Waldo County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Waldo County Jail

Address:
10 Public Safety Way
Belfast, ME 04915
Phone:
207-338-1080

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Waldo County

Does Waldo County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Waldo County?

Who can set bail in Waldo County?

When is bail set in Waldo County Maine?

Does Waldo County have bail?

Yes, because Maine is a bail state, bail is accepted in Waldo County. 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Waldo County?

Waldo County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Bail is available in several forms including personal recognizance, unsecured bail, cash bail, surety bail or a supervision contract.

Who can set bail in Waldo County?

In most cases bail is set by a bail commissioner. For more serious or violent crimes bail must be set by a judge.

When is bail set in Waldo County Maine?

If the defendant qualifies for the services of a Waldo County bail commissioner bail will be set shortly after arrest. In cases where a judge is required to set bail this will take place at the initial appearance. This hearing is usually scheduled within 48 hours, not including weekends or holidays.

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in Waldo County 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 judge in Waldo County 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 judge or bail schedule 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 Waldo County Jail 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. 

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, Waldo County or the district court 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. 

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 Waldo County?

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. Maine courts will process bonds, eliminating the need for a professional bond company. 

There are three types of bonds recognized by the Maine courts:

1.    A personal recognizance bond which is the promise and signed statement of the defendant to abide by conditions of release and return to court when ordered.  There is no money or property (almost always real estate) to be put up. The bail commissioner may charge up to a $60 fee.

2.    An unsecured Bond is when the defendant is released without paying bail upfront, but they must pay the full amount if they do not appear in court. The bond commissioner can charge up to a $60 fee to execute this type of bond. If the defendant fails to appear in court or violates a condition of bail, the judge may issue a warrant for arrest.

3.    A secured Bond is when the defendant pays a portion of the bail up front in cash, or property.  If they show to court, the cash or property (valued at least 1 ½ the amount of bail) would be returned and if they don’t show up to court, would have to pay the entire bail amount.  The bail commissioner may charge up to a $60 fee. 

A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a bond. They are not often used in Maine because the courts can execute bonds and do not charge as much as a bondsperson would. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met. 

(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 Waldo County have bail?  

Yes, because Maine is a bail state, bail is accepted in Waldo County. 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Waldo County? 

Waldo County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Bail is available in several forms including personal recognizance, unsecured bail, cash bail, surety bail or a supervision contract.

Who can set bail in Waldo County?

In most cases bail is set by a bail commissioner. For more serious or violent crimes bail must be set by a judge.

When is bail set in Maine?  

If the defendant qualifies for the services of a Waldo County bail commissioner bail will be set shortly after arrest. In cases where a judge is required to set bail this will take place at the initial appearance. This hearing is usually scheduled within 48 hours, not including weekends or holidays.

Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Waldo County Maine? 

Yes, a judge may reduce bail set by a bail commissioner during the arraignment. If a judge set sets the initial bail your attorney may file a motion with the court for reconsideration.

In Waldo County Maine, 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 Waldo County Maine?  

Maine counties do not currently offer online payment for bail. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Waldo County Jail for more information about the jails in Waldo County.

What options are there to pay bail in Waldo County Maine? 

Cash, credit card, money order, debit care or surety. All bail payments must be made in person at the Waldo County Jail where the defendant is being held.

Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Waldo County Jail for more information about posting bail in Waldo County.  

Will I get all my bond money back in Maine? 

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 Waldo County?

Yes, Maine offers several types of bail which will not require money down including personal recognizance, unsecured bail, and property surety. 

Please remember that if a bail commissioner is assigned to the case there is a fee which must be paid in addition to the bail itself.

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

The Waldo County Jail or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved bonds through the court or bond agent.