Franklin County Regional Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search the jail roster, then call 502-875-8782 to confirm the amount and type. The jail office is staffed weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but booking can answer bond questions after hours. On serious charges the bond may stay blank until arraignment. Ask about any outside hold too.

Cash bonds under $10,000 are paid at the jail. For $10,000 or more, the clerk's office in the Franklin County Courthouse, 222 St. Clair Street, Frankfort, KY 40601 takes the money weekdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., phone 502-564-7013; after those hours they are taken at the jail. Payment must be cash. Keep the receipt for your refund.

No. In Frankfort, whoever posts bond pays the Franklin circuit clerk (502-564-7013) or the regional jail (502-875-8782) directly, because Kentucky forbids commercial bail bonding (KRS 431.510). In Franklin County, people pay their own cash deposit to the court and recover most of it later.

At the regional jail on the edge of Frankfort (502-875-8782), a pretrial officer interviews each new arrest and reports a risk score to the judge (KRS 431.515). Kentucky law presumes release without money for low-risk defendants (KRS 431.066). The judge decides and can add supervision.

Franklin judges most often grant own recognizance, which rests on a written promise, or an unsecured bond, which costs money only after a skipped date. When more security is wanted, they require a 10 percent cash deposit (KRS 431.530), the whole bail in cash, or Franklin County land pledged as security (KRS 431.535).

With court approval, a relative can be surety for free (KRS 431.520).

A Frankfort district judge sets the figure, and the circuit clerk (502-564-7013) can tell you what was entered. Under the statute, bail must be reasonable for the charge and the person's means (KRS 431.525). Violations seldom lead to jail (KRS 431.062). For a Frankfort misdemeanor where nobody was hurt, the bail ceiling equals the maximum fine plus costs. A statewide schedule applies to many lower felonies (KRS 431.540). In domestic violence matters the victim's safety comes first (KRS 431.064). On many charges, time in jail is credited at $100 a day toward bail.

Once the defendant has made every appearance and the case is over, the clerk keeps 10 percent ($5 at least) and returns the remainder. Dropped charges or a not-guilty finding mean the entire deposit is returned. Fines and costs can come out first; call 502-564-7013 to check.

Frankfort judges can order no contact with a victim, no alcohol, drug tests, GPS or check-ins. A missed date brings a warrant, and bond is forfeited 20 days after notice (KRS 431.545). If a condition is unworkable, ask through a lawyer to change it.

Franklin County is the 48th Judicial Circuit. The county attorney is at 222 St. Clair Street, Suite 2007, P.O. Box 73, Frankfort, KY 40602 (502-875-8745), and the Commonwealth's Attorney is at 222 St. Clair Street, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601 (502-564-4741). Defendants who cannot afford a lawyer can request the Frankfort Trial Office of the public defender (223 St. Clair Street, Frankfort, KY 40601; 833-385-6051), which can ask for lower bond.

Yes. Ask the regional jail (502-875-8782) first whether a federal or immigration hold is on file; the U.S. Marshals keep a Frankfort office (502-223-5608) and ICE's Louisville office answers at 502-625-6202. Federal cases are heard here in Frankfort at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 330 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601, 502-223-5225, and state bond does not cover them. Immigration paperwork can delay walking out by as much as 48 hours past release. Check the ICE finder and the federal prison locator, or read our court guide.