Onondaga County Justice Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Onondaga County bail and bond: the Justice Center cashier window and what to bring
The Sheriff's Office runs two county facilities for adults: the Onondaga County Justice Center at 555 South State Street in Syracuse, where people are held after arrest and before trial, and the Correctional Facility on East Seneca Turnpike in Jamesville. Use Onondaga County Inmate Search to see where a person is. The Justice Center is open every hour of the day, and its information line is 315-435-1770. Posting bail happens at a cashier window with set hours.
What are the Justice Center cashier hours for bail?
The bail cashier and money window is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday, Sunday and holidays the hours are 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The window is inside the Justice Center at 555 South State Street.
Outside those hours, bail can still be posted online or at the Syracuse Police Department before arraignment, as covered below.
What can I pay with, and what ID do I need?
The cashier takes cash, a credit card, or an official bank check payable to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office. Bank checks are accepted only during banking hours. A valid photo ID is required, such as a driver license, DMV ID, passport, or Sheriff's Office ID.
The receipt you receive shows the return court date, the time and the court. The money is forwarded to the court handling the case.
Can I post bail online in Onondaga County?
Yes, through GovPayNet. There are separate links for County Court, Family Court, and City, Town and Village Court bail. You will need the PLC code, the detainee's name, the DR number, the booking number (ICN), the court name and the judge's name.
Money placed on a person's jail account through SmartDeposit, or at the lobby kiosk, is for the person's use inside. It is not bail and does not release anyone.
Can bail be paid before the person sees a judge?
For Syracuse arrests, the answer is yes. Cash bail can be posted at the Syracuse Police Department before arraignment, at the Justice Center, or at the City Court Customer Assistance Counters. Cash, certified check, traveler's check, bank draft and government money order are the forms Syracuse City Court names.
Ask the desk officer at the Syracuse Police Department how its window works.
Where do I go to get bail money back?
Bail from County Court and Family Court cases is returned at the Justice Center, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Bring photo ID, your original receipt (or ID to ask the cashier for a copy), and an exoneration letter from the court.
Bail from Syracuse City Court or a town or village court is returned at that court. The City Court clerk's office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except holidays. If the person is convicted, 3 percent of cash bail is kept.
Do I need bail at all for a lower-level charge?
Often not. Criminal Procedure Law 510.10 tells the judge to release most people charged with misdemeanors and non-violent felonies on their own promise to return, with conditions when needed. Onondaga's Probation Department also runs Pretrial Release Services, reached at 315-435-2321.
Money bail applies only to the qualifying offenses in that section, and the judge must weigh what the person can pay without undue hardship.
Which cases still carry a possible hold without bail?
Violent felonies, class A felonies, crimes that cause a death, sex offenses, and violating an order of protection in a family case are all on the qualifying list. A felony committed while on probation or post-release supervision is too.
For these, the judge may release, set bail, combine bail with conditions, or remand to the Sheriff.
What must the judge offer as ways to post bail?
At least three forms of bail, one of them an unsecured or partially secured surety bond. The nine forms range from cash to a credit card, and the court may allow a reasonable card fee. If only a dollar figure is stated, the family may post it as an unsecured bond.
Read the order aloud with the cashier so the payment matches the form the court picked.
What may a bondsman charge?
Not more than 10 percent of a bond up to $3,000. On larger bonds the cap is 10 percent of the first $3,000, 8 percent of the next $7,000 and 6 percent above $10,000. A $15,000 bond tops out at $300 plus $560 plus $300, which is $1,160.
A license lookup is at the state search. Report overcharging to DFS at 800-342-3736.
Can real property back the bond?
A secured surety bond can use real estate, and the court that set bail decides if it is enough. Call that court's clerk. County Court answers at 315-671-1020, and the County Clerk records deeds at 315-435-2229.
Where is the case heard?
Syracuse arrests go to Syracuse City Court. Felonies go to County Court, reached at 315-671-1020. Family Court is at 315-671-2000. The county clerk is at 401 Montgomery Street.
If a lawyer is needed and the family cannot pay, the judge assigns one at the arraignment. New York law gives every defendant that right.
Where is a teenager held?
Hillbrook Juvenile Detention Center, 4949 Velasko Road, Syracuse, 315-435-1421, holds youth awaiting court. It has 50 beds and serves Onondaga County and other counties that run no secure detention of their own. Since 2018 it also houses 16- and 17-year-olds who used to be held in adult jails.
The county's Department of Children and Family Services operates it.
Does the Jamesville facility hold bail cases?
The Correctional Facility at 6660 East Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, is a direct supervision facility built for 538 people. Bail is posted through the Justice Center window or online, whichever building houses the person. Ask the custody division at 315-435-1717 where someone is placed.
Can I drop off clothing or books at the Justice Center?
Packages are no longer accepted at the walk-in window. Items must come directly from vendors by USPS, FedEx or UPS, and the contents must be new and in original commercial packaging. Socks and T-shirts must be high-visibility green, and men's underwear must be black.
Books and magazines are not accepted at the front desk, and stamps and blank envelopes are not accepted by mail. People inside can buy stamps from the commissary.
What happens if a person skips court?
The bail may be forfeited and a warrant issued. If the person appears before the court finally adjourns with a good excuse, the forfeiture can be canceled. The district attorney then has 120 days after an adjournment to pursue a bond. A remission request goes to the court within one year.
Onondaga County bail contacts
- Justice Center
- Onondaga County Justice Center, 555 South State Street, Syracuse, NY 13202; 315-435-1770
- Bond guide
- bond pages for the county's jails
- Custody lookup
- Onondaga County Inmate Search
- Custody division
- 315-435-1717
- Correctional facility
- 6660 East Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, NY 13078
- County Court
- 315-671-1020
- Family Court
- 315-671-2000
- Probation and pretrial
- 600 South State Street, Suite 100, Syracuse; 315-435-2321
- Youth detention
- Hillbrook, 4949 Velasko Road, Syracuse; 315-435-1421
- Bondsman complaints
- Department of Financial Services, 800-342-3736
Onondaga County sets cashier hours, forms of payment and return windows, and judges set the amounts case by case. The paper from your own court controls over any general guide.
Pay an Inmate's Bond Online
Onondaga County Justice Center 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 315-435-1770 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
Onondaga County Justice Center
Address:
555 South State Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone:
315-435-1770
Does Onondaga County have bail?
When is bail set in Onondaga County New York?
Does Onondaga 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 Onondaga 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 Onondaga County?
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Onondaga 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 Onondaga 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 Onondaga County Justice Center 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, Onondaga 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 Onondaga 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 Onondaga 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 Onondaga County?
Onondaga County recognizes most types of bonds.
Who can set bail in Onondaga 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 Onondaga County New York?
Yes, if bail has been assessed, your attorney may file a motion to have it reduced.
In Onondaga 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 Onondaga 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 Onondaga County Justice Center for more information about the jails in Onondaga County.
What options are there to pay bail in Onondaga 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 Onondaga County Justice Center for more information about posting bail in Onondaga 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 Onondaga 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 Onondaga County Justice Center 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 Onondaga County Justice Center inmate's bond online?
Yes, you can pay a Onondaga County Justice Center inmate's bond online using a third-party service called 'allpaid'. The instructions are easy... From their website, look up Onondaga County Justice Center or Onondaga 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 Onondaga County Justice Center, 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 Onondaga County Justice Center, call allpaid directly at 877-392-2455, or call the jail at 315-435-1770.