East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in East Baton Rouge Parish

Louisiana • East Baton Rouge Parish • Bail & bond help

East Baton Rouge Parish bail: the prison on General Isaac Smith Avenue and who sets the bond

Adults arrested in East Baton Rouge Parish are booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, 2867 General Isaac Smith Avenue, run by the sheriff. Look the person up in East Baton Rouge Parish Inmate Search to confirm the booking and the posted bail. The prison line is 225-355-3311, and the sheriff's 24-hour bond line is 225-308-3400.

Is my relative inside East Baton Rouge Parish Prison tonight?

Type the name into the East Baton Rouge Parish Inmate Search. Baton Rouge police, sheriff's deputies, and State Police all bring adult arrests to the parish prison on General Isaac Smith Avenue, near the airport, so one search covers most cases.

A new booking can take hours to appear. If nothing shows by the next morning, call the prison at 225-355-3311 and ask for the booking desk.

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How do I learn the bond amount?

The search page lists the bond and the court for each person, according to a 2023 article by two Baton Rouge defense lawyers. The sheriff also runs a bond and charges line that answers around the clock: 225-308-3400.

Nothing is posted until a judge has acted. A blank field usually means the amount is still being set.

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Who sets the bond, and how fast does it happen?

The duty judge of the 19th Judicial District Court sets it. Staff of the Bail Bond Project, on the third floor of the courthouse, interview each person and send a recommendation and the arrest affidavit to the judge. The judge may sign a bond right away or wait for a hearing.

The 2023 article described a jail hearing at 1 p.m. the day after booking, with a 2 a.m. cutoff. Someone booked at 4 a.m. Thursday would be heard Friday at 1 p.m. Louisiana law adds a backstop: a judge must see the person within 72 hours, not counting weekends or legal holidays (La. C.Cr.P. art. 230.1).

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Where do I pay a bond, and are the windows open at night?

The sheriff lists a bonding office at 225-963-3553 and the 24-hour amount line at 225-308-3400. Neither page we read gives window hours for the prison, so ask on the phone before you drive.

The Sheriff's Office headquarters, 8900 Jimmy Wedell Drive, is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. That is an administrative office, not a night window.

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What kinds of payment work?

A cash deposit may be cash, a cashier's or certified check from a bank, or a bank or postal money order (La. C.Cr.P. art. 326). The 2023 article said everyone booked pays a sheriff's fee by money order, $30 in a district court case and two fees totaling $65 when the bond comes from City Court. Convenience stores sell money orders at night.

Ask the bonding office whether a debit or credit card is taken and what it costs. We have only an unofficial listing for that.

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Does East Baton Rouge have a printed bail schedule?

We did not find a published 19th District price list, so we will not guess at numbers. Louisiana lets district courts adopt such schedules, but the schedule may not dictate the form of bail (art. 315).

A person with a listed offense may also ask the court for a special order. Factors like record, evidence, and ability to pay shape the amount (art. 316). Ask the Bail Bond Project at 225-389-4763, the office number printed in 2023.

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What does a bondsman cost?

Louisiana sets the premium by statute: 12 percent of the bond or $120, whichever is more (R.S. 22:1443). The lawyers' article says that fee is not refunded, even after the case ends. An Advocate story on local bail told of a $12,000 bond that cost about $1,500 this way.

Only a bondsman licensed by the Department of Insurance may collect it. Get a written receipt for every dollar.

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How does a property bond work here?

The Louisiana property must be mortgaged for the bail, and its value must exceed other debts on it (art. 323). The 2023 article laid out the Baton Rouge route: an assessment certificate from the Assessor at City Hall, approval and a stamp from the Bail Bond Project, then mortgage and conveyance certificates from the Clerk of Court's mortgage department in the City Hall basement.

Bring at least $300 in cash for fees, and every owner must come. Lawyers, judges, and court officers cannot sign. Plan to finish in a single day; the authors advised starting by noon.

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Can my husband walk out on a signature?

Sometimes. A judge can order a sign-out bond, a written promise to return, for a person or a responsible third party. The order must say so.

The law bars signature release for many charges, including crimes of violence, domestic abuse battery, and repeat drunk driving (art. 321). For those, money or a surety is the only road.

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Why is a domestic violence arrest handled more slowly?

For domestic abuse battery, stalking, and similar charges, the court may order a hold of 48 to 72 hours with no bail so the victim has time (art. 313). A hearing can follow within five days, weekends and holidays excluded.

Bring a lawyer or call the public defender before that hearing. If bail is allowed, the judge may require electronic monitoring and a curfew.

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What if the arrest was a misdemeanor or a drunk driving stop?

Baton Rouge City Court hears city misdemeanors. Its Court Services office is at 233 St. Louis Street, Room 102, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 225-389-5124. The 2023 article said City Court bonds are usually preset by a schedule after booking and that few City Court arrests stay in the parish prison.

Felony arrests by city police go to the 19th JDC.

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Where do I find the Clerk of Court?

The 19th JDC Clerk of Court is at 222 St. Louis Street, open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The phone is 225-389-3950. Property bond certificates, court dates, and case files all start there.

The court itself is at 300 North Boulevard, Suite 3602, 225-389-4744.

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Is money on the inmate's phone or commissary account bail?

No. Those deposits pay for calls and store items and never reduce a court bond. Bail goes only to the bonding office, the clerk, or a licensed surety.

Mail and money-order rules for inmate accounts differ from bond rules, so call the prison at 225-355-3311 if you are unsure which line you need.

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Where do arrested teenagers go?

The Juvenile Detention Center at 8333 Veterans Memorial Boulevard takes them; the phone is 225-354-1280. It posts visits Tuesday and Thursday, 3:15 to 6 p.m., and weekends, 1 to 3:55 p.m. Juvenile Court's number is 225-354-1250.

The Children's Code requires a custody hearing within three days when a child is not released to a parent (art. 819). The 2023 article put a detention hearing at noon on the next court day, and it said parents must attend. Seventeen-year-olds are treated as juveniles.

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How do we reach a public defender?

Call the district public defender at 225-389-3150, extension 159, the family contact line posted by the sheriff. A lawyer is appointed at the first court appearance if the person cannot pay (La. Const. art. I, sec. 13; art. 230.1).

Say what charge you were told about and the booking date.

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What if a federal agent made the arrest?

East Baton Rouge Parish belongs to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana (28 U.S.C. 98). The lawyers' article said federal cases usually begin with an indictment and a surrender to the U.S. Marshals, after which a magistrate judge sets bond.

State bondsmen and state rules do not apply there. Hire a lawyer who works in federal court.

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Can the bond be lowered later?

Yes. The court trying the case may raise or lower bail for good cause on a motion from either side, and a new bond must be posted at the new amount (art. 319). If bail is refused or set too high, the court of appeal can review it (art. 312).

A defense lawyer files that motion. Rearrest while on bond is good cause to raise it.

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East Baton Rouge Parish contacts

Jail
East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, 2867 General Isaac Smith Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70807; 225-355-3311
Custody lookup
East Baton Rouge Parish Inmate Search
Bond lines
Bonding office 225-963-3553; amount and charges line, 24 hours, 225-308-3400; booking desk 225-358-4010
Sheriff
Sid J. Gautreaux, headquarters line 225-389-5000
Clerk of Court
222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge; 225-389-3950
City Court
233 St. Louis Street, Room 102; 225-389-5124
Public defender
225-389-3150, extension 159
Youth detention
Juvenile Detention Center, 8333 Veterans Memorial Boulevard; 225-354-1280

Phone numbers, fees, and hours marked 2023 came from a bar journal and may have changed. Confirm each one with the office before you act, and ask a lawyer about your own case.

Instructions on How to Post Bond Online in East Baton Rouge Parish

East Baton Rouge Parish Prison uses an online cash bonding company called CashBondOnline.com so you don't have to bond out your inmate at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison or at the East Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse.

Here's how it works:

1. Once you find out that your inmate has been arrested, go here and select Louisiana.

2. Next select East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, or if it is not listed like that, try East Baton Rouge Parish.

3. Next, input your inmate's name or ID Number and then click 'Find'.

4. If your inmate is elegible for a cash bond, the amount will be noted next to their criminal charges.

  • You can only use one credit card, so make sure you have enough available credit on it, and the only acceptable cards are Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
  • You will need an email to do this online, but if you don't have an email, call CashBondOnline at 888-726-6301 and you can process the bond over the phone.
  • If you want to contact support by email, their address is: info@cashbondonline.com.

East Baton Rouge Parish Prison

Address:
2867 Brig. General Isaac Smith
Scotlandville, LA 70807
Phone:
225-355-3311

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in East Baton Rouge Parish


Does East Baton Rouge Parish have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in East Baton Rouge Parish?

Who can set bail in East Baton Rouge Parish?

When is bail set in East Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana?

 

 

Does East Baton Rouge Parish have bail?

Yes, East Baton Rouge Parish recognizes most types of bail bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in East Baton Rouge Parish?

East Baton Rouge Parish recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. There are several types of bail available including release on own recognizance, cash bail, property bond and surety bond.

 

 

Who can set bail in East Baton Rouge Parish?

In some cases, the bail is predetermined based on the charges. If this is the case the amount of bail will be provided during the booking process. In cases where the bail is not predetermined, or the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, the bail will be determined by a magistrate at the first appearance.

 

 

When is bail set in East Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana?

A magistrate will set bail during a first appearance, which is usually scheduled within 72 hours of arrest.

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in East Baton Rouge Parish must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance. 

The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program. 

Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane. 

If a bail commissioner in East Baton Rouge Parish feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.  

Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court. 

If the magistrate 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 East Baton Rouge Parish Prison until the case is resolved or goes to trial. 

Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses. 

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. Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.  

The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, East Baton Rouge Parish or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.  

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.  

Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation. 

Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.  

On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.  

What are the different types of bonds in East Baton Rouge Parish?

Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.

To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.

Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.

Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:

You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.

You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to 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. 

If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you. 

Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.

Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.

You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over. 

The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.

You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value. 

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 1 ½ - 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. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond. 

You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.  

A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met. 

With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved. 

Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee.  A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.

Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company.  Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.

(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.  A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)

Does East Baton Rouge Parish have bail?

Yes, East Baton Rouge Parish recognizes most types of bail bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in East Baton Rouge Parish? 

East Baton Rouge Parish recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. There are several types of bail available including release on own recognizance, cash bail, property bond and surety bond.

Who can set bail in East Baton Rouge Parish?  

In some cases, the bail is predetermined based on the charges. If this is the case the amount of bail will be provided during the booking process. In cases where the bail is not predetermined, or the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, the bail will be determined by a magistrate at the first appearance.

When is bail set in East Baton Rouge Parish?

A magistrate will set bail during a first appearance, which is usually scheduled within 72 hours of arrest.

Can I get the bail or bond reduced in East Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana? 

Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the magistrate know.  Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.

In East Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana, 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. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Louisiana could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.

Can bail be paid online in East Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana?  

No, Louisiana counties do not currently offer online payment of bail. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: go to the for more information about the jails in East Baton Rouge Parish.

What options are there to pay bail in East Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana? 

Payment may be made with cash, money order, property bond, or surety bond. Some accept a credit card with fees. 

Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for more information about posting bail in East Baton Rouge Parish.  

An alternative would be to contact the Clerk of Court.

Will I get all my bond money back in Louisiana?

Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.

Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in East Baton Rouge Parish?

The magistrate 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 (PR) 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. 

If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you. 

Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.  A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.

What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Louisiana?  

The East Baton Rouge Parish Prison or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.  

The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in East Baton Rouge Parish

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.