards or app transfers, so call the jail yourself at 229-430-6500.
What if federal agents made the arrest?
Not every arrest stays in county court. A federal charge from Dougherty County is filed in the Middle District of Georgia and heard in its Albany Division: 201 West Broad Avenue, Albany, GA 31701, phone (229) 430-8432. 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.
Dougherty County bond contacts
- Jail
- Dougherty County Jail, 1302 Evelyn Avenue, Albany, GA 31705; 229-430-6500; intake 229-430-6531
- Bond guide
- Jail bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Dougherty County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Sheriff, 225 Pine Avenue, Albany, GA 31701; 229-302-3600
- City bonds
- City Treasurer 229-431-2118 (weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.); Albany police main desk, 201 West Oglethorpe Boulevard, 229-431-2100 (nights, weekends, holidays)
- Magistrate court
- 222 Pine Avenue, Albany, GA 31701; 229-431-3216
- Clerk of Superior Court
- 225 Pine Avenue, Suite 126, Albany, GA 31701; 229-431-2198; weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Municipal court
- 240 Pine Avenue, Room 150, Albany; 229-431-2865
- Public defender
- 225 Pine Avenue, Room 100, Albany, GA 31701; 229-483-6240
- Juvenile
- Terrell Regional Youth Detention Center, 1666 Albany Highway, Dawson, GA 39842; 229-995-8550
Hours, fees, and phone numbers change, and a judge can order a different amount in a case. Have each office read the final total back before you pay. Use this page for orientation only; it does not replace a lawyer.
How do Bail Bonds work at Dougherty County Jail
The Dougherty County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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 Dougherty County Jail, or the courthouse in Dougherty County where the offense took place.
Call 229-430-6500 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Dougherty County inmate locator.
Dougherty County Jail
Address:
1302 Evelyn Avenue
Albany, GA 31705
Phone:
229-430-6500
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Dougherty County
Does Dougherty County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dougherty County?
Who can set bail in Dougherty County?
When is bail set in Dougherty County Georgia?
Does Dougherty County have bail?
Yes, Dougherty County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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, Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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 Dougherty County have bail?
Yes, Dougherty County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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 Dougherty County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Dougherty 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 Dougherty County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Dougherty County Jail for more information about the jails in Dougherty County.
What options are there to pay bail in Dougherty 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 Dougherty County Jail for more information about posting bail in Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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 Dougherty 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.