Lincoln County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Lincoln County

Nevada • Lincoln County • Bail & bond help

Lincoln County bail and bond: the Pioche jail, a short court week, and your next steps

Adults arrested in Lincoln County are booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center, 225 Justice Way, Pioche, which the Sheriff's Office runs. Dispatch answers at 775-962-5151 day and night. Before you call, run the name through Lincoln County Inmate Search to see whether the person is in custody, what the bail amount is, and whether release has happened. County offices in Pioche close Friday through Sunday, so a weekend arrest moves on a different clock, and the answers below explain how.

Is my relative inside the Pioche detention center right now?

Type the full name into Lincoln County Inmate Search. That page answers the custody question faster than any phone call. If the record is missing, the arrest may be only minutes old, so try again in an hour.

Lincoln County has one detention center, at 225 Justice Way in Pioche. The Sheriff's Office also staffs stations in Alamo and Caliente. For anything the search cannot tell you, call 775-962-5151; that line is answered around the clock.

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Who runs the jail, and who decides the bail amount?

Sheriff Derek Foremaster leads the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, and his deputies run the detention center. Deputies do not choose a bail figure. A judge or magistrate does, using Nevada law. Under NRS 178.498 the amount must be enough to bring the person back to court and protect others, and the judge looks at the charge and at what the family can afford.

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How fast must a judge look at the case?

Nevada sets the clock in statute, not by the court calendar. NRS 178.4849 calls for a pretrial release hearing within 48 hours after someone is taken into custody, and a judge can continue it for good cause. NRS 171.178 adds that an arrested person who has not seen a magistrate within 72 hours, not counting nonjudicial days, may be released if the delay was unnecessary.

Meadow Valley Justice Court in Pioche holds regular sessions on Tuesdays. The release hearing can be held by video or phone, so it does not have to wait for a Tuesday.

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The courthouse is closed from Friday to Sunday. What does that mean for a weekend arrest?

The county government is open Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. A person booked on a Friday evening may spend the weekend in custody while the clerk and the court are closed. Dispatch stays staffed, so the number to use is 775-962-5151. Ask the dispatcher whether a bail payment can be taken that day and how.

Meanwhile, collect what a judge will want to hear: where the person lives, who employs them, and who will drive them to court.

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Is money on a jail account the same as bail?

No. Lincoln County lets families add money to an inmate's account through an online deposit page. That money pays for calls and store items. It never counts toward release. Bail is paid for a specific case in the name of the court that set it, so keep that receipt apart from any deposit receipt.

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Can I visit, mail a letter, or arrange a video call?

In-person visits are not offered, except for legal and religious visits. Families use video visits through NCIC, and terminals are available at the detention center. Letters go to the person by name and inmate number at PO Box 570, Pioche, NV 89043. Deputies cannot hand over personal items, so anything else must come by mail or through an attorney.

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What can a Nevada bail agent legally charge?

Nevada caps the premium at 15 percent of the bond or $50, whichever is greater (NRS 697.300). The fee is charged once. A yearly renewal premium is barred, and so is a payment plan that adds interest. Only receipted, necessary expenses may be added.

Agents must hold a license from the Nevada Division of Insurance, and each year by July 1 they register with the sheriff and the district court clerk (NRS 697.270). Check a license on the state license search before you sign. Complaints go to the Division of Insurance.

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What forms of bail does Nevada allow?

NRS 178.502 lets the court take a bond with sureties, cash, or United States bonds or notes. Many families use a bail agent for the surety. Others pay the full cash amount to the court that set it. Ask the clerk of the court holding the case which form that judge has approved.

You can reach the Meadow Valley Justice Court clerk at 775-962-8059.

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Can a house or land stand behind the bond?

When a bail agent writes the bond, a deed can serve as collateral. NRS 697.320 requires the collateral to be reasonable for the bond size, and the paperwork must say on its face that it is part of a security transaction. The agent must reconvey the deed once the bond ends.

Property offered directly to a court is the judge's call. Phone the Meadow Valley Justice Court at 775-962-8059 before you gather deeds, and ask whether land outside Lincoln County qualifies.

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Can the judge deny bail altogether?

Yes, in narrow cases. A person arrested for first-degree murder may be held without bail when the proof is evident or the presumption great. A felony arrest of someone on probation or parole for a different offense gets bail only through a court order or the supervising agency. A drunk-driving arrest with a breath alcohol reading of 0.04 or more bars bail, and a drug-impairment arrest carries a 12-hour wait (NRS 178.484).

Outside those rules, a person arrested in Nevada must be admitted to bail.

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Why can't someone arrested for domestic battery leave right away?

NRS 178.484 bars bail for the first 12 hours after a domestic battery arrest. If no judge has set an amount when the 12 hours end, the law fills in $3,000, $5,000, or $15,000, depending on prior convictions and whether the battery caused substantial bodily harm or involved strangulation. A judge can still set a different number. Protective-order violations follow a similar 12-hour rule.

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Which court will handle my case?

Misdemeanors and the first step in felonies start at Meadow Valley Justice Court in Pioche, 775-962-8059, or at Pahranagat Valley Justice Court in Alamo, 775-962-8082. Caliente has its own municipal court at 775-726-3131. Felony and gross misdemeanor cases that move forward go to the Seventh Judicial District Court at the courthouse, 181 North Main Street, Suite 208, Pioche; call 775-293-6550. That court sits on the second and fourth Fridays of the month.

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I cannot afford a lawyer. What do I do?

Tell the judge at the first appearance. A judge decides whether a person qualifies for appointed counsel. Appointed counsel for Lincoln County cases is arranged through the court, so the justice court clerk at 775-962-8059 is the person to ask about who has been appointed.

Write down the case number and every court date, and give that sheet to the lawyer.

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Where does Lincoln County take an arrested teenager?

Lincoln County Juvenile Probation works from the courthouse, 181 North Main Street, Suite 301, Pioche. It answers at 775-962-8000, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call that office first. The probation officer can tell a parent where the youth is held and when the hearing is.

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What happens if the person misses court after bail is posted?

The court records the failure, orders an arrest warrant, and notifies the surety or the person who posted cash. Bail is forfeited 180 days after that notice goes out (NRS 178.508). A court can extend that period when the surety shows real efforts to bring the person back.

A surety can have the person arrested and returned under NRS 178.526. Anyone who posted bail should phone the clerk the same day a hearing is missed.

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Will the bail money ever be returned to me?

The court exonerates the bail when the case ends or the bond condition is met (NRS 178.522). Cash left on deposit at judgment can first be applied to fines, fees, restitution and costs, and the balance is returned. A bail agent's premium is the cost of the service and is not returned. Under NRS 697.330, the premium comes back in full only when an agent causes an early surrender without good cause.

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How can I tell a real bail call from a scam?

Hang up on anyone who asks for gift cards, cash apps, or crypto to free a family member. Look up the contacts yourself. The detention center is 775-962-5151 and the justice court clerk is 775-962-8059. A jail never accepts a gift card for release. State law also bars a bail agent from soliciting inside or near a jail or courthouse.

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Lincoln County bail and custody contacts

Detention center
Lincoln County Detention Center, 225 Justice Way, Pioche, NV 89043; PO Box 570; 775-962-5151
Bail guide
Detention center bail and bond guide
Custody lookup
Lincoln County Inmate Search
Sheriff's Office
225 Justice Way, Pioche; substations at 121 Joshua Tree, Alamo, and 100 Depot Avenue, Suite 2, Caliente
Justice courts
Meadow Valley (Pioche) 775-962-8059; Pahranagat Valley (Alamo) 775-962-8082; Caliente Municipal Court 775-726-3131
District court
Seventh Judicial District, 181 North Main Street, Suite 208, Pioche; 775-293-6550
County offices
181 Main Street, Pioche; 775-962-8000; Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Youth
Juvenile Probation, 181 North Main Street, Suite 301, Pioche; 775-962-8000

Hours, deposit rules and court calendars in a small county change with staffing, so phone the detention center before you travel or send money. Nothing here replaces a lawyer's advice on your case.

Lincoln County Jail

Address:
225 Justice Way
Pioche, NV 89043
Phone:
775-962-5151

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lincoln County


Does Lincoln County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Lincoln County?

Who can set bail in Lincoln County?

When is bail set in Lincoln County Nevada?

 

 

Does Lincoln County have bail?

Yes,  Lincoln County recognizes most types of bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Lincoln County?

There are several types of bail available including own recognizance, cash bail, surety bond and property bond.

 

 

Who can set bail in Lincoln County?

For many minor and non-violent charges bail is already set according to a bail standard. For more serious cases, of if prosecution feels a defendant is a flight risk, bail is set by a judge in the criminal court.

 

 

When is bail set in Lincoln County Nevada?

For minor offenses bail is listed in a bail schedule and this information will be known during the booking process. For more serious cases a hearing, known as the initial hearing, will be scheduled as soon as possible. In most cases this will be immediately following booking, but it is required to occur within 72 hours.

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in Lincoln 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 Nevada 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 Lincoln 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. 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, Lincoln County 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 Lincoln 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.

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 ban 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 Lincoln County have bail?  

Yes,  Lincoln County recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Lincoln County? 

There are several types of bail available including own recognizance, cash bail, surety bond and property bond.

Who can set bail in Lincoln County?  

For many minor and non-violent charges bail is already set according to a bail standard. For more serious cases, of if prosecution feels a defendant is a flight risk, bail is set by a judge in the criminal court.

When is bail set in Nevada?

For minor offenses bail is listed in a bail schedule and this information will be known during the booking process. For more serious cases a hearing, known as the initial hearing, will be scheduled as soon as possible. In most cases this will be immediately following booking, but it is required to occur within 72 hours.

Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Lincoln County Nevada? 

Yes, your attorney may request a bail reduction hearing.

In Lincoln County Nevada, 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 Nevada could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.

Can bail be paid online in Lincoln County Nevada?  

Yes, Nevada does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Lincoln County Jail for more information about the jails in Lincoln County.

What options are there to pay bail in Lincoln County Nevada? 

Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Lincoln County Jail for more information about posting bail in Lincoln County.  

Will I get all my bond money back in Nevada? 

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 Lincoln 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 (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 Nevada?  

The Lincoln County Jail 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 Lincoln County

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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.