Orleans County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Orleans County bail and bond: the Albion jail, the courthouse and your options
Prisoners awaiting court in Orleans County are held at the Orleans County Jail in Albion, on Courthouse Square. Look up your family member on Orleans County Inmate Search to see whether they are in custody and what the judge decided. The jail's control desk is 585-589-4310. A judge sets bail at arraignment, and a lawyer can often argue for release without it.
Is he in the Albion county jail or a state prison?
Run the name through Orleans County Inmate Search. It covers the Orleans County Jail on Courthouse Square. Albion Correctional Facility and Orleans Correctional Facility are state prisons that sit in this county, and they hold people already sentenced, not people waiting for a bail decision.
A person arrested in Orleans County who has not been released goes to the county jail at 26 Platt Street. If a name does not show up, call the jail's main control desk at 585-589-4310.
Who runs the jail, and how big is it?
The jail belongs to the Sheriff's department and is managed day to day by a Jail Superintendent. Sheriff Christopher Bourke is the elected head of the department.
The state Commission of Correction approves the building for 82 prisoners, and the jail often holds more under variances the Commission grants.
Does the jail hold federal or immigration prisoners too?
Yes, at times. Besides local arrests, the Orleans County Jail takes people held for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service, and it sometimes houses prisoners from other counties.
A federal or immigration hold is separate from county bail. Paying the county bail will not release someone who also has a federal detainer. Ask the jail desk whether a hold exists before you pay anything.
How much will bail be?
No chart sets it. The judge chooses at arraignment, which normally takes place within about 24 hours of arrest. The choices are release on the person's promise, release with conditions such as check-ins or treatment, or bail.
The amount, if any, shows up on Orleans County Inmate Search once the court acts. For the date and courtroom, the Orleans County Courthouse at 1 South Main Street, Albion, answers at 585-283-6622.
What does the judge consider about my brother?
The judge asks one question: how likely is he to come back to court? To answer it, the judge reviews the charge, his past record, any time he failed to appear, protection orders, any history with firearms, and whether anyone was seriously hurt.
If bail is on the table, the judge must also weigh whether he can pay without undue hardship. The judge states the reasons out loud or in writing, and he has the right to a lawyer for the whole decision.
Where do I take the bail money?
Call the Orleans County Jail at 585-589-4310 and ask where to pay, which forms of payment the jail takes and what time the window closes. The Sheriff's page for the jail also carries a bail and bond sheet. Bring your own photo identification and the prisoner's full name and date of birth.
If you would rather use a licensed agent, a bail bond is written by the agent for a premium. Ask the jail desk how a bond reaches the jail.
What kinds of bail can a judge accept?
Under CPL 520.10 the judge picks at least three forms from nine: cash, an insurance company bail bond, and secured, partially secured or unsecured surety bonds and appearance bonds, plus a credit card. One of the three has to be an unsecured or partially secured surety bond.
A judge who sets only a number lets you post it as an unsecured surety or appearance bond. Ask the lawyer which form costs the least up front.
What does a bail bondsman cost?
New York puts a ceiling on the price. Up to $3,000 an agent may charge 10%. Above that, the formula is 10% of the first $3,000, 8% of the part between $3,001 and $10,000, and 6% of the part over $10,000. On a $5,000 bond the most an agent may take is $460.
An agent must be licensed by the Department of Financial Services, and a complaint can go to the department at 800-342-3736. Any extra "fee" for finding a bondsman is illegal.
Can my brother go free without paying at all?
Many people do. Outside the long list of charges that allow bail, the judge must release on recognizance unless that will not bring the person back, and then must use non-money conditions. He can also ask for nominal bail, a small amount the judge has to accept if the request is voluntary.
Charities can help too. State law lets a registered charitable bail organization put up $2,000 or less for a person charged with misdemeanors who cannot afford bail, with no premium. Ask the public defender whether one is active here.
Which charges let the judge hold him with no bail?
CPL 510.10(4) names the charges on which a judge may set bail or hold a felony defendant in the Sheriff's custody. Examples are violent felonies, class A felonies, sex offenses, a crime that caused a death, strangulation of a family member, and a felony committed while on probation.
A town or village court cannot set bail on a class A felony or for a person with two earlier felony convictions. The judge must also warn a felony defendant who is freed that a new felony arrest can end the release.
Who defends people who cannot hire a lawyer?
The county Public Defender's Office, at 3 South Main Street, second floor, Albion, takes criminal cases in County Court, ten local Justice Courts and parole matters. Its phone is 585-589-7335.
Tell the judge at arraignment that you cannot pay for a lawyer and one will be assigned.
My daughter is under 18. What happens?
Serious charges against 16- and 17-year-olds start in the Youth Part of County Court. They may not be held in a jail with adults. Police must also notify a parent soon after the arrest.
To find out where she is and when she sees a judge, call the County Courthouse at 585-283-6622.
What if he skips court after we post bail?
The judge declares the bail forfeited. A defendant who returns before the final adjournment with a good excuse may get the forfeiture undone. If not, the District Attorney has 120 days after that adjournment to pursue the bond signers.
For cash, the county may use the money after the final adjournment or 45 days after notice to the payer, whichever is later. A request to remit the forfeiture is due within a year.
How do I get cash bail back?
After the case ends the court returns cash bail to the person who paid it, unless the defendant is convicted, in which case 3% is kept. The payer takes the receipt and a photo ID to the courthouse. A lost receipt needs a notarized statement, and the money can be signed over to another person by notarized affidavit.
A bondsman's premium is not refunded once the defendant is released, though the agent must return it in full within 14 days if the defendant is never freed.
What bail scams should I watch for?
Real bail is taken by the jail, the court or a licensed agent. Never buy gift cards, send crypto or use an app to pay a caller who says they are with the jail. Hang up and dial 585-589-4310 yourself.
Orleans County bail contacts
- Jail
- Orleans County Jail, 26 Platt Street, Courthouse Square, Albion, NY 14411; 585-589-4310
- Bond help
- Orleans County bail and bond instructions
- Custody lookup
- Orleans County Inmate Search
- Courthouse
- 1 South Main Street, Albion, NY 14411; 585-283-6622
- Public defender
- 3 South Main Street, 2nd floor, Albion; 585-589-7335
- Bondsman complaints
- Department of Financial Services, 800-342-3736
Every case moves at its own speed, so a short call to the jail or the public defender can save a wasted trip. Keep copies of each paper you sign.
Pay an Inmate's Bond Online
Orleans 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 585-589-4310 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
Orleans County Jail
Address:
26 Platt Street
Albion, NY 14411
Phone:
585-589-4310
Does Orleans County have bail?
When is bail set in Orleans County New York?
Does Orleans 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 Orleans 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 Orleans County?
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Orleans 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 Orleans 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 Orleans 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, Orleans 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 Orleans 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 Orleans 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 Orleans County?
Orleans County recognizes most types of bonds.
Who can set bail in Orleans 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 Orleans County New York?
Yes, if bail has been assessed, your attorney may file a motion to have it reduced.
In Orleans 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 Orleans 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 Orleans County Jail for more information about the jails in Orleans County.
What options are there to pay bail in Orleans 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 Orleans County Jail for more information about posting bail in Orleans 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 Orleans 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 Orleans 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 Orleans County Jail inmate's bond online?
Yes, you can pay a Orleans County Jail inmate's bond online using a third-party service called 'allpaid'. The instructions are easy... From their website, look up Orleans County Jail or Orleans 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 Orleans 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 Orleans County Jail, call allpaid directly at 877-392-2455, or call the jail at 585-589-4310.