Evans County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Evans County bail and bond: where prisoners are held and how to post bond
Where an Evans County prisoner sleeps matters. Some Evans arrests are booked at the Tattnall County Jail in Reidsville instead of in Claxton, so think of the jail that serves this county as possibly being in another county. The Evans County jail listings show both places. Use Evans County Inmate Search to confirm where the person is and what the bond is. Sheriff' office in Claxton, 912-739-1611, can say where a prisoner was taken, and the Tattnall jail line is 912-557-6778. Because the person may sit in one county while the charge belongs to another, ask each office which one handles your question.
1. Why would an Evans County arrest end up in Reidsville?
Small Georgia counties often pay a neighbor to hold their prisoners, and Evans has been listed as using the Tattnall County Jail in Reidsville. The bond still comes from an Evans County judge, and the case is still heard in Evans County. Call the Evans sheriff at 912-739-1611 to learn where your person is, then 912-557-6778 to confirm the Tattnall booking before you drive.
2. How do I look the person up?
Type the name into Evans County Inmate Search. If the name is missing, call 912-557-6778 and ask whether an Evans County prisoner is housed there under that name. A person who was arrested in the last few hours may not have a record yet. Ask the desk for the spelling they have on file.
3. Which sheriff has to approve a bond?
Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-1(j), a sheriff must accept bail that the law or the court allows, as long as the sureties are approved by the sheriff of the county where the offense happened. For an Evans offense that means the Evans sheriff, even if the person is sitting in Tattnall. Ask the Evans sheriff at 912-739-1611 and the Tattnall desk at 912-557-6778 how the two offices share the paperwork.
4. Where do I pay, Claxton or Reidsville?
Georgia law lets a bond be posted with cash equal to the whole amount, with a receipt on the spot (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4). Which office takes the cash for an Evans case is not something to guess. Phone 912-557-6778, ask whether payment is at the Tattnall jail or at an Evans County court office, and ask what hours apply. Bring photo ID and the booking number.
5. Can a bondsman help with a Reidsville booking?
Yes, if the charge is not one that bars it. A bondsman works under O.C.G.A. 17-6-50 and charges a fee that the court does not control. Georgia caps the fee at 15 percent of the bond's face amount and lets a bondsman charge at least $50 per bonded charge (O.C.G.A. 17-6-30(a)). Choose one who is approved for Evans County cases, and get the fee, collateral, and missed-court rules in writing. The county bail and bond pages give general steps.
6. What if the family owns land in Evans County?
Property can back a bond when the sheriff approves it (O.C.G.A. 17-6-12). The Evans sheriff, 912-739-1611, is the one to ask, since the offense is in Evans County. Expect to prove who owns the land, what is owed on it, and its value. Every owner should plan to sign. The process can take days, so ask early.
7. Can a deputy take bail on a traffic stop?
In a narrow set of cases, yes. Georgia allows county officers who enforce certain laws, such as traffic and game and fish laws, to accept a cash bond instead of making an arrest, but only outside city limits and only when a court of record has authorized that officer (O.C.G.A. 17-6-5). The officer must give a receipt. Ask the deputy which charges qualify.
8. Which charges need cash, a bondsman, or approved property?
Bail restricted offenses under O.C.G.A. 17-6-12 cannot be released on a signature. They include armed robbery, aggravated battery, burglary, DUI, family violence, and many drug cases. A recent bail-jumping conviction, or a failure-to-appear warrant in the past five years, can also bar a signature release.
9. When does a judge first hear the case?
An officer who arrests under a warrant has to bring the person to a judge within 72 hours (O.C.G.A. 17-4-26). Since the person may be held in another county, ask the Tattnall desk whether first appearance is done by video. The Clerk of Superior Court at 123 West Main Street in Claxton, 912-739-3868, can give you court dates.
10. Who decides if only a superior court judge may grant bail?
The law lists the offenses. Murder, rape, armed robbery, and aggravated stalking are on it, as is first-degree motor vehicle hijacking (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1(a)). If your person's charge is on the list, a petition to the superior court brings a hearing within ten days (17-6-1(d)).
11. What can a lawyer do about a high bond?
A lawyer can ask the judge to review it and can show job, family, and address ties to Evans County. The state constitution's ban on excessive bail is Article I, Section I, Paragraph XVII. The sooner the request is filed, the sooner a judge looks at it.
12. Where is a juvenile from Evans County held?
The Claxton Regional Youth Detention Center, 3609 Bill Hodges Road, Claxton, GA 30417, 912-739-4807, serves Evans County and sits in the county seat. Children do not show on the adult search. Call the center to confirm, and ask the court for the hearing date.
13. How do we get a public defender?
Evans County is in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, which lists its main Public Defender office at 201 South Main Street, Suite 2400, Hinesville, 912-369-6338, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No Evans satellite office is listed, so call Hinesville and tell the judge at first appearance that you need a lawyer.
14. What if my person misses court?
A judge must issue an arrest order for a released person who skips court with no good reason (O.C.G.A. 17-6-12(e)). The bond can be lost. Call a lawyer the same day. Do not wait for a deputy to show up at the door.
15. Will I see my cash again?
Usually, after the case ends and less any fines or fees. If cash bail sits unclaimed, Georgia sends it to the county general fund after two years and a 90-day claim window that starts when notice is mailed (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4). Keep the receipt.
16. How do I steer clear of bond scams?
Hang up on anyone demanding gift cards, crypto, or a transfer to a person. Money added to a jail account for calls or snacks is a deposit and not bail. Verify any number yourself, starting with 912-557-6778.
Which federal court covers this county?
If agents such as the FBI, DEA or ATF made the arrest, the case is federal. For Evans County, that means the Southern District of Georgia, Statesboro Division, at 52 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458 (not always fully staffed) (912-650-4020). 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.
Evans County bail contacts
- Sheriff
- Claxton, GA; 912-739-1611
- Superior court clerk
- 123 West Main Street, Claxton, GA 30417; 912-739-3868
- Jail
- Tattnall County Jail, Reidsville, GA, where some Evans prisoners are held; 912-557-6778. See the Evans County jail listings
- Bond guide
- Evans County bail and bond pages
- Custody lookup
- Evans County Inmate Search
- Public defender
- Atlantic Circuit, 201 South Main Street, Suite 2400, Hinesville, GA 31313; 912-369-6338
- Juvenile
- Claxton Regional Youth Detention Center, 3609 Bill Hodges Road, Claxton, GA 30417; 912-739-4807
Bail amounts, hours, payment rules, and phone numbers can change, and a judge can order a different amount. Confirm with the sheriff or the court before you send money. This page is a general guide and not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Evans County Jail
The Evans County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Evans 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 Evans 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 Evans 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 Evans County Jail, or the courthouse in Evans County where the offense took place.
Call 912-557-6778 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Evans County inmate locator.
Evans County Jail
Address:
Evans County Jail
Claxton, GA
Phone:
912-557-6778
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Evans County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Evans County?
Who can set bail in Evans County?
When is bail set in Evans County Georgia?
Does Evans County have bail?
Yes, Evans County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Evans 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 Evans 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 Evans 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 Evans 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 Evans 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 Evans 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, Evans 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 Evans 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 Evans County have bail?
Yes, Evans County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Evans 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 Evans 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 Evans County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Evans 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 Evans County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Evans County Jail for more information about the jails in Evans County.
What options are there to pay bail in Evans 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 Evans County Jail for more information about posting bail in Evans 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 Evans 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 Evans 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.