Lemhi County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lemhi County bail and bond: Salmon, the courthouse, and the first hearing
Adults arrested in Lemhi County are booked at the Lemhi County Detention Center, 206 Courthouse Drive, Salmon, which the county sheriff runs. The county lists the same street address for its courthouse. Start with Lemhi County Inmate Search to see if your person is there. Then call the sheriff at 208-742-1680 for questions the search cannot answer. A magistrate sets bail at the first hearing, and the amount is not decided by the jail. Everything you need to post bail starts with those two calls.
1. Is my relative inside the Salmon jail right now?
Type the name into Lemhi County Inmate Search. A booking from the last hour or two may not show yet, so try again later. If you still see nothing, call the sheriff's office at 208-742-1680 or the detention center at 208-756-8980. Ask if another agency took the person, because Lemhi County is large and rural and arrests can come from several directions.
2. Which numbers should I keep handy?
Save these numbers. The sheriff's office answers at 208-742-1680. The detention center, at the same address, is 208-756-8980. The state juvenile directory lists 208-742-1681 for the same building. The court's main line is 208-742-1673. Note the legal name, date of birth, and any booking number before you dial. These numbers come from state and sheriff directories, so if one rings wrong, try the next.
3. When will a judge look at the case?
A magistrate judge must see an arrested person without unreasonable delay. Idaho Criminal Rule 5 sets an outer limit of 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. At that first appearance the judge explains the charge and sets bail. If the Lemhi County arrest came from a Lemhi County warrant, the amount written on the warrant usually stands unless the judge has a good reason to change it. Call 208-742-1673 to ask when the next session is.
4. How much will bail be?
The judge decides, not the jail staff. For misdemeanors, the statewide schedule under Idaho Misdemeanor Criminal Rule 13(b), in effect since 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 or $3,000. The line for resisting or obstructing an officer reads $300. Disturbing the peace and driving without privileges are marked "Book & Release." Domestic battery and no-contact order violations in Salmon carry no bond until the person appears in court. The schedule is advisory, so a magistrate can raise, lower, or erase any amount, and felony bail is set by the judge on the facts. To learn what is on a particular booking, check Lemhi County Inmate Search, then ask the detention center at 208-756-8980.
5. Where do I pay bail in Salmon?
Payment questions go to the Lemhi County Detention Center at 206 Courthouse Drive, or to the clerk of the court in the same courthouse complex. Under Rule 13, courts take cashier's checks, money orders, and cash, and a personal check only where the district judge allows it. Call 208-756-8980 before you leave home and ask which counter handles bail on that day. Keep the receipt. A general bail guide for this jail covers the common steps.
6. Do I have to hand over the whole amount in cash?
No. Idaho Code 19-2907 lists three ways to post bail: cash, a Lemhi County property bond, or a bail bond. It also says a Lemhi County defendant cannot be forced to post a Lemhi County cash deposit. A judge may release some people on their own promise to return. If you want the cash route, ask the court clerk through 208-742-1673 whether the judge allowed it for this case.
7. What does a bail bond agent do?
A bail agent promises the court the full bond and charges you a fee. Idaho Code 41-1039 says a bail agent must be licensed through the Idaho Department of Insurance, and sheriffs and court clerks take bonds only from licensed agents. Before you sign, ask in writing what the fee is, what collateral the Lemhi County agent requires, and what happens if the person skips court. That fee is the agent's payment, so do not expect it back.
8. Can I use my land or home instead of cash?
Sometimes. Under Idaho Code 19-2909 the real estate must lie in Idaho. After liens are subtracted, the equity must cover the bail plus the likely cost of collecting it. The judge may say no. The Lemhi County bond is recorded as a lien and ends when the bail is released. The court uses forms approved by the Idaho Supreme Court. Ask the clerk, 208-742-1673, how to begin.
9. Why does it say your loved one cannot get out?
Idaho Constitution art. I, sec. 6 allows no bail only for capital offenses where the proof is clear or the presumption is great. Other holds are more common. A probation violation, a warrant from another county, or a charge still waiting for a judge can block release. Idaho Code 19-2903 leaves bail to the judge's discretion for probation violations. Lemhi County Probation can be reached at 208-756-2815, extension 1732.
10. What if I cannot afford a lawyer?
Tell the judge at the first Lemhi County hearing that you need a court-appointed attorney. Lemhi County is in the Seventh Judicial District, and the State Public Defender runs defense here through contract lawyers rather than a county office. The State Public Defender's main line in Boise is 208-605-4575. The court can tell you which lawyer was assigned.
11. Who handles the paperwork at the courthouse?
The Lemhi County courthouse is at 206 Courthouse Drive, Salmon, ID 83467. Felonies belong to the district court. Misdemeanors, first appearances, and juvenile matters go to the magistrate division. Both are handled by the clerk of the court, whose office also runs a bonds counter that collects fines and fees. The court main line is 208-742-1673.
12. What if the Salmon police picked him up?
City officers may take someone to the county detention center. Whether the city keeps its own short-term cell is a fact to ask about, so call the sheriff's office at 208-742-1680 and ask which agency made the arrest. Then use Lemhi County Inmate Search to confirm where the person was booked.
13. What if the person arrested is a teenager?
Lemhi County juvenile matters are confidential and will not appear in the Lemhi County adult search. The Idaho juvenile justice directory lists Lemhi County Detention Center at 206 Courthouse Drive, 208-742-1681, as the county's juvenile detention contact. Lemhi County juvenile probation, at 205 Courthouse Drive, answers at 208-756-2815, extension 1732. Call probation first to learn where the youth is and when the hearing is.
14. What if he skips the court date?
The judge orders the bail forfeited and signs a bench warrant. Idaho Code 19-2915 requires the clerk to mail notice to the person who posted bail within five business days. The forfeiture is set aside if the judge quashes the bench warrant within 180 days after it was ordered. Call a lawyer at once and phone the clerk at 208-742-1673 to learn the next step.
15. A stranger says I can pay bail by gift card. Is that real?
No. No court, clerk, or jail in Lemhi County frees anyone in exchange for wire transfers, app payments, or gift cards from Lemhi County families sent to a stranger. If a caller or text pushes you to pay in minutes, hang up. Look up the number yourself and call the sheriff at 208-742-1680 or the court at 208-742-1673 to check the story.
16. When does my bail money come back?
Under Idaho Code 19-2908, when a case ends the clerk applies any cash deposit to restitution, costs, fines, and fees and returns the remainder goes back to the poster it. A bail agent keeps the fee. Save every receipt and the case number, and ask the Lemhi County clerk about the refund process.
17. Does Lemhi County bail cover a federal charge?
A federal court takes the Lemhi County case. A federal warrant served in Lemhi County is not part of the Lemhi bond schedule, and Lemhi deputies cannot set an amount for it. Lemhi County federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Eastern Division, 801 E. Sherman St., Pocatello; the clerk takes Lemhi County questions at 208-478-4123.
- The federal magistrate sees the Lemhi defendant first for a Lemhi County arrest, normally very soon.
- No printed cash amount exists for a Salmon federal arrest. Following 18 U.S.C. 3142, the judge can release the Lemhi defendant on conditions or order detention.
- When detention is requested in a Salmon case, the hearing for the Lemhi County defendant follows soon, unless a Lemhi party asks to delay it.
- Before trial the U.S. Marshals Service keeps custody, and a jail near Salmon may hold them under contract; ring 208-756-8980 and ask if the Salmon jail has the person.
- After a federal sentence on a Lemhi case, the Federal Bureau of Prisons assigns a prison, shown on the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
18. Does a Lemhi County immigration hold stop bail release?
A Lemhi bond can be paid, but an immigration hold can keep your family member in Lemhi County Detention Center. The steps normally run like this for a Salmon arrest:
- When the person is booked in Lemhi County, Idaho Code 18-9008 requires the jail to decide if the Lemhi County arrestee is a noncitizen and report that to the Department of Homeland Security inside 48 hours.
- ICE can issue a Form I-247A detainer asking Lemhi County to keep the arrested person.
- The Salmon jail must follow a reasonable detainer under Idaho Code 18-9005(4) once the Lemhi case's state-ordered confinement is over, and Lemhi staff must tell the person about it.
- After a Lemhi release order, ICE gets a Lemhi County window of up to 48 hours, including weekends and holidays.
- Officers from the ICE Twin Falls office, 212 Deere Street, Twin Falls, ID 83301, 208-737-3820, collect the person from the Lemhi County jail; the next stop after Salmon can be the Elmore County Detention Center at 2255 East 8th North, Mountain Home and then a Lemhi detainee may go out of state.
- Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator System with the Lemhi detainee's A-number, or the Lemhi County person's name and birth country.
Get legal advice before posting in Salmon, because Lemhi bail does not cover the immigration case.
19. Which searches find a Lemhi County inmate in any prison?
- County jail: use Lemhi County Inmate Search , then call 208-756-8980.
- Status alerts: VINELink lists Lemhi custody status and sends release notices.
- Prison after a Lemhi sentence: search the Idaho Department of Correction Resident/Client Search, or see our Idaho state prisons guide.
- Federal inmate: open the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
- ICE custody: the ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
- Hearing dates: Idaho iCourt case search, or court staff in Salmon at 208-742-1673.
Key contacts
- County jail
- Lemhi County Detention Center, 206 Courthouse Drive, Salmon, ID 83467; 208-756-8980
- Bail guide
- Lemhi County jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Lemhi County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Lemhi County Sheriff's Office, 206 Courthouse Drive, Salmon, ID 83467; 208-742-1680
- Courthouse
- Lemhi County courthouse, 206 Courthouse Drive, Salmon, ID; clerk of the court and magistrate court, 208-742-1673
- Probation
- Lemhi County Probation, 205 Courthouse Drive, Salmon; 208-756-2815, extension 1732
- Juvenile
- Juvenile detention contact: Lemhi County Detention Center, 208-742-1681; juvenile probation 208-756-2815, extension 1732
- Public defense
- Idaho State Public Defender, Boise; 208-605-4575
Phone numbers, hours, and payment rules can change, so call the sheriff or the court clerk before you send money or drive to Salmon. This is not legal advice for any Salmon case; an attorney can answer questions about one case.
Lemhi County Jail
Address:
206 Courthouse Drive
Salmon, ID 83467
Phone:
208-756-8980
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lemhi County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lemhi County?
Who can set bail in Lemhi County?
When is bail set in Lemhi County Idaho?
Does Lemhi County have bail?
Yes, Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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, Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi County have bail?
Yes, Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi County Jail for more information about the jails in Lemhi County.
What options are there to pay bail in Lemhi 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 Lemhi County Jail for more information about posting bail in Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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 Lemhi 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.