Baltimore City Correctional Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Baltimore City Bail: Central Booking, Commissioners and Bail Review
Bail and release in Baltimore City are decided by District Court commissioners, and the central station at 500 N. Calvert Street, 410-878-8990, is open day and night. Arrestees are processed at the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center, 300 E. Madison Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-545-8080. Unlike every county jail in Maryland, this one is run by the state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services through its Division of Pretrial Detention and Services.
1. Who sets bail after an arrest in the city?
A District Court commissioner. The centralized station is at 500 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-878-8990, and is staffed 24 hours a day. A second commissioner post works inside Central Booking at 300 E. Madison Street, 410-545-8294. Anyone arrested without a warrant must appear before one within 24 hours under Maryland Rule 4-212.
↑ Back to the question list2. What release terms are possible in the city?
Following Rule 4-216.1, a commissioner can release on recognizance, set an unsecured bond, order pretrial supervision or other conditions, require a secured bond, or deny bail. DPSCS's Pretrial Release Services Program screens many defendants and supervises those released with conditions.
↑ Back to the question list3. How do I pay bail at Central Booking?
- Look up the person with the DPSCS incarcerated individual locator or call DPDS customer service at 410-209-8122.
- Ask the commissioner at 410-878-8990 for the bail figure and accepted payment.
- Bring a photo ID and the defendant's legal name and date of birth.
- Save every receipt.
Money placed on a detainee's account is separate from bail; our money guide has details.
↑ Back to the question list4. When is the bail review?
A detainee who could not get out sees a District Court judge at a bail review, usually the next court day, often at the courthouse at 500 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-878-8900. Pretrial staff give the judge a risk report. A job, school, or family duties can be raised by the defense.
↑ Back to the question list5. Who represents defendants at bail review in Baltimore?
The Office of the Public Defender handles many city cases. District offices include Eastside, 1400 E. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21213, 410-878-8600; Hargrove, 700 E. Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21225, 410-878-8400; and Wabash, 5800 Wabash Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215, 410-878-8114. Felony matters go to 201 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, 667-406-2374.
↑ Back to the question list6. Are bondsmen used in the city?
Yes. A licensed surety posts a secured bond for a premium, which the company keeps whatever the outcome. Compare terms, read the collateral clause, and refuse payment requests through apps or gift cards from strangers who call.
↑ Back to the question list7. How is cash bail refunded in Baltimore City?
Cash returns to the name on the receipt once the case closes, provided each hearing was attended. Restitution or court costs may be paid out of it first. A missed hearing can mean forfeiture. Circuit Court bail questions go to the clerk's office at the Courthouse East, 111 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-396-5188.
↑ Back to the question list8. What if the arrest was by federal agents?
Federal defendants go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland at 101 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-962-2600. A magistrate judge decides detention, and the city commissioner is not involved. Use the BOP inmate locator after sentencing.
↑ Back to the question list9. Can ICE hold a person after city bail is posted?
Yes. With a Form I-247A, ICE asks the state facility to keep someone for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)). The ICE Baltimore Field Office is a few blocks away at 31 Hopkins Plaza, 6th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-637-4000. Search the ICE detainee locator.
↑ Back to the question list10. Where are sentenced city residents sent?
DPSCS moves sentenced people into its prisons. Look them up on the DPSCS incarcerated individual locator and check our Maryland state prisons list. For more local help, see our Baltimore City inmate search guide and court guide.
↑ Back to the question listBaltimore City Correctional Center
Address:
901 Greenmount Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone:
410-332-4340
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Baltimore city
Does Baltimore city have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Baltimore city?
Who can set bail in Baltimore city?
When is bail set in Baltimore city Maryland?
Does Baltimore city have bail?
Yes, Baltimore city recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Baltimore city?
Baltimore city recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Defendants who qualify for bail may be released on personal recognizance, 10% cash bail, property bond or a cash surety.
Who can set bail in Baltimore city?
Bail is set by the judicial commissioner whose job it is to determine if a defendant qualifies for bail, the type of bail to be set and the amount of that bail.
When is bail set in Baltimore city Maryland?
Bail is set at a bail review hearing. This hearing is set on the next available court date, usually within 24 hours unless it is the weekend or a holiday.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Baltimore city 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 Baltimore city 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 Baltimore City Correctional Center 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, Baltimore city 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 Baltimore city?
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 Baltimore city have bail?
Yes, Baltimore city recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Baltimore city?
Baltimore city recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Defendants who qualify for bail may be released on personal recognizance, 10% cash bail, property bond or a cash surety.
Who can set bail in Baltimore city?
Bail is set by the judicial commissioner whose job it is to determine if a defendant qualifies for bail, the type of bail to be set and the amount of that bail.
When is bail set in Maryland?
Bail is set at a bail review hearing. This hearing is set on the next available court date, usually within 24 hours unless it is the weekend or a holiday.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Baltimore city Maryland?
Yes, your attorney can request a bail reduction hearing.
In Baltimore city Maryland, 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 Maryland could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Baltimore city Maryland?
Maryland counties do not currently have an online bail payment system. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: go to the Baltimore City Correctional Center for more information about the jails in Baltimore city.
What options are there to pay bail in Baltimore city Maryland?
This depends on the county the court is located in. Some counties only accept cash, money orders, or surety. Other counties also accept credit or debit cards. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Baltimore City Correctional Center for more information about posting bail in Baltimore city.
Will I get all my bond money back in Maryland?
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 Baltimore city?
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 (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 Maryland?
The Baltimore City Correctional Center 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.