Jefferson County Correctional Institution Inmate Bail & Bonds
Jefferson County bail and bond: the Louisville detention center and your next steps
Adults arrested in Jefferson County are held at the Jefferson County Detention Center, part of the Law Enforcement Center at 911 Clarks Mill Road in Louisville. Sheriff runs it. Use Jefferson County Inmate Search to see whether your person is inside and what bond was set. Call the Sheriff's Office at 478-625-7538 only for what the search leaves out. A judge can change any amount, so check again after the first hearing.
Is my person at the Louisville jail tonight?
Start with Jefferson County Inmate Search. Type the last name first if the first try fails. A fresh arrest can take a few hours to show up, so look again later in the day.
If the name still does not appear, call the Sheriff's Office at 478-625-7538 or 478-625-4014. Say whether the arrest came from a deputy or a city officer, and give a birth date.
Where exactly is the jail, and who is in charge?
The Jefferson County Sheriff runs the detention center. It sits inside the Law Enforcement Center, 911 Clarks Mill Road, Louisville, GA 30434. The county built that center in 2004, and the county website says it can house up to 126 people.
The same address houses Magistrate Court, so one trip can cover the jail and the first-hearing judge.
Is the Jefferson County Correctional Institution the same place?
No. The county website lists the Correctional Institute as its own medium-security facility for adult men, at 1159 Clarks Mill Road in Louisville. A new arrest is booked at the detention center instead. Use Jefferson County Inmate Search to find a person held by the county. If you think your family member is at the institute, its line is 478-625-7230, and the Sheriff's Office at 478-625-7538 can sort
It is a state facility, so look people up in the Georgia state inmate search, not the county search.
out the rest.When does a judge first see someone who was arrested?
Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 17-4-26, says a person arrested on a warrant must be taken before a judicial officer within 72 hours. The Magistrate Court is the usual first stop.
The court is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed on holidays. Its number is 478-625-8834. The judge reads the charge, talks about bail, and may set a later date.
How do I find out the bond amount?
The amount appears on Jefferson County Inmate Search after a judge or a written schedule sets it. A blank line often means the first hearing has not happened. Then call the Sheriff's Office at 478-625-7538 and ask whether each charge has an amount, because one charge may be set while another waits.
No posted Jefferson County bond schedule turned up, so this page lists no sample amounts. Ask the magistrate's office rather than guess.
Which bonding companies work with the jail?
The county's jail page names two companies allowed to work at the detention center: Anytime Bail Bonding at 478-625-3711 and Evans and Son Bonding at 478-625-8713. Jail staff are not allowed to recommend a company or explain the bonding process, so call these companies yourself.
Ask each one for the fee and any extra costs in writing. O.C.G.A. 17-6-30(a) says a bondsman may charge no more than 15 percent of the bond amount, though a charge of $50 per bonded offense is allowed even when that is more than 15 percent. The Georgia Department of Insurance regulates professional bondsmen.
Can I pay the whole bond myself instead?
Yes, if the judge allows a cash bond. Cash, a cashier's check, or a money order is the safest form to bring. Whether the jail takes cards at a lobby kiosk is a question for the Sheriff's Office at 478-625-7538.
The Clerk of Superior Court can also handle court-ordered bonds. Her page says that office accepts Visa or Mastercard and money orders for its fees but not cash. Ask the clerk at 478-625-7922 whether that applies to a bond.
Can land or a house be used for a property bond?
Maybe. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-12, release can be secured with property that the sheriff of the county where the offense happened approves. The code does not list the sheriff's tests.
Call the Sheriff's Office at 478-625-7538 before you collect papers. Ask how much equity is needed, whether land outside Jefferson County counts, and who must sign. Expect a slower process than cash or a bondsman.
Why would someone be held without any bond?
Some charges can be bailed only by a superior court judge. O.C.G.A. 17-6-1 lists them, including murder, rape, armed robbery, and some drug trafficking charges. Georgia also keeps a list of bail restricted offenses in 17-6-12, and a person charged with one cannot be freed on a simple promise to appear.
A hold from probation, parole, or another county can also stop release. The Clerk of Superior Court at 478-625-7922 can tell you which court has the case.
A deputy said family violence. Why is release slower?
After a warrantless arrest for family violence, Georgia law says the person cannot be bailed until taken before a judicial officer. Family violence charges are also kept off written bond schedules, so a judge sets the terms case by case.
Expect no-contact rules as a condition. Do not call or visit the other person, even if that person says it is fine.
Does the sheriff have the power to cut the bond?
No. Deputies follow the judge's order. A lawyer can ask for a bond hearing, and the judge will want to hear about work, family ties, and a steady local address. A short letter from an employer can help.
What if the arrest came from a city officer in Louisville or Wadley?
Louisville and the other towns have their own police officers, and the person will usually still be taken to the county detention center. Ask the officer for a report number, then check Jefferson County Inmate Search. For anything the search cannot show, call 478-625-7538. Ordinance cases may be heard in a different court than state charges.
Who pays for a lawyer if we cannot?
Jefferson County falls in the Middle Judicial Circuit. Its public defender office is at 120 North Main Street, Swainsboro, GA 30401, and the number is 478-237-9014. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ask the judge at the first hearing to appoint a lawyer if you cannot hire one.
Where is a teenager kept after an arrest?
The Department of Juvenile Justice assigns Jefferson County to the Augusta Regional Youth Detention Center, 3485 Mike Padgett Highway, Augusta, GA 30906. The state's main line is 404-508-6500. Records for children are private, so the adult search will not list a minor. Call the Clerk at 478-625-7922 to ask about the juvenile court date.
What if my person does not show up in court?
The judge can order an arrest and the bond can be forfeited. Call the clerk at 478-625-7922 the same day, then tell your lawyer or bondsman. A quick call can still save the bond.
When is bond money returned?
Cash given to the court is handled under the judge's order when the case ends, and fines and costs can come out of it. Keep your receipt with the case number and ask the clerk at 478-625-7922 how a return of cash is requested.
How can I spot a bond scam?
No court or jail asks for gift cards, crypto, or a transfer to a private person. Never pay a stranger who calls you. Hang up and dial 478-625-7538 yourself.
What happens with a federal arrest?
Federal cases from Jefferson County belong to the Southern District of Georgia, Augusta Division. The courthouse is 600 James Brown Blvd., Augusta, GA 30901, and the clerk answers at 706-849-4400. A federal magistrate judge holds the first hearing and sets any release terms. The U.S. Marshals Service keeps custody before trial, so the person may sit in a local jail that rents beds to the Marshals. After sentencing, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
Jefferson County bond contacts
- Jail
- Jefferson County Detention Center, 911 Clarks Mill Road, Louisville, GA 30434; Sheriff's Office 478-625-7538 or 478-625-4014
- Bond guide
- Detention center bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Jefferson County Inmate Search
- Bonding companies
- Anytime Bail Bonding 478-625-3711; Evans and Son Bonding 478-625-8713
- Clerk of Superior Court
- 202 East Broad Street, Louisville, GA 30434; 478-625-7922; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Magistrate Court
- 911 Clarks Mill Road, Louisville, GA 30434; 478-625-8834; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Public defender
- Middle Circuit, 120 North Main Street, Swainsboro, GA 30401; 478-237-9014
- Youth detention
- Augusta Regional Youth Detention Center, 3485 Mike Padgett Highway, Augusta, GA 30906; state line 404-508-6500
- State inmate search
- Georgia state inmate search (for the Jefferson County Prison and other state facilities)
Amounts, hours, and phone numbers change, and a judge can order something different. Check with the clerk or the Sheriff's Office before you hand over money. This is plain-language help and not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Jefferson County Correctional Institution
The Jefferson County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Correctional Institution, or the courthouse in Jefferson County where the offense took place.
Call 478-625-7230 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Jefferson County inmate locator.
Jefferson County Correctional Institution
Address:
1159 Clarks Mill Road
Louisville, GA 30434
Phone:
478-625-7230
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Jefferson County
Does Jefferson County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Jefferson County?
Who can set bail in Jefferson County?
When is bail set in Jefferson County Georgia?
Does Jefferson County have bail?
Yes, Jefferson County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Correctional Institution 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, Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County have bail?
Yes, Jefferson County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Jefferson County Correctional Institution for more information about the jails in Jefferson County.
What options are there to pay bail in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Correctional Institution for more information about posting bail in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Correctional Institution 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.