Lee County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lee County bail and bond: the Leesburg jail and the steps that follow
Adults arrested in Lee County are held at the Lee County Jail, which the Sheriff's Office calls the Criminal Justice Center, 119 Pinewood Road, Leesburg. Sheriff runs it. Start with Lee County Inmate Search to see if your person is booked and what bond is set. For anything else, the main line is 229-759-3334. The courthouse, the annex that houses Magistrate Court, and the jail are all close together in Leesburg, so one trip can cover a lot.
How can I tell if my daughter is in the Leesburg jail?
Run her name through Lee County Inmate Search. A match tells you she is booked and may show the charge and bond. If nothing appears, try again in a few hours.
Then call the Sheriff's Office at 229-759-3334. The non-emergency line, 229-759-6012, is also listed for weekday hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What is the Criminal Justice Center?
It is the Lee County Sheriff's jail and office building at 119 Pinewood Road, Leesburg, GA 31763. The county describes it as a 109-bed facility that mostly holds people waiting for court, people sentenced and waiting for transfer to a state or federal facility, and some people sentenced to a year or less for certain misdemeanors.
Within how many hours must she see a judge?
Under O.C.G.A. 17-4-26, a person arrested on a warrant must be taken before a judicial officer within 72 hours. Lee County's Magistrate Court handles warrants and bond hearings.
The court is in the Courthouse Annex, 104 A Leslie Highway, Leesburg, and is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 229-759-6016 or 229-759-6031. Associate judges also serve.
Where do I read the bond amount?
Look at Lee County Inmate Search first. If the field is empty, ask the Sheriff's Office at 229-759-3334 whether a judge has set an amount for each charge.
No bond schedule for Lee County turned up on the county or circuit pages, so no sample amounts appear here.
Where do I hand over a bond payment?
The Sheriff's Office page does not describe a bond window, so phone 229-759-3334 to ask where and when. The Clerk of Superior Court is in the County Courthouse at 100 Leslie Highway and answers at 229-759-6018, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring photo ID, the full name, and the case details.
Does Lee County take cards?
That is for the jail to answer. Cash, cashier's checks, and money orders are the standard choices for a Georgia bond. A card may be allowed at a kiosk with a fee, but that is not confirmed for Lee County. Ask first and keep your receipt.
Should I call a bondsman?
A professional bondsman can post the bond for a fee when you cannot pay the full sum. The most the law lets one charge is 15 percent of the bond, or $50 per bonded charge if that figure is larger (O.C.G.A. 17-6-30(a)). The state insurance department licenses them. Get every cost and the contract on paper before signing.
The sheriff's web page lists no approved companies. Ask 229-759-3334 how a bondsman is cleared to work at the jail.
Can my land or house secure the bond?
It can, with the sheriff's approval. O.C.G.A. 17-6-12 lets secured release use property approved by the sheriff in the county where the offense happened. The law does not list the exact equity or documents.
Call 229-759-3334, and ask about equity, deeds, tax values, and whether property in a different county is accepted.
Why is no bond listed on her record?
Only a superior court judge may grant bail on some charges. O.C.G.A. 17-6-1 names murder, rape, and armed robbery, among others. The 17-6-12 list of bail restricted offenses blocks release on a signature alone. A probation hold or an out-of-county warrant can also keep a person in.
The Clerk of Superior Court, 229-759-6018, can tell you how a superior court request is filed.
Can the sheriff drop the amount?
No. The sheriff follows the order of the judge. To seek a lower amount, a lawyer files for a bond hearing, and the Magistrate Court handles those hearings. Bring proof of work and a local address.
What if a Leesburg officer made the arrest?
A city or state officer will still usually bring the person to the county jail. Ask for a report number, look the name up on Lee County Inmate Search, and call 229-759-3334 if it does not show.
Who is the free lawyer?
Lee County is in the Southwestern Judicial Circuit. The public defender's office is at 510 West Lamar Street, 2nd Floor, Americus, GA 31709, and the number is 229-928-4610. The page lists hours of Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. No office in Leesburg is listed. Ask the judge for an appointed lawyer when you first appear.
Where is a Lee County teenager detained?
Lee County youth who are held go to the Crisp Regional Youth Detention Center, 130 Haralson Road, Cordele, GA 31015, under the state Department of Juvenile Justice. The state office is at 404-508-6500. A minor's file is private, so the adult search will not list the child. Ask the clerk at 229-759-6018 about the juvenile hearing.
What if he is late to court?
The judge may issue an arrest order and forfeit the bond. Call the clerk at 229-759-6018 right away, then your lawyer or bondsman.
Does the court give cash back?
What happens to cash held by the court is decided by the judge's order when the case ends, and fines and costs can come out of it. Ask the clerk at 229-759-6018 how to ask, and bring the receipt.
What does a bond scam look like in Lee County?
A scammer wants gift cards, crypto, or a wire to a stranger. No jail or court does that. If you feel pressed, stop and call 229-759-3334 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. Lee County cases are heard in the Albany Division, 201 West Broad Avenue, Albany, GA 31701; the clerk's line is (229) 430-8432. 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.
Lee County bond contacts
- Jail
- Lee County Jail (Criminal Justice Center), 119 Pinewood Road, Leesburg, GA 31763; 229-759-3334; non-emergency 229-759-6012
- Bond guide
- Jail bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Lee County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Sheriff's Office; office hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Magistrate Court
- Courthouse Annex, 104 A Leslie Highway, Leesburg, GA 31763; 229-759-6016 or 229-759-6031
- Clerk of Superior Court
- County Courthouse, 100 Leslie Highway, Leesburg, GA 31763; 229-759-6018
- Public defender
- Southwestern Circuit, 510 West Lamar Street, 2nd Floor, Americus, GA 31709; 229-928-4610
- Youth detention
- Crisp Regional Youth Detention Center, 130 Haralson Road, Cordele, GA 31015; state line 404-508-6500
Hours, fees, and amounts change, and a judge may order a different bond than you expect. Phone the jail before any payment. This page is meant as readable help, not as advice from a lawyer.
How do Bail Bonds work at Lee County Jail
The Lee County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee County Jail, or the courthouse in Lee County where the offense took place.
Call 229-759-3334 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Lee County inmate locator.
Lee County Jail
Address:
119 Pinewood Road
Leesburg, GA 31763
Phone:
229-759-3334
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lee County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lee County?
Who can set bail in Lee County?
When is bail set in Lee County Georgia?
Does Lee County have bail?
Yes, Lee County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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, Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee County have bail?
Yes, Lee County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Lee 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 Lee County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Lee County Jail for more information about the jails in Lee County.
What options are there to pay bail in Lee 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 Lee County Jail for more information about posting bail in Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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.