Newton County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Newton County bail and bond: the Covington jail and the Judicial Center
Adults arrested in Newton County are held at the Newton County Jail on Alcovy Road in Covington. Use Newton County Inmate Search to see if a person is in custody and what bail was set. The Sheriff's Office answers questions on 678-625-1403. A judge, not the jail, sets the amount, and the court office is the Judicial Center on Usher Street.
How can I tell if someone is in the Covington jail?
Enter the full name at Newton County Inmate Search. The record shows whether the person has been booked and what bail was set. If the person was arrested within the last hour or so, the booking may still be on its way into the system.
For questions the search cannot answer, call the Sheriff's Office at 678-625-1403.
Who runs the Newton County Jail, and where do I find it?
Sheriff office runs the Newton County Jail. The Sheriff's Office is at 15151 Alcovy Road, Covington, GA 30014, and its listed phone is 678-625-1403. The county does not publish a separate jail desk number in its directory, so start with that line.
The Sheriff's Office also provides court security and serves warrants.
What happens at the first court hearing?
A judge tells the person the charge, explains the right to a lawyer, and decides about bond. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 17-4-26) requires a person arrested on a warrant to appear before a judicial officer within 72 hours.
The Magistrate Court issues arrest warrants and holds commitment hearings. Its line is 770-784-2050, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
How do I learn the bail amount in Newton County?
Look at the person's page on Newton County Inmate Search first. If there is no amount, ask the Sheriff's Office at 678-625-1403 whether a judge has ruled on each charge. A person can have a figure on one charge and none on another.
The Sheriff's Office keeps a Bond Process page on its own website, but this guide does not repeat it. Call to confirm any amount and the steps before you act.
Where do I take the money, and what hours do they keep?
The county's public pages do not name a bonding window or its hours. Call the Sheriff's Office at 678-625-1403 and ask where cash is taken, and ask if the answer is the same at night and on weekends. The Clerk of Courts, 770-784-2035, is open 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday to Friday, in Room 338 of the Judicial Center.
Bring a photo ID and the person's full name. Before leaving, check that the receipt names the right case.
Do they take cards, cashier's checks, or money orders?
Ask first. The county does not list accepted forms of payment for bonds. Cash is the usual safe choice, with cashier's checks and money orders next, but each office sets its own rule.
Money added to an inmate's account does not pay a bond. Do not mix up the two.
What can a bondsman charge here?
Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-30, a bondsman may not charge or take more than 15 percent of the bond's face amount. The minimum is $50 for each charge, even if that is over 15 percent. A bondsman breaking this rule commits a misdemeanor.
The Georgia Department of Insurance can tell you if an agent is licensed. Read the contract before you sign it.
May I put up land or a home?
The sheriff of Newton County must approve property that secures a bond for an offense committed here. That comes from O.C.G.A. 17-6-12 and 17-6-1(j). Collect the deed, a recent tax bill, and the signature of each owner.
How much equity is needed is a question for the Sheriff's Office at 678-625-1403. A judge may also have a say in the final approval.
Why is there no bond on my son's record?
Georgia sets a list of offenses that only a superior court judge can bail, and the 2024 law widened the list of bail-restricted crimes (O.C.G.A. 17-6-1). A parole or probation hold or an out-of-county warrant can also stop a release.
Ask the Sheriff's Office what hold is on the file. A lawyer can then ask the Alcovy Circuit court for a bond hearing.
Which courthouse is it, and who keeps the records?
Superior and Magistrate matters are at the Judge Horace J. Johnson, Jr. Judicial Center, 1132 Usher Street, Covington, GA 30014. The Clerk of Courts office is Room 338, 770-784-2035, open 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday to Friday.
The county's 2025 directory gives a different clerk number, 678-371-9470, so try the second if the first is busy.
How do I ask a judge to cut the bond?
File a request through a lawyer, who asks for a bond hearing in front of a judge. Gather pay stubs, a lease, and a list of family in the county to show ties.
The Sheriff's Office cannot change the number.
Which police departments make arrests besides the sheriff?
Covington, Oxford, and Porterdale all have city police departments. A person picked up by one may be held briefly before moving to the county jail. Whether any of them keeps its own cell is not posted, so ask the officer which agency took the person.
After a few hours, check Newton County Inmate Search to see if a county booking exists.
Is a free lawyer available in Covington?
The Alcovy Circuit Public Defender is at 1160 Pace Street, Covington, GA 30014, 770-788-3750, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. For a Superior Court case, fill out the application posted on the circuit's site and bring it in. The application carries a $50 fee, paid when the case is over.
For a juvenile case, contact the Juvenile Court to apply.
Where does a child go after an arrest in Newton County?
Call the Newton County Juvenile Court at 770-784-2060. At a detention hearing, the judge decides whether the child stays in custody or goes home, and sets the next date. A child who must be held goes to the Rockdale Regional Youth Detention Center, 2165 Chambers Drive NW, Conyers, GA 30012, 770-785-5942.
Per the juvenile court's own FAQ, a person who is 17 or older is sent to Magistrate or Superior Court instead.
What if my relative skips court?
A judge may order a bench warrant and keep the bond money. Call the Clerk at 770-784-2035 to learn the new date, then call a lawyer.
Cash bail that nobody claims goes to the county after two years plus 90 days (O.C.G.A. 17-6-4).
What does a bail scam sound like?
A caller who wants gift cards, a cash app, or crypto is a thief. The jail and court never ask for these. Hang up and phone the Sheriff's Office on 678-625-1403.
Every real receipt names the case and the office that took the money.
What if federal agents made the arrest?
Not every arrest stays in county court. A federal charge from Newton County is filed in the Northern District of Georgia and heard in its Atlanta Division: Richard B. Russell Federal Building & US Courthouse, 75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30303-3309, phone 404-215-1600. A federal magistrate judge decides whether the person can go home before trial. The U.S. Marshals hold federal detainees, sometimes in a county jail by contract. For someone already sentenced, check the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
Key contacts for Newton County bond questions
- Jail
- Newton County Jail, 15151 Alcovy Road, Covington, GA 30014; Sheriff's Office 678-625-1403
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Newton County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Sheriff's Office; 678-625-1403
- Clerk of Courts
- Judicial Center, 1132 Usher Street, Room 338, Covington, GA 30014; 770-784-2035
- Magistrate Court
- 770-784-2050; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Juvenile Court
- 770-784-2060
- Public defender
- Alcovy Circuit, 1160 Pace Street, Covington, GA 30014; 770-788-3750
- Youth detention
- Rockdale Regional Youth Detention Center, 2165 Chambers Drive NW, Conyers, GA 30012; 770-785-5942
- County office
- 1124 Clark Street, Covington, GA 30014; 770-784-2000
Phone numbers, hours, and fees can change, and a judge may set an amount different from what you expect. Check with the Sheriff's Office or the Clerk before paying. Treat this page as general information rather than legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Newton County Jail
The Newton County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton County Jail, or the courthouse in Newton County where the offense took place.
Call 678-625-1420 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Newton County inmate locator.
Newton County Jail
Address:
15151 Alcovy Road
Covington, GA 30014
Phone:
678-625-1420
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Newton County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Newton County?
Who can set bail in Newton County?
When is bail set in Newton County Georgia?
Does Newton County have bail?
Yes, Newton County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton 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, Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton County have bail?
Yes, Newton County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Newton 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 Newton County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Newton County Jail for more information about the jails in Newton County.
What options are there to pay bail in Newton 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 Newton County Jail for more information about posting bail in Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton 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.