Clearwater County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Clearwater County bail and bond: the Orofino courthouse, the sheriff, and your first steps
The Clearwater County Sheriff runs the Clearwater County Jail in Orofino.
He was appointed in June 2026. First, use Clearwater County Inmate Search to check custody in Clearwater County and what the bail is.
In Clearwater County, for questions the Clearwater County search cannot answer, call the jail at 208-476-8903 or the sheriff's main office at 208-476-4521. Court papers and hearings go through the courthouse at 208-476-5615, Room 201.
1. Is my family member in the Orofino jail?
Look the name up with Clearwater County Inmate Search. A fresh booking can take a while to appear. If the search shows nothing, ring the jail at 208-476-8903.
Ask which agency made the arrest, since city, county, and state officers can all make arrests.
2. Where do I pay bail, and when?
Phone the jail at 208-476-8903 before you leave home. Ask where bond is taken, whether a person at the courthouse can accept it, and what forms of payment are allowed.
The sheriff's office and courthouse, both at 150 Michigan Avenue, are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. To 5:00 p.m., closed weekends and holidays. For evenings and weekends, ask the jail what it can accept.
The first Clearwater County court appearance should come without unnecessary delay, at most 24 hours after arrest when weekends and holidays are not counted (Idaho Criminal Rule 5).
3. Which payments do Idaho courts allow?
Court rules list cash for the full amount, a cashier's check, and a money order. Personal checks and cards are allowed only where the court has approved them (Idaho Criminal Rule 46). A court cannot require cash only.
Keep your receipt. It should list the case number and the name of your family member you paid for.
4. What is the usual bail on a misdemeanor here?
Clearwater County uses the statewide misdemeanor list from the Idaho Supreme Court, effective January 4, 2023. A first drunk driving charge is $500 for an Idaho resident and $2,000 for a nonresident. A second is $1,000 or $3,000. Resisting or obstructing an officer is $300, and unnamed misdemeanors are $300 as well.
Domestic battery, stalking, and no-contact order violations have no bond until the court appearance. A magistrate may raise, lower, or end any listed amount because the schedule is advisory (Idaho Misdemeanor Criminal Rule 13). Felonies are set by a judge. Check Clearwater County Inmate Search.
5. How do bail bond agents work in Idaho?
An agent must be licensed by the Department of Insurance. The agent charges the premium rate the bond company filed and cannot bill for personal service. Some actual costs can be repaid, with a $50 cap on certain items (Idaho Code 41-1042).
Ask for the dollar premium, the collateral, and the penalty for missed court, all in writing. The premium is not refunded.
6. Can I use a house or land as bail?
A magistrate has to approve a property bond. The Clearwater County land must be in Idaho, with equity, net of loans, of at least the bail. Every owner named on the title signs a Clearwater County note payable to the county, and the Clearwater County lien is recorded before release (Idaho Criminal Rule 46).
Call the courthouse at 208-476-5615 about forms and the recording office.
7. Why might bail be refused?
Judges may refuse bail for a Clearwater County charge that can bring a death sentence, if the proof is clear. After a plea or conviction, during an appeal, or on a Clearwater County probation violation, bail is left to the judge (Idaho Code 19-2903).
A hold from another county or a Clearwater County probation officer can also keep someone inside. Ask the jail at 208-476-8903 who placed it.
8. What if the arrest was on Nez Perce tribal land?
Tribal police and tribal courts follow different rules from county court, and they may transfer a person to the county jail or not. Ask the sheriff at 208-476-4521 which agency made the arrest.
Search Clearwater County Inmate Search again after you know which agency has the person.
9. What if the arrested person is a teenager?
Juvenile cases go through magistrate court, and the adult search will not list minors. Call the courthouse at 208-476-5615 and the sheriff at 208-476-4521 to learn where the youth is held and when the detention hearing is.
Clearwater County has an agreement with Nez Perce County to hold youth at the Region II Juvenile Detention Center, 3317 12th Street, Lewiston. Ask the courthouse to confirm whether your child is there.
10. Can I get a free lawyer?
Ask the judge at the first hearing. Clearwater County does not run a defender office; contract lawyers are managed by the Idaho State Public Defender for the Second District. The Boise office is at 208-605-4575.
Bring income papers to the hearing. The courthouse can tell you who got the case.
11. What happens if the person skips court?
The bond can be forfeited and a bench warrant issued. A request to set the forfeiture aside is due within 180 days. If the defendant appears in that time, the Clearwater County judge must restore the bond, with costs possibly charged (Idaho Criminal Rule 46).
Call the courthouse at 208-476-5615 and a lawyer right away.
12. When does the bail money come back?
Cash held by the Clearwater County court is normally refunded after the case is over, less fines and costs. Keep the Orofino receipt; whoever paid needs the Clearwater County receipt. A bondsman's premium is not returned.
13. How do I know a call about money is not a scam?
A real jail does not free people for gift cards, wire transfers, or app payments. Hang up and call the jail at 208-476-8903 yourself. Money placed in a jail account for calls is not bail.
14. Is the Orofino prison the same as the county jail?
No. The Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino, at 381 West Hospital Drive, is a state prison run by the Idaho Department of Correction, and its phone is 208-476-3655. It holds men serving state sentences.
Use the Idaho Department of Correction Resident/Client Search for people there, not the county search. A person waiting on bail is in the county jail instead.
15. What if federal agents make a Clearwater County arrest?
Federal rules replace Orofino bail. A federal warrant served in Clearwater County gets no amount from the Clearwater County bail chart, so the Orofino jail desk takes no money for it. Clearwater County federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Central Division, 220 E. 5th St., Moscow; so for a Clearwater case call the clerk at 208-882-7612.
- A magistrate in the Central Division runs the first hearing in the Clearwater matter once the Clearwater County arrest is processed, as a rule within a short time.
- Federal judges in the Central Division use no bail schedule. Under 18 U.S.C. 3142, the magistrate can release the Clearwater defendant on conditions or order detention.
- When detention is requested in a Orofino case, the hearing for the Clearwater County defendant follows quickly, unless a Clearwater party asks to delay it.
- Pretrial custody belongs to the U.S. Marshals Service, so a Clearwater prisoner may be housed in a county jail that rents beds; call 208-476-8903 and ask if the Orofino jail has the arrested person.
- If federal prison time follows the Clearwater County case, the Federal Bureau of Prisons sets the place, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator tracks it.
16. Can bail be posted in Clearwater County if ICE places a hold?
Bail can still be posted in Clearwater County, but ICE may still claim the Clearwater person at Clearwater County Jail. For a Clearwater booking, expect these steps:
- When the arrested person is booked in Clearwater County, Idaho Code 18-9008 directs staff to find out whether the Clearwater prisoner is foreign-born and, if the Clearwater County check says so, alert the Department of Homeland Security within 48 hours.
- ICE may send a Form I-247A detainer to the Clearwater County jail staff.
- The Orofino jail must follow a reasonable detainer under Idaho Code 18-9005(4) when the Orofino case's own hold has ended, and Clearwater staff must tell the person about it.
- When the Orofino case would otherwise end in release, Orofino may hold the person 48 more hours, including weekends and holidays.
- Officers from the ICE Boise office, 1185 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709, 208-685-6635, take custody at the Clearwater jail; the next stop after Orofino can be the Elmore County Detention Center at 2255 East 8th North, Mountain Home and then a Clearwater detainee may go out of state.
- Check the ICE Online Detainee Locator System with the Clearwater detainee's A-number, or the Clearwater County person's name and birth country.
Get legal advice before posting in Orofino, because Clearwater bail does not cover the immigration case.
17. How do I track a Orofino arrest into jail, prison, or ICE custody?
- County jail: try Clearwater County Inmate Search or call 208-476-8903.
- Custody alerts: VINELink gives custody status and release alerts for Clearwater and other Idaho jails.
- Prison after a Clearwater sentence: check the Idaho Department of Correction Resident/Client Search, plus the JE Idaho state prisons guide.
- Federal prison: open the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
- ICE detainee: the ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
- Case lookups: Idaho iCourt case search, or call the Orofino court at 208-476-5615.
Key contacts for Clearwater County bail questions
- Jail
- Clearwater County Jail, Orofino, ID; 208-476-8903
- Bail guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Sheriff
- Clearwater County Sheriff's Office; PO Box 724, Orofino, ID 83544; 208-476-4521
- Custody lookup
- Clearwater County Inmate Search
- Courthouse
- 150 Michigan Avenue, Room 201, PO Box 586, Orofino, ID 83544; 208-476-5615; weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- State prison
- Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino, 381 West Hospital Drive, Orofino; 208-476-3655; IDOC Resident/Client Search
- Public defense
- Idaho State Public Defender, Boise, 208-605-4575; contract lawyers serve Clearwater County
- Juvenile
- Region II Juvenile Detention Center, 3317 12th Street, Lewiston; confirm through the courthouse, 208-476-5615
Court orders, bail amounts and fees in Orofino, plus payment options and Clearwater County phone numbers, may change. Confirm each detail with the jail or the courthouse before you send money. This page shares general facts, not legal advice for a specific case.
Clearwater County Jail
Address:
150 Michigan Ave., Second Floor
Orofino, ID 83544
Phone:
208-476-8903
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Clearwater County
Does Clearwater County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Clearwater County?
Who can set bail in Clearwater County?
When is bail set in Clearwater County Idaho?
Does Clearwater County have bail?
Yes, Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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, Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater County have bail?
Yes, Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater County Jail for more information about the jails in Clearwater County.
What options are there to pay bail in Clearwater 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 Clearwater County Jail for more information about posting bail in Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater 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.