Murray County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Murray County bail and bond: the Chatsworth jail and what to do first
People arrested in Murray County are held at the Murray County Jail on G.I. Maddox Parkway in Chatsworth. Look the person up on Murray County Inmate Search to see if they are in custody and what bail was set. Use the phone for what the search cannot tell you: the jail line is 706-695-4592. A judge sets the bond, usually at a first appearance within 72 hours, so the amount can change.
Is my person sitting in the Murray County Jail tonight?
Type the full name into Murray County Inmate Search. It tells you whether the person is booked and what bail was set. A booking that is only minutes old may not appear yet, so try again in an hour or two.
The county says the same sheriff's line, 706-695-4592, also reports the status of an arrested person. When the recording starts, choose option 2 for the jail.
Where is the jail, and who is in charge of it?
The Murray County Jail sits at 810 1/2 G.I. Maddox Parkway in Chatsworth, GA 30705, at the end of Civic Drive next to the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff runs both. Mail goes to P.O. Box 1129, Chatsworth, GA 30705.
The sheriff's office desk is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the county. For after-hours questions, use the jail option on the same number, 706-695-4592.
What happens in the first 72 hours?
Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 17-4-26) says a person arrested on a warrant must be brought before a judicial officer within 72 hours. In Murray County that hearing is a first appearance, and the county says bond is set there if it was not already fixed. Some people get out at once because the amount is pre-set.
The Magistrate Court is at 812 G.I. Maddox Parkway, 706-695-3021. It is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and a chief magistrate judge leads it.
Where do I see the bond figure for a Chatsworth booking?
Look at the person's line on Murray County Inmate Search first. If it is blank, a judge may not have acted on that charge yet. Call 706-695-4592 and ask whether every charge has a bond, since one charge can be set while another waits.
The county's bond page explains that a judge weighs the chance of running, of threatening witnesses, of a new crime, and of danger to the community. It lists no dollar chart, so expect the amount to depend on the charge and the judge.
Where do I pay a bond in Chatsworth?
The county pages do not name a bond window or give its hours, so call before you drive. Ask the jail desk at 706-695-4592 whether payment is taken at the jail, at the Magistrate Court, or only through a bonding company. Then ask whether the night shift can take it.
Take a photo ID and the person's full name and birth date. Keep every receipt, and write down the case number it shows.
What kinds of payment work for a Murray County bond?
The county's bond page names two ways to bond out: cash or property, put up by a bonding company or by an individual. It does not say whether cards, cashier's checks, or money orders are taken, and a personal check is risky. Ask the jail at 706-695-4592 which forms it takes at the counter.
Putting money on an inmate account is a different thing and does not release anyone.
Should I hire a bondsman, and what can one charge?
A professional bondsman is the choice when you cannot pay the full amount. Georgia's bondsman statute, O.C.G.A. 17-6-30, lets a surety charge up to 15 percent of the bond's face amount, and it sets a floor of $50 for each bonded charge. Ask what extra costs apply and get the terms on paper.
If the person later gets a new bondsman, the county says the old agent must tell the court in writing whether he or she will stay on the bond. Complaints about agents go to the Georgia Department of Insurance.
Can I use a house or land instead of cash?
Often yes, but the sheriff has the final word. O.C.G.A. 17-6-12 and 17-6-1(j) say property must be approved by the sheriff of the county where the offense happened. Bring the deed, a recent tax value, and every owner's name.
Call the Sheriff's Office at 706-695-4592 for the papers it wants and for any rule on equity. Plan for more time than a cash bond takes.
Why can't my family member get out at all?
Some charges can be bailed only by a superior court judge, and Georgia's 2024 law made more charges bail-restricted (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1). A hold from probation, parole, or another county's warrant also stops a release. The jail can tell you which holds are on the record at 706-695-4592.
If a superior court judge must act, the Superior Court office in Chatsworth handles the calendar. The Conasauga Circuit court office answers at 706-278-5897.
Who has the court papers for a Murray County case?
The Clerk of Superior Court is at 121 North 3rd Avenue in Chatsworth, P.O. Box 1000, and answers at 706-695-2932. Probate, magistrate, and juvenile matters sit in other offices, so say which court you mean.
Three separate courts may touch one arrest. The Magistrate Court handles warrants and the first hearing, and Superior Court handles felony indictments.
Can the sheriff lower the bond or let my son go?
No. Deputies follow the judge's order and cannot trim it. Only a judge can change the figure, and the request normally comes through a lawyer who files for a bond hearing.
Gather proof of a job, a stable home address, and family ties to bring to the hearing.
What if Chatsworth or Eton police made the arrest?
Both towns have their own departments. Chatsworth Police can be reached at 706-695-9667 (option 1) and Eton Police at 706-695-2652 (option 2), using the county's published numbers. Ask whether the person is still in a town cell or was moved to the county jail.
Whether either town keeps its own holding cell is not published, so check Murray County Inmate Search after an hour or two to see if a county booking exists.
Where do teenagers go after an arrest?
Juvenile cases in Murray County go through the Murray County Juvenile Court, 706-695-5828. A young person who must be held is sent to the Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center, 2735 Underwood Road NE, Dalton, GA 30721, 706-272-2309, the DJJ site that serves Murray.
Children do not appear on the adult list, and their cases are kept private. Call the juvenile court for the hearing time.
Is there a free lawyer in Murray County?
People who cannot afford a lawyer can ask for one at the first appearance. The Conasauga Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office covers criminal cases here and takes applications Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the county office for that circuit.
The county page does not give the public defender's number. Call the circuit court office at 706-278-5897 and ask for the public defender's line.
What if the case date in Chatsworth gets missed?
A judge can issue a bench warrant and order the bond forfeited. Check the date with the clerk at 706-695-2932 and call a lawyer the same day. Quick action sometimes lets the court reset the date before a warrant goes out.
A bondsman who finds out first will often want the person back in court at once.
Will the cash come back after the case ends?
Cash paid as bond is usually returned after the case closes, less any fines or costs the court orders. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4) sends unclaimed cash bail to the county after two years plus 90 days, so ask for your money early.
Whether any part of a bondsman's fee comes back is set by your contract, so read that clause before you sign. Hold on to every receipt either way.
How do I spot a fake bail call?
A real office never takes gift cards, crypto, or a wire to a stranger. If a caller says to pay in minutes, hang up. Then dial the jail yourself at 706-695-4592.
Only the court, the sheriff, or a licensed bondsman can take a bond.
What happens with a federal arrest?
Federal cases from Murray County belong to the Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division. The courthouse is Harold L. Murphy Federal Building & US Courthouse, 600 East First Street, Rome, GA 30161-3149, and the clerk answers at 706-378-4060. 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.
Key contacts for Murray County bond questions
- Jail
- Murray County Jail, 810 1/2 G.I. Maddox Parkway, Chatsworth, GA 30705; 706-695-4592
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Murray County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Sheriff's Office; P.O. Box 1129, Chatsworth, GA 30705; 706-695-4592
- Clerk of Superior Court
- 121 North 3rd Avenue, Chatsworth, GA 30705; 706-695-2932
- Magistrate Court
- 812 G.I. Maddox Parkway, Chatsworth, GA 30705; 706-695-3021
- Superior Court office
- Conasauga Circuit; 706-278-5897
- Juvenile Court
- 706-695-5828
- City police
- Chatsworth Police 706-695-9667 (option 1); Eton Police 706-695-2652 (option 2)
- Youth detention
- Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center, 2735 Underwood Road NE, Dalton, GA 30721; 706-272-2309
- Insurance
- Georgia Department of Insurance, which licenses bondsmen
Amounts, hours, and phone numbers can change, and a judge may order a different bond. Check with the jail or clerk before sending money. This guide explains the process in plain words and is not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Murray County Jail
The Murray County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray County Jail, or the courthouse in Murray County where the offense took place.
Call 706-695-4592 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Murray County inmate locator.
Murray County Jail
Address:
810 1/2 GI Maddox Parkway
Chatsworth, GA 30705
Phone:
706-695-4592
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Murray County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Murray County?
Who can set bail in Murray County?
When is bail set in Murray County Georgia?
Does Murray County have bail?
Yes, Murray County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray 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, Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray County have bail?
Yes, Murray County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Murray 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 Murray County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Murray County Jail for more information about the jails in Murray County.
What options are there to pay bail in Murray 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 Murray County Jail for more information about posting bail in Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray 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.