Jefferson County Correctional Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Jefferson County bail and bond: Waterman Drive to Arsenal Street
People arrested in Jefferson County are processed at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility, 753 Waterman Drive, Watertown. Before calling anyone, run the name through Jefferson County Inmate Search; it shows custody, charges and the bail amount. Booking and intake answers at 315-786-2688, and the bondsman line is 315-446-1117. A judge sets bail at arraignment, and the courts sit on Arsenal Street in downtown Watertown.
1. How do I confirm that someone is at the Waterman Drive facility?
Type the name into Jefferson County Inmate Search. Results can lag behind a fresh booking. For questions the search cannot settle, such as how to reach the person, call booking and intake at 315-786-2688.
2. Who ends up in the Jefferson County jail?
It is the county's jail, where the Sheriff's Office keeps people a court has remanded to its custody, including people waiting for trial who have not met their bail. Someone missing from the search may still be with the arresting agency, so ask the booking line.
3. Is there a phone line just for bondsmen?
Yes. The jail keeps a bondsman line at 315-446-1117. Bondsmen use it for bond business with the facility, so families can leave bond paperwork to the licensed agent they hire.
4. Who decides bail, and how fast?
A judge, at arraignment, usually within about 24 hours of arrest. Watertown has no price list for charges. The judge looks at the charge, the criminal record, earlier missed dates and what the family can afford without hardship, as CPL 510.10 requires.
5. Which offenses can lead to money bail now?
Most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies call for release. Bail stays available for categories such as violent felonies, charges that involved a death, certain sex offenses, order-of-protection crimes and some repeat offenses committed while on release. In qualifying felonies the judge can also hold the person without bail.
6. Can a person ask for a low "nominal" bail?
Yes. Under CPL 510.10(5), a defendant can ask for nominal bail, and the judge must set it if satisfied the request is voluntary. It is a small amount meant to let someone go home. A defender can make the request at arraignment, so raise it with the lawyer early.
7. Where do the courts meet in Watertown?
County Court is at 163 Arsenal Street, 315-570-2950, and Family Court shares the building, 315-570-2970. Watertown City Court is in the Municipal Building, 245 Washington Street, 315-570-2720.
8. How is a bail bond priced in this county?
Prices follow the state limit. The premium may be 10 percent of the first $3,000, 8 percent of the amount from $3,001 to $10,000 and 6 percent of anything above. On a $4,000 bond the most a bondsman can ask is $380. Anything beyond the premium must be a documented expense for returning a defendant.
9. How do I check a bondsman's license?
Use the state bail agent search from the Department of Financial Services. Bondsmen must give signed receipts and copies of the contract. Complaints go to the department at 800-342-3736. Unlicensed bail work is a crime.
10. What can I do besides pay everything?
Ask the judge for an unsecured or partially secured surety bond; the court must provide at least three bail forms and one must be of that type. A partially secured bond needs only a portion up front. The family signs a promise to pay the rest if the defendant fails to appear.
11. Where is the public defender, and how do I apply?
The Jefferson County Public Defender is on the fourth floor of the County Office Building, 175 Arsenal Street, Watertown, 315-785-3152, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with night courts covered as required. A right to counsel exists at the time release is decided.
12. What happens when a teenager is arrested?
A 16- or 17-year-old accused of a serious crime appears in a Youth Part and cannot be held where adult prisoners are housed. Lesser cases can go to Family Court. Have a parent call the public defender at 315-785-3152 to find out where the teen is and when to be in court.
13. How do I write to someone inside the Jefferson County jail?
Send non-privileged mail to Securus Digital Mail, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, P.O. Box 155, Clifton Park, NY 12065, with the person's full name and inmate ID on it. Legal mail between a person and a lawyer follows separate rules, so a lawyer should ask the booking line at 315-786-2688 how to send it.
14. What if someone misses a court date?
The judge forfeits the bail and issues a warrant. A bondsman may pay costs to find and surrender the person. The court can lift a forfeiture if the person appears before the final adjournment with a good excuse, and a remission request is allowed for up to one year.
15. How is bail money returned?
After the case, cash bail goes back to the payer, who presents the receipt and a photo ID at the court. The court keeps 3 percent of the bail when the defendant is convicted. A bondsman owes you a refund of the entire premium within 14 days if the person never got out.
16. How do I tell a real bail call from a fraud?
Real offices never ask for gift card numbers or app transfers. If a caller asks, stop and phone booking at 315-786-2688 yourself. Money for a person's jail store or phone account is a separate matter from bail and never frees anyone.
Jefferson County bail contacts
- Jail
- Jefferson County Correctional Facility, 753 Waterman Drive, Watertown, NY 13601; booking and intake 315-786-2688
- Bondsman line
- 315-446-1117
- Bond guide
- bail and bond help for Jefferson County
- Custody lookup
- Jefferson County Inmate Search
- County and Family Court
- 163 Arsenal Street, Watertown, NY 13601; County Court 315-570-2950; Family Court 315-570-2970
- City court
- Watertown City Court, Municipal Building, 245 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601; 315-570-2720
- Public Defender
- 175 Arsenal Street, 4th Floor, Watertown, NY 13601; 315-785-3152
- Bondsman licenses
- New York Department of Financial Services, bail bonds
A judge sets bail in each case, and the jail's procedures, fees and phone lines can change. Ask the booking desk about your own situation before you pay, and consult a lawyer on the charge.
Jefferson County Correctional Facility
Address:
753 Waterman Drive
Watertown, NY 13601
Phone:
315-786-2688
Does Jefferson County have bail?
When is bail set in Jefferson County New York?
Does Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Correctional Facility 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, Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
Jefferson County recognizes most types of bonds.
Who can set bail in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County New York?
Yes, if bail has been assessed, your attorney may file a motion to have it reduced.
In Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Correctional Facility for more information about the jails in Jefferson County.
What options are there to pay bail in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Correctional Facility for more information about posting bail in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Correctional Facility 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.