Fannin County Adult Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Fannin County bail and bond: the Blue Ridge detention center and what to do next
Adults arrested in Fannin County are booked at the Fannin County Adult Detention Center, 645 West First Street, Blue Ridge, directly behind the courthouse. Look the person up with Fannin County Inmate Search to see whether they are booked and what the bond is. The detention center answers at 706-632-2045 if the search leaves questions. The nearest public defender office is in Ellijay, in the next county, so keep that in mind if you need a lawyer provided by the state.
1. Is my family member in the Blue Ridge detention center?
Check Fannin County Inmate Search for a booking and a bond figure. If the record is blank, the arrest may be too fresh to show. Call the detention center at 706-632-2045 after a few hours with the full name and birth date. Ask whether the person was brought in by the sheriff, Blue Ridge police, or another agency.
2. What do I ask the desk beyond 'is he there'?
Ask whether each charge has a bond, whether there are holds from another county, and whether the person is waiting on a judge. A hold means paying one bond may not open the door. Write down the name of whoever you speak with and the time.
3. How is a cash bond paid at the detention center?
Georgia lets a person post bond by depositing cash equal to the bond, and the person who accepts it must give a receipt and log it (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4). The sheriff's page says a cash bond takes the exact bond amount in cash or certified U.S. funds, plus a $20 bond fee. Call 706-632-2045 to ask when the counter is open, because no posting hours are listed. Bring photo ID and the booking number.
4. Should we use a bondsman in Fannin County?
A professional bondsman is allowed under O.C.G.A. 17-6-50 for most charges, and the fee is your cost, not a court charge. In Fannin County only the sheriff may authorize a bondsman to work here, and the sheriff's page lists Fast X-IT Bonding at 706-949-5935, Williams Bail Bonding at 706-851-4422, and Smith Bonding Company, whose number you should confirm with the detention center. State law lets a bondsman charge up to 15 percent of the bond, with a $50 floor per bonded charge (O.C.G.A. 17-6-30(a)), and the sheriff's page adds the $20 bond fee and says the bondsman's fee is not returned. Ask for the collateral and the rule for a missed hearing in writing. The jail's bond instructions give the general steps.
5. Can a cabin or lot in the mountains count as security?
Yes, if it is real property in Fannin County. The sheriff's page asks for the latest property tax receipt, a copy of the warranty deed, and photo ID from every required owner, and the sheriff places a lien until the case ends (O.C.G.A. 17-6-12 gives the sheriff of the county where the offense happened the approval). Call 706-632-2045 to ask how much equity is needed. A person who posted a bond must bring the defendant back to the jail before release can be processed.
6. Which judge decides the bond for a Fannin arrest?
For most charges, a magistrate or other court of inquiry judge sets it (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1(b)). For a list of serious offenses, including murder, rape, and armed robbery, only a superior court judge can grant bail. The detention center at 706-632-2045 can tell you which court has your case.
7. My relative was told he cannot get out on his own signature. Why?
Georgia law bars that kind of release for bail restricted offenses and for anyone with a bail-jumping conviction in the last five years or a failure-to-appear bench warrant in that time (O.C.G.A. 17-6-12(b)). If the record is wrong, the person can say so, and the prosecutor then has to prove it. Bring a lawyer into that argument.
8. How soon is the first court date?
For an arrest on a warrant, the person must be brought before a judge within 72 hours (O.C.G.A. 17-4-26). A Friday arrest can mean a Monday hearing. Ask the detention center when the next first appearance is held.
9. How can we challenge a bond that feels too high?
Hire a lawyer, or ask for a public defender, then collect proof of work, family in the area, and a home address. Georgia's Constitution bars excessive bail (Article I, Section I, Paragraph XVII). On a superior-court-only charge, a petition leads to a hearing within ten days (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1(d)).
10. What if Blue Ridge police made the arrest?
Ask the officer for the report number and where the person was taken, then confirm the booking on Fannin County Inmate Search. City ordinance cases are heard in city court, so ask the officer which date is on the paperwork.
11. Where do Fannin County juveniles go?
The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice sends Fannin County youth to the Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center, 2735 Underwood Road NE, Dalton, GA 30721, 706-272-2309. Records for children are private and will not show on the adult search. Call the center to confirm a placement.
12. Who is the public defender for Fannin County?
The Appalachian Judicial Circuit Public Defender serves Fannin, Gilmer, and Pickens counties from one office, 1 Broad Street, Suite 001, Ellijay, 706-698-7322. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No Blue Ridge office is listed, so call Ellijay first. Ask the judge for a public defender at the first hearing.
13. What happens when someone misses court?
A judge must order an arrest for a released person who fails to appear without a good excuse (O.C.G.A. 17-6-12(e)). The bond may be forfeited. Call a lawyer or the detention center that day, and ask the Clerk of Superior Court at 706-632-2039 for the new date.
14. When is my cash returned?
Cash paid for a bond generally comes back when the case is over, less any court-ordered fines or fees. Georgia sends cash nobody claims to the county after two years, once notice is mailed and a 90-day window passes (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4). Keep the receipt.
15. How can Fannin families protect themselves from scams?
Refuse any request for gift cards, crypto, or a transfer to a person. Money put on a jail account does not release anyone. Call the detention center at 706-632-2045 yourself.
What if federal agents made the arrest?
Not every arrest stays in county court. A federal charge from Fannin County is filed in the Northern District of Georgia and heard in its Gainesville Division: Sidney O. Smith Federal Building & US Courthouse, 121 Spring Street SE, Room 201, Gainesville, GA 30501-3789, phone 678-450-2760. 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.
Fannin County bail contacts
- Jail
- Fannin County Adult Detention Center, 645 West First Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513; 706-632-2045
- Bond guide
- Detention center bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Fannin County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's office
- 645 West First Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513; 706-632-2044
- Superior court clerk
- 400 West Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513; 706-632-2039
- Public defender
- Appalachian Circuit, 1 Broad Street, Suite 001, Ellijay, GA 30540; 706-698-7322
- Juvenile
- Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center, 2735 Underwood Road NE, Dalton, GA 30721; 706-272-2309
Court orders, jail rules, and phone numbers in Fannin County can change without notice. Confirm the details for your case with the detention center before paying anything. This page is not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Fannin County Adult Detention Center
The Fannin County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Fannin 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 Fannin 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 Fannin 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 Fannin County Adult Detention Center, or the courthouse in Fannin County where the offense took place.
Call 706-632-2045 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Fannin County inmate locator.
Fannin County Adult Detention Center
Address:
645 West First Street
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Phone:
706-632-2045
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Fannin County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Fannin County?
Who can set bail in Fannin County?
When is bail set in Fannin County Georgia?
Does Fannin County have bail?
Yes, Fannin County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Fannin 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 Fannin 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 Fannin 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 Fannin 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 Fannin 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 Fannin County Adult 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, Fannin 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 Fannin 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 Fannin County have bail?
Yes, Fannin County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Fannin 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 Fannin 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 Fannin County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Fannin 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 Fannin County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Fannin County Adult Detention Center for more information about the jails in Fannin County.
What options are there to pay bail in Fannin 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 Fannin County Adult Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Fannin 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 Fannin 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 Fannin County Adult 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.