Shelby County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Shelby County Bail and Pretrial Release
After a Shelby County arrest, booking takes place at the Shelby County Detention Center, 1000 Bobby Waits Lane, Shelbyville, KY 40065; phone 502-633-2343. The jail also takes people arrested in Spencer County. In Shelby, bond money must be cash, and it is paid to the circuit clerk.
What is the first step after someone is arrested?
Find the person on the jail roster and note the charge. Then call 502-633-2343 to learn the bond amount and type. Some people are released on a promise to return, so there may be nothing to pay. If a judge has not seen the case yet, the amount may not be set.
↑ Back to the question listWhere is Shelby bond paid, and how?
Bond goes to the circuit clerk inside the Shelby County Judicial Center, 401 Main Street, Suite 101, Shelbyville, KY 40065; phone 502-633-1287 before you drive over. Shelby takes bond in cash only. Keep your receipt, because you need it to get the money back.
↑ Back to the question listIs there a bondsman in Shelbyville?
No. Kentucky bans bonding for profit (KRS 431.510). Money goes straight from relatives or the accused to the clerk. Most of that money comes back at the end of the case.
↑ Back to the question listWhat does pretrial services do here?
A pretrial officer interviews each new Shelby booking and gives the judge a score for flight risk and new-arrest risk (KRS 431.515). State law prefers that low-risk defendants go home without posting cash (KRS 431.066). Moderate risk can mean release with check-ins.
↑ Back to the question listWhich kinds of bond can a Shelby judge set?
- Own recognizance: a signed promise to come back.
- Unsecured bond: owed only if the person skips court.
- A 10 percent cash deposit (KRS 431.530).
- Full cash bond.
- Property bond worth twice the bail (KRS 431.535).
A family member may serve as surety for free if the judge agrees (KRS 431.520).
↑ Back to the question listHow is the amount decided?
Kentucky says bail should fit the person's means and should not be oppressive (KRS 431.525). People charged only with violations are rarely held (KRS 431.062). When nobody was hurt in a misdemeanor, the bail ceiling is the most the fine and costs could be. Lower-level felonies are priced by a statewide schedule (KRS 431.540). In domestic violence cases, the judge weighs the victim's safety (KRS 431.064). On many charges, each day in jail earns $100 of credit.
↑ Back to the question listHow do I get Shelby bond money back?
Make every court date. When the case ends, the clerk keeps 10 percent, never less than $5, and returns the rest. A dismissal or a not-guilty verdict means every dollar comes back. Any court debt still owed is subtracted before the check goes out; the clerk (502-633-1287) can tell you the balance.
↑ Back to the question listWhat rules come with release?
Typical Shelby terms include no contact with the person who reported the crime, staying sober, testing for drugs, wearing a GPS unit or reporting by phone. Skipping a hearing usually leads to a bench warrant, and 20 days after notice the deposit may be lost (KRS 431.545). If a rule is impossible to follow, ask your lawyer to raise it with the judge.
↑ Back to the question listWhich lawyers handle Shelby cases?
Shelby, Anderson and Spencer form the 53rd Judicial Circuit. The Shelby County Attorney is at 501 Main Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065 (502-633-5850). The Commonwealth's Attorney is at 544 Main Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065 (502-647-3019). The Shelbyville Trial Office of the public defender (487 Frankfort Road, Suite 1, Shelbyville, KY 40065; 833-514-8984) takes clients who cannot pay and can ask for a lower bond.
↑ Back to the question listDoes a Shelby bond cover federal or immigration holds?
A Shelby bond does nothing for a federal case. Those go to the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, 330 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601, 502-223-5225. An immigration detainer may keep someone up to 48 hours past release, so phone the jail to check before handing over cash. Search the ICE finder and the federal prison locator, and read our court guide.
↑ Back to the question listShelby County Detention Center
Address:
1000 Bobby Waits Lane
Shelbyville, KY 40065
Phone:
502-633-2343
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Shelby County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Shelby County?
Who can set bail in Shelby County?
When is bail set in Shelby County Kentucky?
Does Shelby 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 Shelby County court system.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County Detention Center 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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County court system.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County Kentucky?
Yes, your attorney can file a request for bail adjustment with the District Court Judge assigned to the case.
In Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County Detention Center for contact information about the jails in Shelby County or the Clerk of Court.
What options are there to pay bail in Shelby 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 Shelby County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Shelby 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 Shelby 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.