Essex County Women in Transition Inmate Bail & Bonds
Essex County bail and bond: Middleton, the night bail clerk, and the courts
Men who cannot make bail after an Essex County arrest are held at the Essex County Correctional Facility, 20 Manning Avenue, Middleton, under Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger. Look the person up with Essex County Inmate Search to see if they are in custody and what the bail is. For anything the search leaves out, call the sheriff's Records unit at 978-750-1900, ext. 3400. A judge or clerk-magistrate sets bail at arraignment. After court hours, a bail magistrate does it by phone.
Is my relative at the Middleton jail?
Type the name into Essex County Inmate Search first. It shows who is in custody and what the bail is. A booking that is only hours old can take a while to appear, so look again later. Records at 978-750-1900, ext. 3400, can fill in the rest.
Men who cannot pay are normally held at 20 Manning Avenue until they post bail or reach their next court date.
Who at the sheriff's office handles bail questions?
The main line, 978-750-1900, reaches every Essex County Sheriff's facility. Ask for Records at ext. 3400. The sheriff's own bail page says Records can give the bail amount and name the bail clerk on duty that night. Keep the full name and birth date handy.
What time must I arrive to post bail at night?
The sheriff's bail page, updated April 5, 2024, said bails are processed every night at 8 p.m. and the person paying must arrive by 6:30 p.m. The payer must be 18 or older and show valid photo ID. Hours change, so confirm with Records at 978-750-1900, ext. 3400, before you drive to Middleton.
Which payments does the bail clerk take?
That same page listed a cashier's check or money order made out to the Bail Clerk on duty. Personal checks were refused. Cash was accepted for bail up to $5,000.
The page also told families to bring a cash fee for the bail commissioner. State law now puts after-hours fees on the Trial Court, not on the family. Ask Records whether you owe anything before you leave home.
Can someone go home without paying anything?
Yes. Under G.L. c. 276, section 58, the starting point is release on personal recognizance, which means a promise to return with no money. Money is set only if that promise would not reasonably assure a return to court. The official weighs family ties, work, record, and past missed court dates.
How does a judge pick the dollar amount?
Massachusetts does not use a price list by charge. The amount must be no higher than what would reasonably assure the person comes back, and the judge must consider what the person can pay. If the amount would likely keep the person jailed because they are poor, the judge must give reasons in writing or on the record. A lawyer can point to that rule.
Can a paid bondsman post it for us?
Do not count on it. G.L. c. 276, section 61B says no surety may be paid for acting as surety. The usual routes here are release on a promise, cash, or an unpaid surety, often a relative. The court holding the case can say which sureties it will accept.
Can a bank book, bonds, or a house secure the bail?
Section 57 names money, certain savings or co-operative bank papers, and government bonds equal to the bail. Whether a court takes real estate, and what papers it wants, is up to that court. Phone the clerk before promising anyone a house. Salem District Court answers at 978-744-1167.
What happens if a woman is arrested in Essex County?
A 2025 audit says the Middleton facility holds men only. Women may stay up to one night, then move to the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department under an agreement. By morning a woman may be in Bourne. Check Essex County Inmate Search first, then ask Records at 978-750-1900, ext. 3400.
Which courthouse hears an Essex County case?
Superior Court sits in Salem, 56 Federal Street, 978-744-5500; Newburyport, 145 High Street, 978-462-4474; and Lawrence, 43 Appleton Way, 978-242-1900. District Courts sit in Salem, Lynn, Lawrence, Peabody, Gloucester, Haverhill, and Newburyport; the contacts box below lists their phones. Ask the arresting police which court will take the first hearing.
When can a judge refuse to set any bail?
Under section 58A, the prosecutor may ask for a dangerousness hearing on listed charges, such as felonies involving force, some drug and weapons crimes, and abuse cases. The judge must find, by clear and convincing evidence, that no conditions can keep others safe. The hearing happens at the first appearance unless a continuance is granted.
Someone arrested for violating an abuse order cannot get bail out of court. Only a judge can order release.
What if Lynn, Lawrence, or Peabody police made the arrest?
Cities and towns over 5,000 people must run a lockup before arraignment, or use a sheriff under an agreement. Ask the arresting department where the person is tonight and for the report number. After that, check Essex County Inmate Search to see if the booking reached Middleton.
What if the arrested person is under 18?
DYS, the state youth agency, does not post bail for young people, and neither does DCF. Usually only a parent or guardian can pay, or name someone to do it. The DYS Northeast Region office is at 33 Gregory Street, Middleton. Its detention line is 978-646-2300, ext. 311 or 312, from a 2014 notice, so confirm it. Juvenile records stay off the adult search.
How do we get a free lawyer?
At arraignment, the judge appoints a lawyer if the person qualifies. The Public Defender Division has offices in Salem, 978-825-2020, and Lawrence, 978-856-6900. Mass.gov lists a minimum counsel fee of $150, with community service allowed if the person cannot pay.
Can the Massachusetts Bail Fund help an Essex family?
This nonprofit pays up to $1,000 per person, and Middleton is one of the jails where it posts. Referrals come from a court-appointed lawyer or a community member through its online form. It no longer posts for people with active warrants, and its referral window has been limited. Check the Fund's referral page.
What if he misses a court date?
The court can issue an arrest warrant and keep the bail. New charges while free can also lead a judge to revoke release. Call the lawyer and the clerk's office the same day.
When does the family get the cash back?
The court holds cash bail until the case closes. Missing a court date risks losing it. Ask the clerk how the person who posted it can claim it. Unpaid lawyer fees can delay a refund. Save the receipt that shows the case number.
How do I spot a bail scam?
No office frees a person for gift cards or a payment app sent to a stranger. Use only the numbers on this page: the jail at 978-750-1900 and the court clerk where the case sits.
Essex County bail contacts
- Jail
- Essex County Correctional Facility, 20 Manning Avenue, Middleton, MA 01949; 978-750-1900; Records ext. 3400
- Bail guide
- Essex County jail and bail help
- Custody lookup
- Essex County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Kevin F. Coppinger, Essex County Sheriff's Department
- Superior Court
- Salem 978-744-5500; Newburyport 978-462-4474; Lawrence 978-242-1900
- District Courts
- Salem, 56 Federal Street, 978-744-1167; Lynn, 580 Essex Street, 781-598-5200; Lawrence, 2 Appleton Street, 978-687-7184; Peabody, 1 Lowell Street, 978-532-3100; Gloucester, 197 Main Street, 978-283-2620; Haverhill, 45 Ginty Boulevard, 978-521-7300; Newburyport, 188 State Street, 978-462-2652
- Public defender
- Salem, 35 Congress Street, Suite 351, 978-825-2020; Lawrence, 15 Union Street, Suite 110, 978-856-6900
- Youth detention
- DYS Northeast Region, 33 Gregory Street, Middleton; 978-646-2300, ext. 311 or 312
Phones, hours, and fees can change, and each judge's order controls. Check with the sheriff's Records unit or the court clerk before you travel or hand over money. Nothing here replaces a lawyer's advice.
Essex County Women in Transition Remote Bail Deposits
There are five choices for putting money on an inmate's books that may be used for paying an inmate's Bond or Bail.
Check with Essex County Women in Transition by calling 978-750-1900 x3728 prior to paying a bond online as this is being rolled out to different facilities slowly.
1. Commissary money in the form of a money order may be mailed to:
AdvancePay Service Department
P.O. Box 911722
Denver, CO 80291-1722
2. You may use cash or credit/debit cards at any time by using the kiosk located in the front lobby. The fee for the use of the ATM is generally $1.50 per transaction for cash and 10% fee for credit/debit cards.
3. Commissary money can also be added to an inmates account at any time using any of these methods online.
4. Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are now available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. You’ll start the payment process online in your ConnectNetwork account, then complete your transaction with cash at a participating local retail store. Plus, many of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a retail store near you.
5. You can call customer service 24/7 at 877-650-4249 and get instructions for depositing money over the phone using a debit or credit card.
Essex County Women in Transition
Address:
197 Elm Street
Salisbury, MA 01952
Phone:
978-750-1900 x3728
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Essex County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Essex County?
Who can set bail in Essex County?
When is bail set in Essex County Massachusetts?
Does Essex County have bail?
Essex County does not impose bail in a traditional sense. A Bail Commissioner/Bail Magistrate presides over the first appearance in court. If a judge in Massachusetts 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, just a $40 fee. 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 Bail Magistrate determines that bail is necessary to assure that the arrested returns to court, then bail must be paid in cash by the defendant, a friend or family member. If the cash is not paid, the defendant will remain in jail until the bail is changed or the case is finished.
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 detained in a jail or prison until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Essex County?
The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
There are two types of bonds: Personal recognizance or cash.
Who can set bail in Essex County?
Bail is set by a Massachusetts bail magistrate.
When is bail set in Essex County Massachusetts?
The bail magistrate will set bail after the defendant is processed, which is usually the same day as the arrest. If the bail magistrate is not available, for example on a weekend, the police may call the bail magistrate for permission to release the defendant until the next court day.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Essex 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 Essex 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 Essex County Women in Transition 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.
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.
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 Essex County?
If the defendant is not released on their own recognizance, the other option is to pay cash. If the defendant does not show up to court, the full amount of the bail will be kept by the court and the court could send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Does Essex County have bail?
Essex County does not impose bail in a traditional sense. A Bail Commissioner/Bail Magistrate presides over the first appearance in court. If a judge in Massachusetts 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, just a $40 fee. 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 Bail Magistrate determines that bail is necessary to assure that the arrested returns to court, then bail must be paid in cash by the defendant, a friend or family member. If the cash is not paid, the defendant will remain in jail until the bail is changed or the case is finished.
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 detained in a jail or prison until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Essex County?
The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
There are two types of bonds: Personal recognizance or cash.
Who can set bail in Essex County?
Bail is set by a Massachusetts bail magistrate.
When is bail set in Massachusetts?
The bail magistrate will set bail after the defendant is processed, which is usually the same day as the arrest. If the bail magistrate is not available, for example on a weekend, the police may call the bail magistrate for permission to release the defendant until the next court day.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Essex County Massachusetts?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances for cash bail, let the bond commissioner know, or your attorney can request a change in bail conditions.
In Essex County Massachusetts, who can pay bail for me?
The defendant, family or friend can pay the cash bail.
Can bail be paid online in Essex County Massachusetts?
Massachusetts counties do not currently offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: go to the Essex County Women in Transition for more information about the jails in Essex County.
What options are there to pay bail in Essex County Massachusetts?
Cash, bank check, treasurer’s check, cashier’s check or government money order. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Essex County Women in Transition for more information about posting bail in Essex County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Massachusetts?
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.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Essex County?
Yes, you may be released on personal recognizance or your attorney can apply for relief from the Massachusetts Bail Fund.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts does not permit private bail bond companies to operate.
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.
Essex County bail for inmates are done every night at 8:00PM. It is recommended you get there by 7:30PM at the latest.
20 Manning Ave.
Middleton, MA 01949
- For bail amounts call 978-750-1900, extension 3400.
- Bail payment requires cash (up to $5,000 maximum) or a cashier’s check or a money order made out to the Bail Clerk on duty (call the Records department for the Bail Clerk working that day).
- NO personal checks will be accepted. The bail commissioner charges a $40.00 - $50.00 cash fee, in addition to the bail amount.
- You need to be at least 18 years old and have a valid photo ID, such as a state ID, driver's license or passport.