Hamilton County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Hamilton County bail and bond in the Adirondacks
New York's least populated county has its own small jail: the Hamilton County Jail, 102 County View Drive, Lake Pleasant, on the same grounds as the courthouse and county offices. Check custody, charges and bail with Hamilton County Inmate Search, and call the jail at 518-548-3113 for anything else. A judge picks the bail terms at arraignment, so the bail amount is never fixed in advance, and Supreme Court sits in Johnstown, not here.
Where do I look first for a person arrested in Hamilton County?
Use Hamilton County Inmate Search. The Sheriff's Office, headed by Sheriff Karl G. Abrams, runs the jail and its phone is 518-548-3113. Have the full legal name and birth date ready if you call.
Is the jail in Lake Pleasant really the county jail?
Yes. The Hamilton County Jail is at 102 County View Drive, Lake Pleasant, the same address as the county courthouse. One number, 518-548-3113, reaches both the jail and the Sheriff's Office.
Who sets the bail amount?
A judge, at arraignment, normally within about 24 hours of arrest. Hamilton County has no schedule that fixes a price for each charge. The judge studies the charge, the person's record and past court attendance, plus whether the family can pay without hardship.
Why might my relative simply go home?
The 2019 bail reform made release the starting point for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. A judge can release the person on a promise to return or with conditions such as reporting. Money bail is limited to the serious categories in CPL 510.10(4), including violent felonies and crimes that caused a death.
Can an officer write a ticket instead of locking someone up?
For many offenses, yes, and officers are required to do so unless an exception applies. Exceptions include class A to D felonies, outstanding warrants, a failure to appear within two years, and family-offense charges. The ticket names a court date, generally within 20 days.
Where does the first court appearance happen?
Town and village justice courts handle many first appearances, and the county's combined Court Clerk's Office serves County, Family and Surrogate's Courts. The clerk's mailing office is 139 White Birch Lane, Indian Lake, 518-648-5411, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chambers in Lake Pleasant answer 518-548-3211.
Does Supreme Court meet in Hamilton County?
No. Supreme Court sessions for Hamilton County are held in Johnstown, at 223 West Main Street, in Fulton County, 518-706-3290. Ask your lawyer which court will hear each step of the case.
How do I pay bail on someone's behalf?
Ring the jail at 518-548-3113 and ask which payment forms it takes, what hours the desk is staffed and whether the judge ordered cash, a bond or another form. Hold on to the receipt. Judges in New York must offer at least three kinds of bail, and one must be an unsecured or partially secured surety bond.
How much does a bail bondsman cost?
The state caps it. Up to $3,000 the premium is 10 percent. Above $3,000 it is 10 percent of the first $3,000, 8 percent of the part between $3,001 and $10,000, and 6 percent of the rest. A bondsman who charges more breaks the law, and the Department of Financial Services takes complaints at 800-342-3736.
What should I check before hiring a bondsman?
Any bondsman you hire must hold a New York license. Search the name in the state license search. Ask for a written statement of the premium and the collateral, and refuse any bondsman who wants a fee just for locating a bondsman.
Who is the lawyer if the family cannot afford one?
The Hamilton County Public Defender, 2559 State Route 8, Lake Pleasant, 518-548-6771, represents eligible people in criminal cases and now also in Family Court. Mail goes to P.O. Box 205, Lake Pleasant. Ask for counsel at the first appearance so the lawyer can argue release terms.
Can bail be revoked if the person is arrested again?
Yes. When a felony defendant is released on bail or recognizance, the judge must warn that the release is conditional. A new felony committed while out can lead to commitment under CPL 530.60. For that reason a family should treat release terms, such as no contact with a complainant, as strict orders.
What if the person arrested is a teenager?
A 16- or 17-year-old accused of a serious crime appears in a Youth Part, and state law forbids placing the teen in a jail that also holds adults. Non-violent charges can move to Family Court. Call the public defender at 518-548-6771 on the first day to learn where the teen is held.
What if my person misses court?
The judge forfeits the bail and issues a warrant. If the person returns before the final adjournment with a satisfactory excuse, the forfeiture may be lifted. An application to reduce or cancel the loss must be filed within one year, and the district attorney has 120 days to go after a bond.
Will I be refunded?
Cash bail comes back after the case ends if the defendant made every appearance. The payer presents the receipt and photo ID at court. A 3 percent fee is kept if the defendant is convicted. A bondsman's premium stays with the bondsman, except that it must be repaid within 14 days if the person never left jail.
Hamilton County bail contacts
- Jail
- Hamilton County Jail, 102 County View Drive, P.O. Box 210, Lake Pleasant, NY 12108; 518-548-3113
- Bond guide
- bail and bond help for Hamilton County
- Custody lookup
- Hamilton County Inmate Search
- Court clerk
- 139 White Birch Lane, Indian Lake, NY 12842; 518-648-5411; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Courthouse
- 102 County View Drive, Lake Pleasant, NY 12108; chambers 518-548-3211
- Supreme Court
- 223 West Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095; 518-706-3290
- Public Defender
- 2559 State Route 8, Lake Pleasant, NY 12108; 518-548-6771
- Bondsman licenses
- New York Department of Financial Services, bail bonds
Each judge sets bail for the case at hand, and payment steps, hours and phone numbers can change. Speak with the jail about your person's case before paying, and ask a lawyer about the charge.
Pay an Inmate's Bond Online
Hamilton 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 518-548-3113 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
Hamilton County Jail
Address:
102 County View Drive
Lake Pleasant, NY 12108
Phone:
518-548-3113
Does Hamilton County have bail?
When is bail set in Hamilton County New York?
Does Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County?
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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, Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County?
Hamilton County recognizes most types of bonds.
Who can set bail in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County New York?
Yes, if bail has been assessed, your attorney may file a motion to have it reduced.
In Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Jail for more information about the jails in Hamilton County.
What options are there to pay bail in Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Jail for more information about posting bail in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Jail inmate's bond online?
Yes, you can pay a Hamilton County Jail inmate's bond online using a third-party service called 'allpaid'. The instructions are easy... From their website, look up Hamilton County Jail or Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Jail, call allpaid directly at 877-392-2455, or call the jail at 518-548-3113.