Wilcox County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Wilcox County bail and bond: Abbeville jail, courthouse, and who to call
Adults arrested in Wilcox County are taken to the Wilcox County Jail at 126 Main Street East in Abbeville, the same address as the sheriff. The number for the sheriff and the jail is 229-467-2322. Use Wilcox County Inmate Search to see whether a person is booked and whether a bond is listed. The phone is for holds, payment, and other questions the search cannot answer.
Can I find out online if my loved one is in the Abbeville jail?
Yes, start with Wilcox County Inmate Search. Type the legal name as it would be on a driver's license. New bookings may take a while to appear.
If the search comes up empty, call 229-467-2322. A listing says the jail answers inmate questions around the clock. Ask whether the person was sent to another county's jail.
Does Wilcox County hold its own prisoners?
The state Department of Corrections lists a Wilcox County Jail at 126 Main Street East, Abbeville, GA 31001, with the same phone. A listing describes it as a small jail of about 16 beds that also takes prisoners from other agencies.
A jail that small may send some people elsewhere when it is full. Ask the desk, and write down the name of the place if your relative has been moved.
Whose office do I visit in Abbeville?
The office is at 126 Main Street East, Abbeville, GA 31001, and the number is 229-467-2322.
Deputies there can tell you the charges and the bond on file. A deputy cannot change the bond or advise you on legal strategy.
Which office keeps the court file?
The Clerk of Superior Court is at 103 North Broad Street, Abbeville, GA 31001, phone 229-467-2442. The state directory lists the office as open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call the clerk for a case number, a court date, or the name of the judge who has the case.
How fast does a person get in front of a judge?
For a warrant arrest, the deadline in O.C.G.A. 17-4-26 is 72 hours. At that appearance a judge may set bond or review the amount.
No local hearing schedule was found for this guide. Ask the clerk at 229-467-2442 whether a magistrate or the superior court will see your relative.
What is the most a Georgia bonding company can ask for?
Fifteen cents on the dollar is the ceiling. State law, O.C.G.A. 17-6-30(a), says the company may not take more than 15 percent of the bond. The same law lets it charge a minimum of $50 per bonded charge, so tiny bonds can cost proportionally more.
With a $3,000 bond, the top fee is $450. With a $200 bond, the company may still ask $50. If someone asks for more, say no and phone the jail.
Where do I take the money for a cash bond?
A listing says cash bonds are paid at the jail, or at the courthouse in the county where the charge arose. No window hours were posted anywhere this guide could read.
Phone 229-467-2322 before you drive. Ask what forms of payment are taken, since the usual list is cash, a cashier's check, and a money order. Bring photo ID.
Can a card or app pay the bond?
One listing mentions a lobby kiosk or online vendor that may take cards for a fee. Nothing from the county confirms it, so ask the jail at 229-467-2322.
Money placed on an inmate account through a commissary site is not bond. It will not get anyone out.
Is there a posted list of bond amounts for Wilcox County?
No bond schedule appeared on the county, sheriff, or court pages checked, so this guide shows no sample prices. The judge sets the figure for each charge.
Ask the jail whether the bond on the record is a judge's number or a standing figure.
Can I offer land or a home instead of cash?
Under O.C.G.A. 17-6-12, property can be used when the sheriff of the county where the offense happened approves it. In Wilcox County, that means a visit or call to the sheriff, 229-467-2322.
Ask the sheriff three things: what deed papers are required, how much equity is needed, and whether property in a different county can be used.
His entry shows no bond. Is there any way out?
There can be. O.C.G.A. 17-6-1 puts the gravest charges, such as murder, rape, and armed robbery, in front of a superior court judge only. Section 17-6-12 lists many other charges, DUI and several drug counts among them, where release cannot be on a signature alone and requires a secured bond.
A hold from probation, parole, or another county's warrant is a different block. The desk can read aloud every hold.
Who handles an arrest made by town police?
Wilcox County has small towns, and each may have its own officers. Ask the arresting department for the report number and where the person was taken.
It is not confirmed that any town keeps a holding cell. Search Wilcox County Inmate Search and then call 229-467-2322.
Who is the public defender if we can't afford counsel?
Wilcox County is served by the Cordele Circuit Public Defender, 716-B 16th Avenue East, Cordele, GA 31015, phone 229-276-2768. Staff are in from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and no separate Abbeville office is listed.
The court decides who qualifies. Raise it at the first appearance.
Where would a Wilcox County teen be held?
The state Department of Juvenile Justice assigns Wilcox County to the Cadwell Regional Youth Detention Center, 2839 Railroad Avenue, Cadwell, GA 31009. Reach the department at 404-508-6500.
Cases involving young people are closed to the public in most respects, so the adult search will not list them. The clerk at 229-467-2442 can say which court office to call.
What does a missed Wilcox court date trigger?
The judge may issue a warrant and take the bond. A bondsman who posted it can pursue the person who signed.
Call the court office and the bondsman the same day. Doing nothing makes it worse.
Will my cash be returned, and is that call a scam?
Ask the clerk when cash bail is handed back, and ask any bonding company in writing about its fee. Hold onto your receipts.
Anyone asking for gift cards, crypto, or an app payment is not from the jail. Verify through 229-467-2322 or the clerk at 229-467-2442.
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. Wilcox County cases are heard in the Macon Division, William A. Bootle Federal Building & US Courthouse, 475 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201; the clerk's line is (478) 752-3497. 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.
Wilcox County bond contacts
- Jail
- Wilcox County Jail, 126 Main Street East, Abbeville, GA 31001; 229-467-2322
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Wilcox County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- 126 Main Street East, Abbeville, GA 31001; 229-467-2322
- Clerk of Superior Court
- Janet Addison Mauldin, 103 North Broad Street, Abbeville, GA 31001; 229-467-2442; Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Public defender
- Cordele Circuit, 716-B 16th Avenue East, Cordele, GA 31015; 229-276-2768
- Youth detention
- Cadwell Regional Youth Detention Center, 2839 Railroad Avenue, Cadwell, GA 31009; state line 404-508-6500
Please double-check phone numbers, costs, and payment rules with the jail or clerk before you act. Judges can order terms that differ from this overview. It is written to help you find your way and is not a substitute for a lawyer.
How do Bail Bonds work at Wilcox County Jail
The Wilcox County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox County Jail, or the courthouse in Wilcox County where the offense took place.
Call 229-467-2322 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Wilcox County inmate locator.
Wilcox County Jail
Address:
126 East Main Street
Abbeville, GA 31001
Phone:
229-467-2322
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Wilcox County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wilcox County?
Who can set bail in Wilcox County?
When is bail set in Wilcox County Georgia?
Does Wilcox County have bail?
Yes, Wilcox County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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, Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox County have bail?
Yes, Wilcox County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Wilcox 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 Wilcox County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Wilcox County Jail for more information about the jails in Wilcox County.
What options are there to pay bail in Wilcox 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 Wilcox County Jail for more information about posting bail in Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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.