Lawrence County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Lawrence County

Kentucky • Lawrence County • Bail & bond help

Lawrence County bail and bond: Louisa, Paintsville and cash for bond

Lawrence County's own jail is listed as closed. People arrested here are held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, 904 3rd Street in Paintsville, which serves four counties. Look up the person on Lawrence County Inmate Search to see the booking and what bail is listed, or call 606-297-5245. The Lawrence circuit clerk is in Louisa, and the clerk's state page says cash for bond.

Does Lawrence County have its own jail?

A jail directory marks the Lawrence County jail as closed and says people arrested here are booked at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville. A regional-jail list agrees that Lawrence belongs to Big Sandy, with Johnson, Magoffin and Martin.

So when police in Louisa make an arrest, expect the booking to be in Paintsville. Call 606-297-5245 to confirm for a specific person.

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How do I look up the booking?

Use Lawrence County Inmate Search. Enter the name and look for the charge and bond line. A new arrest may take hours to show.

The search is the right tool for custody and bond. The phone is for questions it cannot answer.

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Where is the jail compared with the Louisa courthouse?

The Lawrence County Judicial Center is at 29 River Bend Road, Louisa, KY 41230. The jail is at 904 3rd Street, Paintsville, KY 41240. They are in two different towns, so plan for travel between them.

Money for the court goes through Louisa. The person leaves from Paintsville.

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Can I pay a bond with a card?

The state's page for the Lawrence circuit clerk says cash for bond. It lists cards with a fee for other payments, but not for a bond.

Plan on cash. Ask the clerk at 606-638-4215 before you leave about the exact amount and whether anything else is accepted.

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What are the clerk's hours?

Circuit Court Clerk Jodi L. Parsley is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office is closed Saturday and Sunday. Payment also works online through ePay for non-bond items.

The half-hour later start matters. Arriving at 8 a.m. will not get you in.

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What do I do on an evening or weekend?

A jail directory says the bond can be paid at the jail's bonding window or with the clerk. No county page gives the window's hours. Call 606-297-5245, ask if bond is accepted right then, and ask for payment types.

Cash is the form the Lawrence clerk names for bonds. Expect the jail to ask for the same.

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What will the bond be?

Three possible decision-makers exist: a judge, a trial commissioner or Pretrial Services. Kentucky has no state table of dollar amounts by charge, and this page found no Lawrence County schedule. See Lawrence County Inmate Search for the amount that has been entered.

District Court judges John T. Chafin and D. Brett Butcher hear Lawrence County cases in the 24th Judicial District. Their hearing dates come from the clerk.

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Can I post a smaller percentage?

A court can take a cash deposit of ten percent of the bond, never less than $10, when the order allows it. That choice is closed for traffic, boating, and fish and wildlife schedule offenses.

Because Lawrence asks for cash on bonds, bring cash for the deposit too.

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Do days at Paintsville count against the bond?

After booking, each day or part of a day is $100 against the bail under KRS 431.066. The jail keeps the tally.

A judge can deny the credit if the person is a flight risk or a danger. Listed felony convictions also do not qualify.

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Can I pledge land?

Kentucky land can be pledged if it is worth at least double the bail and has unencumbered equity. The pledge is sworn and lists debts and ownership.

The Louisa clerk files a certified copy with the county clerk where the land sits. A parcel in another Kentucky county is recorded there.

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Do bail bond agents work in Lawrence County?

A jail directory says licensed agents can assist, but Kentucky restricts for-profit bail under KRS 431.510. That law bars compensated bail outside a licensed bondsman's business and limits charity bail groups.

The statute is the better guide. This page does not recommend any agent.

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Who looks at release first?

Pretrial Services, which works in every county all day and night. It interviews people arrested on bailable offenses within 24 hours. Nobody has to take the interview.

Someone who qualifies can sign a release promise without seeing a judge. A person who has been held 24 hours and cannot meet conditions can ask a judge for review.

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Why is there a hold and no bond?

A capital charge can mean no bail at all, if the proof is evident. Many sexual, violent and trafficking offenses go to a judge, as do failures to appear and new arrests on release.

Assault, sexual offense and protective order arrests are reviewed under KRS 431.064.

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Which office supplies a free lawyer for Louisa cases?

Lawrence County is served by the Department of Public Advocacy's Boyd County Trial Office, 108 28th Street, Catlettsburg. It also serves Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lewis counties. Call 833-385-6052.

Ask the judge for appointed counsel if you cannot hire a lawyer.

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What if a teenager is arrested in Louisa?

Youth are not in the adult search. Eight regional centers run by the Department of Juvenile Justice accept youth from all Kentucky counties. Boyd Regional in Ashland holds girls. Boys go to one of the others, such as Breathitt in Jackson.

A child charged with a public offense can be held up to 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays, before a detention hearing. The clerk at 606-638-4215 can give the court date.

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Lawrence County bail contacts

Regional jail
Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, 904 3rd Street, Paintsville, KY 41240; 606-297-5245; serves Lawrence, Johnson, Magoffin and Martin counties
Bond instructions
Jail bail and bond guide
Custody lookup
Lawrence County Inmate Search
Circuit clerk
Jodi L. Parsley, Lawrence County Judicial Center, 29 River Bend Road, Louisa, KY 41230; 606-638-4215; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; cash for bonds
Public defender
Boyd County Trial Office, 108 28th Street, Catlettsburg, KY 41129; 833-385-6052
Pretrial Services
Kentucky Court of Justice, 502-573-2350
Youth detention
Boyd Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Ashland (girls); Breathitt Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Jackson (boys); Department of Juvenile Justice contacts

These notes reflect court and state pages at the time of writing, and details can move. Call the clerk before you travel with money.

Lawrence County Jail

Address:
Lawrence County Jail
Paintsville, KY

Phone:

606-297-5245

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lawrence County


Does Lawrence County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence County?

Who can set bail in Lawrence County?

When is bail set in Lawrence County Kentucky?


 

 

Does Lawrence 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 Lawrence County court system.


 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County court system.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Kentucky? 

Yes, your attorney can file a request for bail adjustment with the District Court Judge assigned to the case.

In Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Jail for contact information about the jails in Lawrence County or the Clerk of Court.

What options are there to pay bail in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Jail for more information about the jails in Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Lawrence County