Houston County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Houston County bail and bond: the detention center on Carl Vinson Parkway and the county courts
Adults, and 17-year-olds, arrested in Houston County are held at the Houston County Detention Center at 200 Carl Vinson Parkway in Warner Robins, a 665-bed jail run by the sheriff. Use Houston County Inmate Search to see whether the person is booked and what the bond is. The detention center takes calls at 478-218-4900 for questions the search cannot cover. A judge decides the amount, and you then pay the bail through the steps below.
Is my husband in the Houston County Detention Center?
Run his name through Houston County Inmate Search. If he is booked, the record shows the charges and the bond. A very new arrest may not appear for several hours.
When nothing comes up, call the detention center at 478-218-4900. Ask whether he is still in processing, or whether Perry, Warner Robins, or Centerville officers are holding him first.
How big is the jail, and who is held there?
The detention center, at 200 Carl Vinson Parkway in Warner Robins, opened in 2002 and holds up to 665 people. It takes men and women aged 17 and older who are charged with or convicted of misdemeanors or felonies. The county's jail page says pretrial inmates stay until they can bond out or go to their court date. A 24-hour medical unit is on site.
Which Houston County numbers matter on arrest day?
Use the detention center, 478-218-4900, for custody and release. The sheriff's office in Warner Robins is 478-542-2125; Sheriff Perry office is 478-218-4790, and the warrants line is 478-542-2095. For court questions, use the magistrate court at 478-987-4695 or the superior court clerk at 478-218-4720.
Where can I pay a bond, and when?
The county's jail and sheriff pages do not list a bonding window, its hours, or accepted forms of payment. Do not drive to the detention center on a guess. Call 478-218-4900 and ask: where do I pay, what hours, what forms of payment, and what do I bring. Jot down who you reached and when.
What happens at the first court hearing?
Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 17-4-26) says an arrested person must be brought before a judge within 72 hours. For most charges that is a magistrate judge. The Houston County Magistrate Court is at 89 Cohen Walker Drive, Warner Robins, GA 31088, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 478-987-4695. Ask for the hearing time and courtroom.
Is there a bond chart for common offenses in Houston County?
No chart was published on the county pages used for this guide, so no dollar figures appear here. The number for your person is on Houston County Inmate Search when a judge has set one. If the line is blank, the magistrate court at 478-987-4695 can say whether a hearing has happened.
Can I put property up instead of cash?
Georgia allows it. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-12, property can secure a bond when the sheriff of the county where the offense happened approves it. The statute does not set an equity amount, and the county pages do not either. Ask the detention center at 478-218-4900 whether the land must be in Houston County, what equity is needed, and which owners must sign.
Must I hire a surety company to get out?
Not always. A bondsman's price is capped by O.C.G.A. 17-6-30(a) at 15 percent of the bond, with a $50 minimum for each bonded charge. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-1 the arrest county's sheriff approves the surety. No Houston County bondsman list is posted online. Call 478-218-4900 and ask which companies the jail accepts, then get any price in writing.
Why would the court refuse bail?
On murder, rape, and armed robbery, bail belongs to a superior court judge alone (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1). A separate statute, O.C.G.A. 17-6-12, names many more offenses, among them burglary, DUI, and family violence, where no judge may free a person on an unsecured promise. Probation, parole, or another county's warrant can also hold someone.
Who handles the paperwork for a felony?
Felony cases go to superior court. The Clerk of Superior Court is at 201 Perry Parkway, Perry, GA 31069, and answers at 478-218-4720. Misdemeanors in the state court are handled at the same building, with the state court line at 478-218-4990.
Which lawyer is free for someone who cannot pay?
Houston County lists two public defender lines. For felonies in superior court, call 478-218-4870. For misdemeanors and traffic cases in state court, call 478-218-4876. If you are not sure who qualifies, the indigent defense coordinator is at 478-218-4846.
What if Perry, Warner Robins, or Centerville police made the arrest?
Ask the arresting officer where the person was taken and for the report number. Then check Houston County Inmate Search. Adults are normally booked into the county detention center, and ordinance cases may belong to the city's own court.
Where does a person under 17 go?
The Houston County Sheriff's juvenile division works with young people at the Juvenile Justice Complex, 206 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins, GA 31088 (478-542-2090). Juvenile Court is in the same building at 478-542-2060. When a judge orders a child held, the state sends youth from Houston County to the Crisp Regional Youth Detention Center, 130 Haralson Road, Cordele, GA 31015, 229-271-4901. Juvenile files are closed, so the adult search will not list a child.
What happens if a hearing is missed?
A judge can issue a warrant and keep the bond. If a bondsman posted it, the bondsman may seek the person's return. Contact a lawyer that day and the court clerk at 478-218-4720 to find the next date.
Is it safe to put money on the inmate account for bond?
No. Inmate account deposits buy calls, video visits, and commissary items. They do not release anyone. A caller who asks for gift cards or an app transfer to "bond" a person out is not the jail. Hang up and call 478-218-4900 yourself.
What if the charge is federal?
A federal charge goes to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, not to a county court. Houston County cases are heard in the Macon Division, William A. Bootle Federal Building & US Courthouse, 475 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201; the clerk's line is (478) 752-3497. 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.
Houston County bond contacts
- Jail
- Houston County Detention Center, 200 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins, GA 31088; 478-218-4900
- Bond guide
- Bail and bond instructions for the jail
- Custody lookup
- Houston County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- 202 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins, GA 31088; 478-542-2125
- Magistrate court
- 89 Cohen Walker Drive, Warner Robins, GA 31088; 478-987-4695
- Clerk of Superior Court
- 201 Perry Parkway, Perry, GA 31069; 478-218-4720
- State court
- 201 Perry Parkway, Perry; 478-218-4990
- Public defender
- Felony 478-218-4870; misdemeanor 478-218-4876; eligibility 478-218-4846
- Juvenile court
- 206 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins, GA 31088; 478-542-2060
- Youth detention
- Crisp RYDC, 130 Haralson Road, Cordele, GA 31015; 229-271-4901
Phone numbers, hours, and payment rules are subject to change, and a judge may set conditions that differ from anything above. Call the detention center before you travel or pay. Treat this as background reading, not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Houston County Detention Center
The Houston County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Houston County where the offense took place.
Call 478-218-4900 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Houston County inmate locator.
Houston County Detention Center
Address:
203 Perry Pkwy
Perry, GA 31069
Phone:
478-218-4900
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Houston County
Does Houston County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Houston County?
Who can set bail in Houston County?
When is bail set in Houston County Georgia?
Does Houston County have bail?
Yes, Houston County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston 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, Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston County have bail?
Yes, Houston County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Houston 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 Houston County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Houston County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Houston County.
What options are there to pay bail in Houston 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 Houston County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston 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.