Lee County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lee County Bail and Pretrial Release
Bail and release for people arrested in Lee County are handled in Beattyville, where they are booked at the Three Forks Regional Jail (2221 Fairground Ridge Road, Beattyville, KY 41311; 606-464-2598), which sits in Beattyville itself. Bond goes to the circuit clerk on the second floor of the Lee County Courthouse, 256 Main St., Beattyville, KY 41311 (606-464-8400). Lee, Estill and Owsley share the 23rd Judicial Circuit.
1. How do I learn the bond amount?
Call Three Forks at 606-464-2598 with the legal name and birth date and ask about charges and bond. Several counties use the jail, so confirm you've got the right person. If there's no amount yet, the defendant may not have faced a judge; bail is set at the initial District Court appearance.
↑ Back to the question list2. What payment does the clerk take for bond?
The second-floor clerk, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, lists currency, checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards with a fee. Personal checks aren't accepted for fines. Call 606-464-8400 to confirm which methods will work for a particular bond, and bring ID plus the case number. Our money page has more.
↑ Back to the question list3. Can a bail agent post a Lee County bond?
No. Pay the Main Street courthouse clerk (606-464-8400) or Three Forks (606-464-2598). For-profit bail is banned statewide (KRS 431.510), so families take the deposit straight to the courthouse. Anyone charging a fee to arrange a Lee bond is operating outside the law. Nearly the whole deposit is repaid at the finish, provided the defendant never missed court.
↑ Back to the question list4. How does Pretrial Services affect release?
Three Forks (606-464-2598) can say if the interview is done. A court employee from Pretrial Services, not jail staff, interviews each new Three Forks arrival, verifies records and scores the risk of flight or reoffense (KRS 431.515). Judges lean toward releasing low-risk defendants without money and attaching conditions for moderate ones (KRS 431.066).
↑ Back to the question list5. What bond types can a judge order?
The Beattyville clerk (606-464-8400) can read the order. Options: A promise to appear, an unsecured bond, ten percent down with $10 as the floor (KRS 431.530), full cash, or a pledge of Kentucky real estate with equity twice the bail (KRS 431.535). An unpaid relative or friend may sign on as surety (KRS 431.520).
↑ Back to the question list6. Are there legal limits on bail?
The Lee clerk (606-464-8400) has the amount set. The judge must weigh ability to pay and avoid oppressive amounts (KRS 431.525). Pretrial jail over a violation alone is rare (KRS 431.062). Absent injury, a misdemeanor bond is held to the statutory fine ceiling plus costs, and a uniform schedule covers listed nonviolent Class D felonies (KRS 431.540). Domestic violence and protective order cases put victim safety first (KRS 431.064). A day in jail counts as $100 of credit (KRS 431.066).
↑ Back to the question list7. What happens if a Lee defendant breaks release terms?
Judges may order no contact with the complaining witness, sobriety, drug tests, GPS or reporting. Missing a date at the Main Street courthouse can bring a warrant and, after 20 days' notice, forfeiture (KRS 431.545), along with a bail-jumping charge. A lawyer can ask to modify unworkable terms.
↑ Back to the question list8. When do bond deposits come back?
At the end of a case where no appearance was missed, the clerk refunds the deposit less a tenth, $5 minimum. When the prosecution is dismissed or ends in acquittal, no fee is withheld. A judge can still direct that unpaid fines, costs or restitution be subtracted from the refund. Ask the clerk at 606-464-8400 about timing.
↑ Back to the question list9. Who are the lawyers in a Lee bail case?
The county attorney (190 Main Street, Beattyville, KY 41311 (606-464-9966)) prosecutes misdemeanors and starts felonies, and the 23rd Circuit Commonwealth's Attorney in Irvine (116 Main St., Irvine, KY 40336 (606-726-0127)) handles indicted felonies. Defendants unable to pay get the Stanton Trial Office of the Department of Public Advocacy (452 Washington St., Stanton, KY 40380; 833-895-0582). Search cases on KYeCourts public case search, and see our court guide.
↑ Back to the question list10. Does Lee bail cover a federal or ICE hold?
No. The U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 101 Barr Street, Lexington, KY 40507, 859-233-2503 decides federal release. An ICE detainer lets Three Forks keep someone up to 48 hours after state release, so ask 606-464-2598 before posting. Check the ICE online detainee locator and Bureau of Prisons locator for other custody.
↑ Back to the question listLee County Jail
Address:
200 Justice Drive
Hazard, KY 41701
Phone:
606-464-2598
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lee County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lee County?
Who can set bail in Lee County?
When is bail set in Lee County Kentucky?
Does Lee 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 Lee County court system.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee County court system.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee County Kentucky?
Yes, your attorney can file a request for bail adjustment with the District Court Judge assigned to the case.
In Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee County Jail for contact information about the jails in Lee County or the Clerk of Court.
What options are there to pay bail in Lee 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 Lee County Jail for more information about the jails in Lee 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 Lee 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.