Bear Lake County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Bear Lake County bail and bond: from the Paris courthouse to the jail that holds him
People arrested in Bear Lake County are booked by the Sheriff's Office in Paris or by Montpelier police, and then held at the jail that serves Bear Lake County. Small Idaho counties sometimes house prisoners in a neighboring county's jail, so start with Bear Lake County Inmate Search to see which jail has the person; for the bail amount, ask the Sheriff. The Sheriff's line is 208-945-2121. The Sheriff's office is at 30 North Main Street, Paris, open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The courts are in Paris too.
1. Where is my brother being held after a Bear Lake arrest?
Check Bear Lake County Inmate Search first. VINE shows custody and the holding jail, but not the bail amount. If the name is missing, call the Sheriff at 208-945-2121 and ask two things: which jail has him tonight, and whether he is being moved.
Ask for the case number as well. Court clerks look up cases by number faster than by name.
2. Does Bear Lake County keep its own prisoners?
Bear Lake County houses its prisoners in a jail outside the county under contract, so call the Sheriff to learn which jail holds your person. A neighboring county may hold them. That is why this page says "the jail that serves this county." The Sheriff at 208-945-2121 can name the building and give you its number. Ask before you drive anywhere with money.
3. Who do I pay if bail is set?
Idaho Misdemeanor Criminal Rule 13 allows cash, cashier's checks, money orders, a property bond or a Bear Lake County surety bond from a licensed company a magistrate approves. Who takes the payment depends on where the person is held. Ask the Sheriff at 208-945-2121 whether the jail desk or the court clerk takes it, and what hours apply. The Sheriff's office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The county's court offices answer at 208-945-2155, extension 6, and the state court line is 208-945-2208.
4. How much is bail for a first DUI?
The statewide misdemeanor schedule, effective January 4, 2023, lists a first DUI at $500 for an Idaho resident and $2,000 for a nonresident. A second DUI is $1,000 and $3,000. Reckless driving is $300, and so is resisting or obstructing an officer or furnishing alcohol to a minor. The same $300 applies to any misdemeanor with no row. Disturbing the peace and driving without privileges are book and release.
After a judge reviews the case, those figures are only advice. The judge may raise, lower, or remove bail.
5. Why would a domestic battery arrest have no bond?
For a first or second domestic assault or battery, the schedule says no bond before the Bear Lake County court appearance. Idaho Criminal Rule 5 requires an appearance before a magistrate promptly and not more than 24 hours after arrest, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Ask the courthouse at 208-945-2212 for the hearing time.
6. Is bail ever denied?
Article I, section 6 of the Idaho Constitution says everyone can be bailed, except for capital offenses where the proof is evident or the presumption great. Idaho Code 19-2903 leaves bail once a guilty plea is entered in Paris, during a Bear Lake County appeal, or on a probation violation up to the judge. A hold from another county or from probation can keep someone in even when a number appears on the record.
7. Can I use a bondsman, and what do they charge?
Yes. Idaho Code 19-2907 says bail can be posted with a bail bond, a property bond, or cash, and no Bear Lake County defendant can be forced to deposit cash. The Idaho Department of Insurance licenses bail agents, and its consumer hotline is 800-721-3272. Its licensing page sets no premium, so ask the agent for the fee in writing. Ask about collateral too, and ask what happens if the person misses court.
8. Can I put up my farm or house?
Possibly. Idaho Code 19-2909 says the land must be in Idaho, with equity after loans at least equal to the bail plus likely collection costs. Whether to accept it is up to the Bear Lake County judge, and a recorded bond stays a lien until the court in Paris releases it. A magistrate must approve it. The poster pays every fee. The court office at 208-945-2212 can say which forms to bring.
9. What is the difference between bail and money for jail calls?
Money placed on an inmate account pays for phone calls and store items. It does not buy release. Bail is the court amount that frees the person. If you are told to send money for "bail" through an app or a gift card, treat that as a scam and call the Sheriff yourself.
10. When do I get cash bail back?
Under Idaho Code 19-2908, if cash is still held when the Bear Lake County judge enters judgment, the clerk applies it to fines, fees, costs, and restitution first, including in other cases against that defendant. What remains goes to the person who paid it. A bail agent's fee is not part of that refund.
11. What if he doesn't show up in court?
The judge must forfeit the bail and order a bench warrant. Written notice goes out within five business days. The forfeiture can be set aside if the person comes in within 180 days and the court agrees. The poster then has five business days to pay the Bear Lake County clerk, or the bond becomes a judgment against the poster (Idaho Code 19-2915, 19-2917, 19-2918). A poster may also surrender him under 19-2913 before forfeiture.
12. How can bail be lowered?
Only a judge can lower it, for good cause, under Idaho Code 19-2912. A lawyer normally files the request. Bring proof of work, family, and an address. If the court raises it, the person stays in until the new figure is posted.
13. Who is the free lawyer in Bear Lake County?
Bear Lake County has no county public defender office listed. The State Public Defender covers it through contract defenders. Call the State Public Defender at 208-605-4575 to learn who covers Bear Lake, or ask the judge for an appointed lawyer at the first appearance.
14. Where do Bear Lake teenagers go when arrested?
The District VI Juvenile Detention Center, 137 South 5th Avenue, Pocatello, serves Bear Lake and five other counties through a joint agreement. It holds court-ordered youth ages 12 to 17. The front office is 208-234-1080 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the building is staffed around the clock. Bear Lake County Juvenile Probation, 1011 Washington Street, Montpelier, answers at 208-847-0626. A teenager's name will not show on the adult search.
15. What if Montpelier police made the arrest?
Montpelier has its own police department, separate from the Sheriff. Ask the department for the Bear Lake County report number and which jail received the person, then check the search. Whether Montpelier keeps a holding cell is not described on the county pages, so ask the officer. The Sheriff's line, 208-945-2121, can confirm where the booking went.
16. Does Bear Lake County bail cover a federal charge?
A federal court takes the Bear Lake County case. Any federal case that starts in Bear Lake County is not covered by the bail list posted for Bear Lake County, so the Paris jail desk takes no money for it. It is filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Eastern Division, 801 E. Sherman St., Pocatello; and from Paris the clerk's line is 208-478-4123.
- A magistrate in the Eastern Division holds the first Bear Lake County appearance after agents bring the person from Bear Lake County, often the next court day.
- Federal judges in the Eastern Division use no bail schedule. Applying 18 U.S.C. 3142, the magistrate can release the Bear Lake defendant on conditions or order detention.
- A requested detention hearing in the Bear Lake matter can wait up to five days if a party asks.
- Pretrial custody belongs to the U.S. Marshals Service, and your loved one may sit in a contract county jail; phone 208-945-2121 to ask if Bear Lake County holds them.
- After a federal sentence on a Bear Lake case, the Federal Bureau of Prisons assigns a prison, shown on the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
17. Can bail be posted in Bear Lake County if ICE places a hold?
You may post the Bear Lake County bail, but Paris release may be slowed at the Bear Lake County contract jail. For a Bear Lake booking, expect these steps:
- At the Bear Lake County booking desk, Idaho Code 18-9008 has the jail check whether a Paris prisoner holds foreign citizenship and, if the Bear Lake County check says so, alert the Department of Homeland Security within 48 hours.
- ICE may file a Form I-247A detainer naming the Bear Lake prisoner.
- The Paris jail must follow a reasonable detainer under Idaho Code 18-9005(4) after the Bear Lake case no longer holds them, with notice from Bear Lake jailers that the detainer is the reason.
- After a Bear Lake release order, the Bear Lake jail may keep the arrested person 48 hours, including weekends and holidays.
- Agents working out of the ICE Idaho Falls office, 2075 N Boulevard, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, 208-535-5100, take custody at the Bear Lake jail; the next stop after Paris can be the Elmore County Detention Center at 2255 East 8th North, Mountain Home and Bear Lake detainees may later be transferred out of Idaho.
- Look up the ICE Online Detainee Locator System with the Bear Lake detainee's A-number, or the Bear Lake County person's name and birth country.
Before paying a Bear Lake County bond with a detainer in place, speak to a defense lawyer, because Bear Lake bail does not cover the immigration case.
18. Which searches find a Bear Lake County inmate in any prison?
- Bear Lake County custody: try Bear Lake County Inmate Search , then call 208-945-2121.
- Free alerts: VINELink lists Bear Lake custody status and sends release notices.
- Prison after a Bear Lake sentence: check the Idaho Department of Correction Resident/Client Search, plus the JE Idaho state prisons guide.
- Federal inmate: open the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
- Immigration detention: the ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
- Court cases and dates: Idaho iCourt case search, or the Bear Lake County courthouse at 208-945-2208.
Bear Lake County bail contacts
- Jail
- the jail that serves Bear Lake County; ask the Sheriff, 208-945-2121, which building
- Bail guide
- Read the Bear Lake bail guide for general rules.
- Custody lookup
- Bear Lake County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Bear Lake County Sheriff's Office, 30 North Main Street, Paris; mail to P.O. Box 365, Paris, ID 83261; open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday; 208-945-2121
- Courthouse
- Court offices at 30 North Main Street, Paris; court mail to 7 East Center Street, Paris, ID 83261, PO Box 190; county line 208-945-2155, extension 6; main 208-945-2212; general court 208-945-2208
- Public defense
- State Public Defender, 208-605-4575
- Juvenile
- District VI Juvenile Detention Center, 137 South 5th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83201; 208-234-1080
- Juvenile probation
- Bear Lake County Juvenile Probation, 1011 Washington Street, Montpelier, ID 83254; 208-847-0626
- Bail agents
- Idaho Department of Insurance consumer hotline, 800-721-3272
Hours, fees, amounts, and Bear Lake County phone numbers can change, and a Bear Lake County judge may order a different bail. Please confirm with the Sheriff or the Bear Lake County court before you send any money. This page is a general guide and is not legal advice.
Bear Lake County Jail
Address:
30 N. Main Street
Paris, ID 83261
Phone:
208-945-2121
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Bear Lake County
Does Bear Lake County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bear Lake County?
Who can set bail in Bear Lake County?
When is bail set in Bear Lake County Idaho?
Does Bear Lake County have bail?
Yes, Bear Lake County recognizes most types of bonds.
Unless the defendant is deemed a flight risk, accused of a capital crime, or had previously failed to appear, bail is considered a right.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bear Lake County?
Idaho will consider a bail bond, property bail bond or cash deposit which also includes check or money order. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Bear Lake County?
Idaho uses a Bail Bond Schedule which lists the predetermined bail for most nonviolent crimes. For those crimes not listed on the schedule, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, bail must be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Bear Lake County Idaho?
For most nonviolent crimes bail is set automatically in accordance with a Bail Bond Schedule. For those crimes not listed on the schedule, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, a hearing called first appearance will be scheduled on the first available court date. Bail will be determined at this hearing.
A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid and usually happens at the same time as an initial appearance or arraignment. During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. A judge or court officer in the {county extended} or magistrate court sets bail.
Judges in Idaho rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Bear Lake 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 Bear Lake 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.
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 Bear Lake 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, Bear Lake 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
What are the different types of bonds in Bear Lake 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 Bear Lake County have bail?
Yes, Bear Lake County recognizes most types of bonds.
Unless the defendant is deemed a flight risk, accused of a capital crime, or had previously failed to appear, bail is considered a right.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bear Lake County?
Idaho will consider a bail bond, property bail bond or cash deposit which also includes check or money order. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Who can set bail in Bear Lake County?
Idaho uses a Bail Bond Schedule which lists the predetermined bail for most nonviolent crimes. For those crimes not listed on the schedule, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, bail must be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Idaho?
For most nonviolent crimes bail is set automatically in accordance with a Bail Bond Schedule. For those crimes not listed on the schedule, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, a hearing called first appearance will be scheduled on the first available court date. Bail will be determined at this hearing.
A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid and usually happens at the same time as an initial appearance or arraignment. During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. A judge or court officer in the {county extended} or magistrate court sets bail.
Judges in Idaho rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Bear Lake County Idaho?
Yes, a judge may reduce or increase bail upon a showing of good cause. Your attorney or public defender can request a hearing for this purpose.
In Bear Lake County Idaho, who can pay bail for me?
The defendant can post cash bail or 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 Idaho could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Bear Lake County Idaho?
Yes, Idaho does offer online payment of bail. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Bear Lake County Jail for more information about the jails in Bear Lake County.
What options are there to pay bail in Bear Lake County Idaho?
A cash deposit can be made as well as checks or money order. Each area varies with regards to accepting credit cards. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Bear Lake County Jail for more information about posting bail in Bear Lake County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Idaho?
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 Bear Lake County?
Cash bond requires a minimum amount of money be paid prior to the defendant’s release. Even if you use a bail bond agent the state requires a down payment of 15%.
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 Idaho?
The Bear Lake 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 by the state and cannot be negotiated.
Detailed information regarding bail and bond procedures in Idaho.