Clinton County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Clinton County bail and bond: from the Plattsburgh arrest to release
People arrested in Clinton County are booked into the Clinton County Jail at 25 McCarthy Drive, Plattsburgh. The Sheriff's Office runs it, and the jail and patrol desks work around the clock. Look the person up with Clinton County Inmate Search to see custody, booking status, and bail. For anything the search cannot tell you, call 518-565-4300.
A judge, not the jail, decides whether a person goes free before trial, and the answer comes at arraignment. This page walks through that hearing, the ways to pay bail, and what each choice costs.
Has my brother already been booked at McCarthy Drive?
Start with Clinton County Inmate Search. A very recent arrest can take a little while to appear. If the name is still missing after a few hours, call Sheriff David Favro's office at 518-565-4300. The jail desk is staffed day and night, so you do not have to wait for office hours.
What should I do in the first hours after an arrest?
Write down the full name, birth date, and the town where the arrest happened. Check the search link for the charge. Arraignment normally happens within about 24 hours of arrest, so the first hearing is close. A person who cannot pay for a lawyer can ask the judge for one at that hearing.
Where is cash bail paid for a person in the county jail?
Cash bail is posted at the Clinton County Jail when the defendant is locked up there. Ask the desk at 518-565-4300 which payment forms and hours apply on the day you go. Keep the receipt the clerk gives you. You need it later to get the money back.
Will the judge even set bail on this charge?
Often the answer is no money at all. Under state law, a judge must free most people charged with misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, with or without conditions such as check-ins. Money bail stays possible for a defined list of charges, such as violent felonies, crimes that caused a death, and some repeat offenses. A judge may also pair bail with conditions.
Which kinds of bail can the judge allow?
New York law names nine forms, including cash, an insurance company bail bond, partly secured and unsecured bonds, and a credit card. The judge has to allow at least three forms, and one of them must be an unsecured or partly secured surety bond. If the order shows only a dollar figure, an unsecured bond is also a way to meet it. Read the order closely.
How much does a bail bondsman charge in New York?
The state sets the top price. A bond up to $3,000 costs no more than 10 percent. On a larger bond, the fee is 10 percent of the first $3,000, 8 percent of the next $7,000, and 6 percent of anything above $10,000. So a $5,000 bond can cost at most $460. Bondsmen are licensed by the Department of Financial Services.
What protects me if I sign with a bondsman?
You may ask for the terms in writing, including the premium, the collateral, and when the bondsman can surrender the defendant. Extra charges beyond the premium are limited to real costs of finding and returning a person who skipped court. The full premium must come back within 14 days if the person is never released. Collateral must be returned within 45 days after the bond ends.
Can my house or land back a bond?
A bondsman may take a claim on a house or other assets as security. Ask which papers will be filed against the property and when they will be removed. Do not sign until you have a copy. For a bond paid straight to the court, ask the clerk first.
Can the bail be lowered?
Yes, a lawyer can ask the judge to review it. The judge must look at what the person can pay without hardship. A request for nominal bail, a very small amount, must be granted when the person asks for it freely. The Public Defender at 12 New York Road answers at 518-565-3660.
Where does a Plattsburgh arrest go to court?
Plattsburgh City Court sits at 24 US Oval and answers at 518-536-3870, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with registration closing at 3:30 p.m. Felony cases move up to the Clinton County Court at 137 Margaret Street, 518-536-3840, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ask which court holds the next date.
How is cash bail returned in City Court cases?
It is usually released after a plea and sentence, or when the case is dismissed. The person named on the receipt brings the original receipt and photo ID to the City Court Clerk. To get a mailed check, send a notarized statement with a mailing address, phone number, receipt, and ID. A lost receipt needs a sworn affidavit. A 3 percent fee is held back after a conviction.
What if the defendant misses a court date?
The judge can order the bail forfeited and issue a warrant. A defendant who shows up with a good excuse may get the forfeiture lifted. A request to return forfeited money must be filed within one year. See a lawyer the same day you learn of a missed date.
Where is a teenager held after an arrest?
Sixteen- and 17-year-olds charged with serious crimes are held in specialized secure detention, never in an adult jail. The Public Defender's Office at 518-565-3660 can find out which facility has the young person and when the hearing is.
Is money in a jail account the same as bail?
No. A deposit buys phone time and store items and does not free anyone. If a caller demands gift cards or a wire to release a person, hang up and call the Sheriff's Office at the number above. The staff there will tell you how bail is really taken.
My nephew got a paper ticket instead of being jailed. What is it?
It is an appearance ticket. For most offenses where an officer could arrest without a warrant, the officer must issue a ticket in place of an arrest. The ticket carries a court date, usually within 20 days. Officers can still jail people charged with the more serious felonies or with certain family and sex offenses, or people with a recent missed court date.
Can a charity pay the bail for us?
A registered nonprofit may post bail of $2,000 or less for a person charged with misdemeanors who cannot afford it. It charges no premium and cannot act as a surety on a bond. Ask the Public Defender at 518-565-3660 whether any group is doing this now.
What does the judge weigh before choosing bail or release?
The judge must make an individual decision. Factors include the charge, the person\'s record, any past failure to return to court, ties to the area, and money. The judge must state the reasons on the record or in writing. Gather proof of work, family, and a local address for the hearing.
Clinton County quick contacts
- Jail
- Clinton County Jail, 25 McCarthy Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901; 518-565-4300
- Bail guide
- Jail bail and bond instructions
- Custody lookup
- Clinton County Inmate Search
- City court
- Plattsburgh City Court, 24 US Oval, Plattsburgh; 518-536-3870
- County court
- Clinton County Court, 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh; 518-536-3840
- Public defender
- 12 New York Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12903; 518-565-3660
- Probation
- 34 Court Street, Plattsburgh; 518-565-4640
- Bondsman rules
- Department of Financial Services bail page; 800-342-3736
Rates, hours, and court rules shift over time and a judge can order something different in your case. Confirm each step with the office named above before you pay. Nothing here replaces a lawyer.
Pay an Inmate's Bond Online
Clinton County Jail uses a service called allpaid (also known as GovPayNet) for paying an inmate's Bail Bond online for an inmate.
Register with them online or call them at 877-392-2455 for assistance.
To make a payment, you will need the following:
- Court of Jurisdiction
- Payment Amount
- The Pay Location Code (PLC #) if you can get it. Call 518-565-4300 to ask for this.
- Name of Arrestee/Defendant for whom payment is being made
- Arrestee/Defendant's Date of Birth
- Arrestee/Defendant's Booking Number
Clinton County Jail
Address:
25 McCarthy Drive
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone:
518-565-4300
Does Clinton County have bail?
When is bail set in Clinton County New York?
Does Clinton County have bail?
Yes, but the state of New York only applies bail in violent or felony cases. Non-violent and most misdemeanor cases always qualify for release on own recognizance. Tioga County recognizes most types of bonds.
When is bail set in Clinton County New York?
Bail for lesser offenses is set at the time of booking. If bail is required for felony cases, it will be set by a judge at the first court hearing. This hearing, also called an arraignment, generally takes place on the next available court date excluding weekends and holidays.
How Does Bail Work in Clinton County?
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton 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, Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton County have bail?
New York only applies bail in violent or felony cases. Non-violent and most misdemeanor cases qualify for release on own recognizance.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Clinton County?
Clinton County recognizes most types of bonds.
Who can set bail in Clinton County?
Bail is set by officers during booking for misdemeanor offenses. A judge sets bail for felony arrests.
When is bail set in New York?
Bail for lesser offenses is set at the time of booking. If bail is required for felony cases, it will be set by a judge at the first court hearing. This hearing, also called an arraignment, generally takes place on the next available court date excluding weekends and holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Clinton County New York?
Yes, if bail has been assessed, your attorney may file a motion to have it reduced.
In Clinton County New York, 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 New York could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Clinton County New York?
Yes, New York does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Clinton County Jail for more information about the jails in Clinton County.
What options are there to pay bail in Clinton County New York?
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 Clinton County Jail for more information about posting bail in Clinton County.
Will I get all my bond money back in New York?
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 Clinton County?
Most non-violent crimes do not require bail. If bail is assessed cash, or a minimum down payment, will be required.
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 New York?
The Clinton 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a Clinton County Jail inmate's bond online?
Yes, you can pay a Clinton County Jail inmate's bond online using a third-party service called 'allpaid'. The instructions are easy... From their website, look up Clinton County Jail or Clinton County, input the inmate's name, and then use your credit or debit card to deposit the bond amount. As soon as the payment is processed and the information is sent to the Clinton County Jail, the jail will begin the release process. You do not have to be present for all of this to take place. Learn more about how to bail or bond out an inmate in the Clinton County Jail, call allpaid directly at 877-392-2455, or call the jail at 518-565-4300.