Miller County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Miller County bail and bond: the Colquitt jail, the courthouse, and your options
Adults arrested in Miller County are booked into the Miller County Jail, run by Sheriff at 300 West Pine Street, Colquitt. Use Miller County Inmate Search to see whether a person is in custody and what the bond is. The sheriff's office answers at 229-758-3421. You can post bail with money, a licensed bondsman, or property the sheriff approves.
Where do I look first if a Miller County deputy arrested my brother?
Start with Miller County Inmate Search. Enter his name and check for a booking record and a bond.
If nothing shows, call the sheriff's office at 229-758-3421. The sheriff runs the jail from 300 West Pine Street in Colquitt.
What office handles the jail in Colquitt?
The Miller County Jail is run by the Miller County Sheriff's Office. The county website lists the sheriff's address as 300 West Pine Street, Colquitt, GA 39837, and the phone as 229-758-3421.
Call that number before you drive over. Ask for the jail desk and say whether you are calling about a bond, a visit, or a hold.
Is there a bonding window at the Pine Street jail?
The county web pages do not name a bonding window or list its hours. A call to 229-758-3421 will settle three things: the spot in the building, the time of day, and the form of payment.
Do not pay a stranger who says they can deliver it for you.
Which judge hears the first appearance?
The Miller County Magistrate Court says it holds first appearance, bond, extradition, committal, and warrant hearings. Judge sits there. It is in the courthouse, 155 South First Street, Room 110, Colquitt, 229-758-4110.
The office is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 17-4-26) gives an officer 72 hours from a warrant arrest to bring the person before a judicial officer.
What are the bond amounts for DUI, theft, or drug charges here?
No bond schedule for Miller County could be read, so this page gives no figures. A wrong number could leave you short at the window.
Ask the magistrate court at 229-758-4110 whether a standing amount applies. Then compare it with what Miller County Inmate Search shows.
What is the most a bondsman may charge in Georgia?
A surety may take up to 15 percent of the bond, surcharges included, but may still ask for $50 per bonded charge (O.C.G.A. 17-6-30). Charging above that is a misdemeanor.
Phone two companies. Ask what collateral they want and what happens if the person does not show up in court.
Do I have to pay with cash?
No, there are three routes in Georgia: money, a licensed bondsman, or approved property. Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-1, any bond a judge sets must be covered at its full face amount through one of them.
If you pay cash, ask the jail what it accepts. A cashier's check or money order is common, but Miller County has not posted its own list. Georgia also limits cash bonds posted by one person to three per year, with a 2026 family exception (O.C.G.A. 17-6-15).
How would we post a deed instead of cash?
The sheriff of the county where the offense happened approves the property (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1 and 17-6-12). For an arrest in Miller County, that is the Miller County Sheriff.
The county's pages do not give a checklist or the equity it wants. Call the sheriff at 229-758-3421 first, then the clerk of superior court at 229-758-4102 about recording.
Why would a judge refuse bail altogether?
The Georgia Constitution (art. I, sec. I, para. XVII) deals with bail, and O.C.G.A. 17-6-1 limits who may grant it. Murder, rape, armed robbery, some drug trafficking, and certain repeat kidnapping, arson, assault, or burglary cases need a superior court judge.
Even for other charges, a judge can decline release when there is a flight or danger risk. A probation hold or out-of-county warrant also blocks it.
Who keeps the court file, and when are they open?
The Clerk of Superior Court has an office at 155 South First Street, Room 103, 229-758-4102. The office is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The clerk cannot give legal advice. Ask for the case number and the next court date.
Does Colquitt have a city lockup?
The county pages that could be read mention no city jail. Miller County's emergency calls go through the Miller-Baker E-911 center, which does not list a lockup either.
If a city officer made the arrest, ask for the report number and look up the person on Miller County Inmate Search.
How do we get a lawyer when money is tight?
Miller County is part of the Pataula Judicial Circuit. Its Public Defender Office is at 575 College Street, Blakely, GA 39823, 229-758-6236. A satellite office at 181 Cuthbert Street in Colquitt is listed for other counties.
Ask the judge to appoint that office at the first appearance.
My nephew is 16. Where is he held?
Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice assigns Miller County to the Judge Thomas Jefferson Loftiss II Regional Youth Detention Center, 101 Oakwood Trace, Thomasville, GA 31792. The state's general line is 404-508-6500.
Records about young people are kept private, so the adult search will not list him. Ask the clerk at 229-758-4102 which court has the case.
What if she doesn't come to court?
Expect a warrant and a loss of the bond. If land secured it, that land is at risk. Reach a lawyer the same day, and ask the magistrate court at 229-758-4110 about resetting the date.
How do I claim cash bail, and what does a scam look like?
Once the case is over, whoever posted the cash can claim it with proof the case is resolved, such as court records or a prosecutor's letter. Cash nobody claims for two years goes to the county after a 90-day notice (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4).
If a message pushes you to send money by app or gift card within minutes, it is a scam. Check with the sheriff at 229-758-3421 or the clerk at 229-758-4102.
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. Miller 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.
Miller County bail contacts
- Jail
- Miller County Jail, 300 West Pine Street, Colquitt, GA 39837; 229-758-3421
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Miller County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Sheriff's Office; 229-758-3421
- Magistrate court
- 155 South First Street, Room 110, Colquitt, GA 39837; 229-758-4110; Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Superior court clerk
- 155 South First Street, Room 103, Colquitt; 229-758-4102
- Public defender
- Pataula Circuit, 575 College Street, Blakely; 229-758-6236
- Youth detention
- Judge Thomas Jefferson Loftiss II Regional Youth Detention Center, 101 Oakwood Trace, Thomasville; state line 404-508-6500
Numbers, hours, fees, and bond amounts can change at any time, and a judge may order an amount that surprises you. Verify with the sheriff before paying. This guide is for general information only and is no substitute for a lawyer.
How do Bail Bonds work at Miller County Jail
The Miller County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Miller 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 Miller 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 Miller 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 Miller County Jail, or the courthouse in Miller County where the offense took place.
Call 229-758-3421 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Miller County inmate locator.
Miller County Jail
Address:
300 West Pine Street
Colquitt, GA 39837
Phone:
229-758-3421
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Miller County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Miller County?
Who can set bail in Miller County?
When is bail set in Miller County Georgia?
Does Miller County have bail?
Yes, Miller County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Miller 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 Miller 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 Miller 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 Miller 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 Miller 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 Miller 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, Miller 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 Miller 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 Miller County have bail?
Yes, Miller County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Miller 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 Miller 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 Miller County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Miller 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 Miller County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Miller County Jail for more information about the jails in Miller County.
What options are there to pay bail in Miller 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 Miller County Jail for more information about posting bail in Miller 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 Miller 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 Miller 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.