Lexington-Fayette County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds

Bail goes to the District Criminal counter at 150 North Limestone (859-246-2228) or the Old Frankfort Circle jail (859-425-2700). KRS 431.510 makes it a crime to post bail for a fee. No company can write a bond for profit anywhere in the state. Instead, the judge sets the terms and you pay the clerk directly, either in full or as a 10 percent deposit, and most of a deposit comes back when the case ends.

Because no agent takes a cut, the only charges are court costs and the small fee the clerk keeps on a deposit.

Pretrial Services is an arm of the state court system. Its officers interview most people at the detention center soon after booking (see KRS 431.515). They confirm who the person is, how long they have lived locally and whether they missed earlier hearings. A risk score goes to the judge. Under KRS 431.066, a low-risk score makes release on your own word or an unsecured bond the rule. A moderate score brings the same release, but GPS or other conditions may be added. With a high score, the judge may set money bail or stricter terms.

Answer the interview truthfully. Wrong facts can delay release.

The Limestone district clerk (859-246-2228) can read back the order. KRS 431.520 lists the choices.

Own recognizance is a signed promise with no money. An unsecured bond costs nothing now, but you owe the full amount if you skip court. A 10 percent deposit means paying a tenth of the bail to the clerk, never less than $10, under KRS 431.530. Full cash is the whole amount. A property bond uses Kentucky real estate with clear equity worth twice the bail, per KRS 431.535. A personal surety is a friend or relative the court approves, who signs and is unpaid.

The District Criminal counter (859-246-2228) can quote the amount on a specific case. Judges set amounts case by case using the factors in KRS 431.525. A few limits are fixed by law.

Violations, like some traffic offenses, mean no jail before trial unless you missed court or fled (KRS 431.062). On fine-only charges, bail can't top the highest fine plus costs. Misdemeanors with no injury or sexual contact get one bail for all counts, capped at the fine and costs for the worst charge. Class D felony bail is often set from the Supreme Court's uniform schedule (KRS 431.540), and a judge reviews violent or sex charges and protective order cases first (KRS 431.064).

Each day held earns $100 of credit toward bail for many defendants, under KRS 431.066.

Call 859-425-2700 for the amount and the case number. Then go to the District Criminal/Traffic counter, ground floor, Robert F. Stephens District Courthouse, 150 N. Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507, which is open 24 hours a day except Dec. 24 and 25 and answers at 859-246-2228. You can also pay at the detention center lobby. Bring photo ID and the person's full name and birth date, and keep the receipt. Release usually follows within a few hours after the jail gets the clerk's paperwork.

Bond can also be paid online through the payment portal linked from the city inmate information page; in person, pay at the Fayette County District Courthouse or the detention center. Our money and payments guide explains the choices.

After a Lexington case in which every date was honored, the clerk returns 90 percent of a 10 percent deposit and keeps 10 percent (at least $5) as bail costs. A court can apply the money to fines or restitution first. If charges are dropped or the person is found not guilty, the full deposit is returned. The Circuit Criminal office helps with refunds on felony cases: Suite C-103, 120 N. Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507, 859-246-2224.

Conditions show on the release order; the Limestone clerk (859-246-2228) can read them back.

Lexington judges often order no contact with the alleged victim, staying in the county or the state, drug or alcohol testing, GPS or alcohol monitoring (KRS 431.067, KRS 431.068), home incarceration and regular check-ins with Pretrial Services.

Breaking a term or missing court can mean forfeiture and a new charge under KRS 431.545.

Fayette District Court handles misdemeanors and the first appearance on felonies at the Robert F. Stephens District Courthouse, 150 N. Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507 (859-246-2228). Fayette Circuit Court takes felony indictments at the Robert F. Stephens Circuit Courthouse, 120 N. Limestone, Lexington, KY 40507 (859-246-2224). Federal cases go to the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 101 Barr Street, Lexington, KY 40507 (859-233-2503).

Look up a case with the KYeCourts guest search.

Yes, if you can't afford one. The Department of Public Advocacy has two Lexington offices.

The Lexington North Trial Office is at 163 W. Short St., Suite 600, Lexington, KY 40507 (859-258-2377), and the Lexington South Trial Office is in Suite 200 of the same building (859-246-2906).

A lawyer can ask the judge to lower bail or change terms at a bond hearing.

Community Corrections (859-425-2700) can confirm any hold. The U.S. Marshals in Lexington answer at 859-436-6750; ICE: 502-625-6202. Federal cases skip the local bail system. A magistrate judge in Lexington holds a detention hearing under the federal Bail Reform Act. Someone held for the U.S. Marshals may sit in a local jail first. After sentencing, track the person with the BOP inmate locator.

An immigration detainer (Form I-247A) asks the jail to hold a person up to 48 hours past release so ICE can pick them up. Call 859-425-2700 to ask if a hold exists before you pay. Detainees can be found with the ICE detainee locator. For people sent to state prison, use the KOOL offender search.