Worth County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Worth County bail and bond: the Sylvester courthouse jail and your first calls
Adults arrested in Worth County are held at the Worth County Jail at 201 North Main Street in Sylvester. To see whether a person is booked, the charges, and any bond, use Worth County Inmate Search. The Sheriff's administration line is 229-776-8211, and Jail Operations answers at 229-776-3142. After 5 p.m., dispatch is at 229-776-8219.
Where do I check whether my husband is in the Sylvester jail?
Begin with Worth County Inmate Search. It lists who is held and the charges. A booking that happened this hour may not be posted yet.
If you still need an answer, call Jail Operations at 229-776-3142 during the day or dispatch at 229-776-8219 after 5 p.m., as the Sheriff's Office suggests.
Is the jail in the courthouse?
The state Department of Corrections lists the Worth County Jail at 201 North Main Street, Sylvester, GA 31791. The sheriff's site says the Sheriff's Office is located at the courthouse, and the Georgia Sheriffs' Association lists the office as Room 14 of that building.
Call before you go, because the county pages do not give visitor directions for bond payment.
The sheriff's jail page says visits happen on Sundays only, in 20-minute blocks by cell block between noon and 3 p.m., up to five approved visitors, with photo ID. Visiting is separate from posting bond.
Who is the sheriff, and who runs the jail day to day?
The jail administrator is Captain, reached at 229-776-8211 in business hours.
Deputies can read you the charges and the bond on the record. They cannot reduce a bond, and they cannot give legal advice.
How soon does a Worth County bond hearing happen?
The Sheriff's Office says a person will either have a bond hearing right after booking or within 72 hours of arrest, depending on the charges. State law, O.C.G.A. 17-4-26, also sets 72 hours for a first appearance after a warrant arrest.
For the hearing time, call the Magistrate Court at 229-776-8210. Its hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
For the status of a felony case, the Sheriff's Office points callers to the District Attorney at 229-776-8214. For a misdemeanor or traffic case, it points to the Court Solicitor at 229-387-8005.
What will a bonding company charge in Georgia?
Georgia sets a cap and a minimum for every bondsman, in O.C.G.A. 17-6-30(a). The cap is 15 percent of the bond's face amount. The minimum is $50 for each bonded charge.
If the bond is $6,000, the most the company can ask is $900. If it is $60, the company can still ask for $50. Ask for the total in writing and for a count of the charges.
Where do I go to hand over bond money?
The county's own pages do not say where bond money is taken or when. A listing says bonds are paid at the jail or at the courthouse where the offense occurred.
Call 229-776-3142 first. The Clerk of Courts is in Room 13 of the courthouse, phone 229-776-8205. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and its phones are answered 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The sheriff has a cash kiosk. Is that for bonds?
The sheriff's site describes a kiosk at the Sheriff's Office where you can put cash on an inmate's account. That is money for phone calls and store items, not a bond payment.
Bond money goes to the court, the jail, or a bondsman. Ask which one applies before you pay.
Is a credit card accepted for bonds here?
A listing says cards are taken at the jail, then says only some counties take them. Nothing from Worth County confirms it.
Ask at 229-776-3142 and get the answer before you drive.
Does Worth County post a table of bond amounts?
No bond table appeared on the sheriff, magistrate, or clerk pages read for this guide, so this guide lists no sample dollars. The judge sets the bond.
Ask the Magistrate Court at 229-776-8210 whether a standing amount exists for your charge.
Will the sheriff take my farmland as security?
O.C.G.A. 17-6-12 says property may secure a release if the sheriff of the county where the offense happened approves it. Here, that is the sheriff's office.
Call 229-776-8211 and ask what deed and tax papers to bring, what equity is needed, and whether land outside Worth County is accepted.
What does "no bond" next to his name really mean?
A few crimes, such as murder, rape, and armed robbery, can only be bailed by a superior court judge under O.C.G.A. 17-6-1. A longer list in 17-6-12, which includes DUI, burglary, and many drug offenses, cannot be released on a signature alone.
A parole or probation hold, or a warrant from another county, can also keep a person inside. Ask Jail Operations to read every hold.
What if the Sylvester police arrested him?
A city officer will give a report number. Adults are normally taken to the county jail, so check Worth County Inmate Search and then call 229-776-3142.
Whether Sylvester or another city keeps its own cell is not confirmed.
Does Worth County have a public defender?
The Tifton Circuit Public Defender covers Worth County and is at 1212 Chestnut Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794. Call 229-387-6488, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No separate Sylvester office is listed.
A judge decides who qualifies, so ask at the first hearing.
What happens to a minor who is picked up?
The state assigns Worth County to the Crisp Regional Youth Detention Center, 130 Haralson Road, Cordele, GA 31015. The Department of Juvenile Justice main line is 404-508-6500.
Juvenile case files are not open to the public, so the adult lookup will not list a child. The Clerk of Courts at 229-776-8205 can point you to the right office.
What happens after a missed hearing?
Missing court can bring a new warrant and cost the bond. A bondsman may look to the person who signed.
Call the court and the bondsman right away.
Do I get cash back, and how can I spot fraud?
Find out from the clerk when a cash bond is returned. Get the bonding company's answer on its fee in writing too, and keep receipts.
Gift cards, crypto, and app transfers are scam signs. Hang up and call 229-776-3142 or 229-776-8205 yourself.
What if federal agents made the arrest?
Not every arrest stays in county court. A federal charge from Worth County is filed in the Middle District of Georgia and heard in its Albany Division: 201 West Broad Avenue, Albany, GA 31701, phone (229) 430-8432. 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.
Worth County bond contacts
- Jail
- Worth County Jail, 201 North Main Street, Sylvester, GA 31791; Jail Operations 229-776-3142
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Worth County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Sheriff's Office; administration 229-776-8211; after-hours dispatch 229-776-8219
- Magistrate Court
- 201 North Main Street, Room 21, Sylvester, GA 31791; 229-776-8210; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Clerk of Courts
- 201 North Main Street, Room 13, Sylvester, GA 31791; 229-776-8205
- Public defender
- Tifton Circuit, 1212 Chestnut Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794; 229-387-6488
- Youth detention
- Crisp Regional Youth Detention Center, 130 Haralson Road, Cordele, GA 31015; state line 404-508-6500
Phone lines, hours, costs, and bond terms can shift, and a judge may impose conditions that are not covered above. Always check with the jail or the clerk before paying. We wrote this to explain the steps in everyday language; it is no replacement for a lawyer.
How do Bail Bonds work at Worth County Jail
The Worth County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Worth 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 Worth 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 Worth 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 Worth County Jail, or the courthouse in Worth County where the offense took place.
Call 229-776-8211 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Worth County inmate locator.
Worth County Jail
Address:
201 North Main Street
Sylvester, GA 31791
Phone:
229-776-8211
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Worth County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Worth County?
Who can set bail in Worth County?
When is bail set in Worth County Georgia?
Does Worth County have bail?
Yes, Worth County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Worth 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 Worth 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 Worth 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 Worth 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 Worth 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 Worth 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, Worth 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 Worth 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 Worth County have bail?
Yes, Worth County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Worth 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 Worth 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 Worth County Georgia?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances and the judge set the initial bail, your attorney can request a bond reduction.
In Worth 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 Worth County Georgia?
Yes, Georgia does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Worth County Jail for more information about the jails in Worth County.
What options are there to pay bail in Worth 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 Worth County Jail for more information about posting bail in Worth 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 Worth 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 Worth 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.