Bath County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Bath County Bail and Pretrial Release
Bath County has no jail, so after an Owingsville arrest the person rides to Lee County and the Three Forks Regional Jail, 2221 Fairground Ridge Road, Beattyville, KY 41311, phone 606-464-2598, and stays there until a bail or bond is posted and release is ordered. The money stays local: Owingsville judges set the terms, and the circuit clerk at the Bath County Judicial Center, 65 Water St., Owingsville, KY 40360 takes payment (606-674-2186 or 606-674-6821). Bath belongs to the 21st Judicial Circuit along with Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan.
Who can tell me the bail for someone taken to Beattyville?
Phone Three Forks at 606-464-2598 or check the online roster. Several counties send people there, so mention that Bath made the arrest and give a birthday along with the name. Write down the charge, the dollar figure, the case number and any pretrial note.
↑ Back to the question listWhere is bond paid for an Owingsville case?
Bath bonds go to the circuit clerk at the Bath County Judicial Center, 65 Water St., Owingsville, KY 40360. Before leaving home, ring 606-674-2186 or 606-674-6821 to confirm the figure. Staff list currency, money orders, certified checks and checks from a local bank as accepted, and an out-of-town check needs approval. Ask which of those work for a bond. Bring photo ID and keep your receipt.
↑ Back to the question listCan Three Forks take the bond itself?
Sometimes; the Owingsville circuit clerk (606-674-2186) always can. Kentucky lets a jailer accept bail for a $5 fee where the fiscal court allows it (KRS 431.5305). Because the jail sits two counties away, call 606-464-2598 first and ask whether a Bath bond can be posted there or only in Owingsville.
↑ Back to the question listWill a bail bondsman help?
No. Bath bonds are paid at the Water Street clerk (606-674-2186) or the Beattyville jail (606-464-2598), since bondsmen are barred in Kentucky. Commercial bonding is illegal here (KRS 431.510). Families pay the court on their own, and the deposit, less fees and costs, is returned at the end if every hearing was attended.
↑ Back to the question listWhat happens in the pretrial interview?
It is done at Three Forks (606-464-2598), where Bath arrestees are booked. Shortly after booking, a state pretrial officer asks the defendant about home, work, the charge and past court dates, then gives a risk score (KRS 431.515). A judge decides. People rated low risk are normally released without paying (KRS 431.066). Certain minor, non-violent charges qualify for release before any judge sees the case.
↑ Back to the question listWhich kinds of bond do Bath judges use?
The Owingsville judges can let someone go on their own recognizance, which is a written promise to come back. With an unsecured bond, nothing is paid unless court is missed. A ten percent deposit carries a $10 minimum (KRS 431.530), while a full cash bond requires every dollar up front. A property bond is backed by Kentucky land whose equity equals twice the bail (KRS 431.535).
An approved relative may also sign as a surety without pay (KRS 431.520).
↑ Back to the question listAre there legal caps on the amount?
A Bath judge in Owingsville sets the figure, and the circuit clerk at 606-674-2186 can tell you what was set. Under Kentucky law, bail must fit a person's means (KRS 431.525) and discourages jail for simple violations (KRS 431.062). On a misdemeanor without injuries, bail stays under the maximum fine plus costs. A chart sets bail for some Class D felonies (KRS 431.540). Judges weigh victim safety in domestic and sex cases (KRS 431.064). Each day held earns $100 in credit (KRS 431.066).
↑ Back to the question listHow is a deposit refunded?
A defendant who showed up every time gets the deposit back from the Water Street clerk once the judge closes the file, less a fee of one tenth (the floor is $5). When a Bath case is dismissed or ends in acquittal, the clerk repays the full sum. A judge can first apply it to unpaid fines, costs or restitution. Questions go to 606-674-2186.
↑ Back to the question listWhat rules can come with release?
An Owingsville judge may forbid contact with the alleged victim, order sobriety and testing, require GPS monitoring or set regular check-ins. Failing to appear brings a warrant, and after 20 days' notice the bond may be lost (KRS 431.545). If a rule makes it hard to keep a job, a lawyer can ask for a change.
↑ Back to the question listWhat if there's a federal case or an ICE detainer too?
A Bath bond doesn't settle either one. Federal charges are handled in Lexington at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 101 Barr Street, Lexington, KY 40507, 859-233-2503, where only a federal judge orders release. An ICE detainer lets Three Forks hold someone as long as 48 hours after the state case would free them. Call 606-464-2598 before paying, and look at the ICE detainee locator or Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. Lawyers in the case are listed on our court guide.
↑ Back to the question listBath County Jail
Address:
2221 Fairgrounds Ridge Road
Beattyville, KY 41311
Phone:
606-464-2598
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Bath County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bath County?
Who can set bail in Bath County?
When is bail set in Bath County Kentucky?
Does Bath County have bail?
Yes, Section 16 the Kentucky Constitution guarantees the right to bail for all but capital crimes. However, Kentucky does not permit bond companies to operate within the state. Any bonds would be gotten through the Bath County court system.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bath County?
Kentucky offers several options when it comes to paying bail including release on own recognizance, cash bail, percentage bond, property bond, surety bond or unsecured bond.
Who can set bail in Bath County?
Pretrial officers are mandated to conduct an interview and assessment within 12 hours of arrest on individuals arrested on bailable offenses. If a defendant does not qualify for administrative release, pretrial officers then present the findings to a judge, who makes the decision about pretrial release.
When is bail set in Bath County Kentucky?
Bail is set either the day of the arrest or by a judge at the arraignment, which is when the defendant will also enter a plea. In most cases the arraignment will occur the morning following arrest.
What is Bail?
Bail is money paid that is held by the Bath County or municipal court to make sure that the arrested does not flee the area before their trial. Bail amounts and other conditions are determined at the arraignment.
The State of Kentucky has banned commercial bail by a bail bond company.
Pretrial officers are mandated to conduct an interview and assessment within 12 hours of arrest on individuals arrested on bailable offenses. If a defendant does not qualify for administrative release, pretrial officers then present the findings to a judge, who makes the decision about pretrial release.
It is always important to have family involvement after being arrested. Not only can they make calls and communicate on your behalf, but family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court, not only for the defendant’s own good, but because they may have signed bond paperwork and responsible to pay if the defendant does not show in court.
(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. There are no bond companies in Kentucky.)
If the pretrial officer and judge 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 Bath County Jail until the case is resolved or goes to trial. Bail can also be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest.
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.
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.
What are the different types of bonds in Bath County?
Based on a review of information from the pretrial officer, the judge will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
These are the bonds that the Clerk of Court can process in Kentucky:
For minor offenses, the defendant, friend, or family can pay the full amount of bail.
A personal recognizance bond is where the defendant or someone representing the defendant signs paperwork which only requires a signature and promise from the defendant to return to court. If the defendant does not return to court, a warrant for arrest and detention can follow.
An unsecured release requires the defendant’s signature and conditions to be met. If the defendant does not return to court, the bail amount would need to be paid.
Cash percentage bond. If the bond order permits, the defendant pays 10% to the court, which then holds the money until the case is over. 10% of the 10% paid remains with the court and in most cases, there are court fees or fines due in addition, so if the defendant returns to all court hearings, 90% of the money paid to the court will be returned but additional fines and fees might be owed.
Third-party surety release requires another person called a surety to sign with the defendant. The other person would need to put up property or partial money. Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
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 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, although the court generally does not start the process to acquire the deed unless the defendant does not show to a court appearance.
Does Bath County Kentucky have bail?
Yes, Section 16 the Kentucky Constitution guarantees the right to bail for all but capital crimes. However, Kentucky does not permit bond companies to operate within the state. Any bonds would be gotten through the Bath County court system.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bath County?
Kentucky offers several options when it comes to paying bail including release on own recognizance, cash bail, percentage bond, property bond, surety bond or unsecured bond.
Who can set bail in Bath County?
Pretrial officers are mandated to conduct an interview and assessment within 12 hours of arrest on individuals arrested on bailable offenses. If a defendant does not qualify for administrative release, pretrial officers then present the findings to a judge, who makes the decision about pretrial release.
When is bail set in Kentucky?
Bail is set either the day of the arrest or by a judge at the arraignment, which is when the defendant will also enter a plea. In most cases the arraignment will occur the morning following arrest.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Bath County Kentucky?
Yes, your attorney can file a request for bail adjustment with the District Court Judge assigned to the case.
In Bath County Kentucky, 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.
Can bail be paid online in Bath County Kentucky?
Kentucky does not have an online bail payment system; however, you can add funds to an inmate’s spending account which can then be used to post bail. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Bath County Jail for contact information about the jails in Bath County or the Clerk of Court.
What options are there to pay bail in Bath County Kentucky?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Bath County Jail for more information about the jails in Bath County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Kentucky?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. Not all money is returned due to bond percentages and court fees.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Bath 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 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.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Kentucky?
Kentucky does not allow bond companies to operate in the state. The bond is acquired through the courts. A cash bond or a personal recognizance bond does not require money down.