Otsego County Correctional Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Otsego County bail and bond: the Cooperstown jail, County Court and the real cost
The Otsego County Correctional Facility, 172 County Highway 33 West in Cooperstown, holds adults who are waiting for court. Check Otsego County Inmate Search to see whether your relative is in custody and what bail the judge set. The jail answers at 607-547-4252. Many people go home without paying, and when money is required, bail can often be posted in several forms.
How can I tell if someone arrested in Otsego County is locked up?
Use Otsego County Inmate Search. It shows who is in custody at the Otsego County Correctional Facility and the bail attached to the booking. New arrests can take a few hours to post. If the name still does not appear, call the jail at 607-547-4252.
What is at 172 County Highway 33 West?
That address in Cooperstown is the home of the Otsego County Correctional Facility and the Sheriff's Office. The jail desk is 607-547-4252.
Bail is not decided there. The jail carries out what a judge orders and releases a person once the court's terms are met.
Who sets the bail, and how quickly?
A judge, usually within about 24 hours of the arrest, at arraignment. A local court in a town or village often handles the first appearance, and any felony continues in Otsego County Court.
The judge may release the person on a promise to return, add conditions, or set bail. No printed schedule fixes a price for a given charge.
What conditions can a judge add besides money?
Several. The judge can order regular reporting, required programming, or treatment, which includes mental health care and chemical dependence services. Electronic monitoring is allowed only when no other realistic condition will do the job.
Since 2023 the judge may combine these conditions with bail on the charges where bail is permitted. A lawyer can ask the court to ease a condition that is hard to meet.
Where do I pay, and what should I carry?
Call 607-547-4252 and ask the jail what forms of payment it takes and when someone is available to accept it. Carry photo identification and the person's full name and date of birth, and keep each receipt in a safe place.
A licensed agent can write a bond if you cannot cover the whole amount. The agent deals with the court and the jail for you.
Which types of bail does New York allow?
Nine forms exist in CPL 520.10: cash, an insurance company bond, and secured, partially secured and unsecured versions of both a surety bond and an appearance bond, plus a credit card. A judge selects at least three for each case, and one has to be an unsecured or partially secured surety bond.
A judge who names only a sum has allowed an unsecured bond. A credit card payment may carry a reasonable administrative fee.
What would a bondsman charge on a $12,000 bond?
No more than $980. The state formula is 10% of the first $3,000 ($300), 8% of the next $7,000 ($560) and 6% of the last $2,000 ($120). Smaller bonds under $3,000 cost up to 10%.
An agent may not charge for extras such as finding a bondsman. A full refund of the premium is owed within 14 days if the person is never released. Overcharge complaints go to the state Department of Financial Services, 800-342-3736.
What does it mean when a judge "remands" someone?
It means the judge orders the person held in the Sheriff's custody with no release. The power exists for felonies on the list in CPL 510.10(4), which includes violent felonies, class A felonies, crimes that caused a death, sex offenses and felonies committed while on probation or post-release supervision.
A town or village court cannot set bail for a class A felony or for someone with two prior felony convictions. The judge must state the reason for remand on the record or in writing, and the defendant has a right to counsel at that hearing.
Could he get an appearance ticket instead of jail?
On most arrests the officer must issue a ticket and let him go. The officer may still arrest him for an open warrant, a failure to appear within two years, a refusal to give an identity, or a family or sex-offense charge.
The ticket carries a court date within 20 days, unless the next session is later. He should go; a missed date can bring a warrant.
Who is the free lawyer in Cooperstown?
The Otsego County Public Defender is at 197 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, in the same county building as County Court. Call 607-547-8772. The office handles Family Court, County Court, Drug Court and cases in the town and village courts, and employs a parent advocate for family matters.
If the judge asks whether you have a lawyer at arraignment, say you cannot pay. The court will assign one.
Where is Otsego County Court?
Otsego County Court is in suite 9 of the county office building at 197 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. The main line is 607-322-3140, and the office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except state holidays.
Call it to learn the next appearance date and courtroom for a felony case.
My daughter is 17. Where does she go?
Serious charges against 16- and 17-year-olds are heard in the Youth Part of County Court, and they cannot be held in a jail with adults. Police have to notify a parent soon after the arrest.
The County Court clerk at 607-322-3140 can give you the next hearing date.
What if he misses a court date?
A forfeiture is entered. If he appears before the final adjournment with a good excuse, the judge can cancel it. If not, the District Attorney has 120 days after the adjournment to pursue anyone who signed a bond.
A request to remit the forfeiture must be filed within one year with the court that ordered it, with five days' notice to the District Attorney.
How do I get the cash back?
The court refunds cash bail after the case ends to the person who paid it. If the defendant is convicted, 3% is kept. Take the receipt and photo ID to the court; a lost receipt can be replaced with a notarized statement, and a notarized affidavit can pass the right to the money to someone else.
Is there a nonprofit that posts bail in small cases?
A registered charitable bail organization may post $2,000 or less for a person charged with misdemeanors who cannot afford it, and it may not charge a premium. It serves one county.
Is the "jail official" who called asking for payment real?
Treat it as a scam when the caller wants gift cards, crypto or an app transfer. Hang up and call 607-547-4252 yourself.
Otsego County bail contacts
- Jail
- Otsego County Correctional Facility, 172 County Highway 33 West, Cooperstown, NY 13326; 607-547-4252
- Bond help
- Otsego County bail and bond instructions
- Custody lookup
- Otsego County Inmate Search
- County Court
- 197 Main Street, Suite 9, Cooperstown, NY 13326; 607-322-3140; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Public defender
- 197 Main Street, Cooperstown; 607-547-8772
- Bondsman complaints
- Department of Financial Services, 800-342-3736
Judges change release terms from case to case, so treat this guide as a map and not a promise. Get the amount, the payee and a receipt in writing every time money changes hands.
Pay an Inmate's Bond Online
You can post bond in Otsego County at the jail with cash or Western Union. The amount must be exact, including fees as no change will be given. Call the jail at 607-547-4252 to find out the exact amount.
The easiest way to pay remotely is through allpay.com, also known as GovPayNet.com.
The following bail bond companies are approved by the jail, but remember that the percentage charged by them will not be returned to you, even if the arrested shows to court.
Thomas E. Backus 607-844-8649, Dryden, New York
Lyle Aney, 315-866-1754, Capitol Area
Roberts Agency, 607-639-3142
W.A. Bernardo, 518-434-8118 $5000 or more only
Kim Camacho, 607-386-3307, The Bail King LLC.
Otsego County Correctional Facility
Address:
172 County Highway 33 West
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Phone:
607-547-4252
When is bail set in Otsego County New York?
Does Otsego 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 Otsego 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 Otsego County?
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Otsego 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 Otsego 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 Otsego 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, Otsego 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 Otsego 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 Otsego 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 Otsego County?
Otsego County recognizes most types of bonds.
Who can set bail in Otsego 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 Otsego County New York?
Yes, if bail has been assessed, your attorney may file a motion to have it reduced.
In Otsego 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 Otsego 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 Otsego County Correctional Facility for more information about the jails in Otsego County.
What options are there to pay bail in Otsego 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 Otsego County Correctional Facility for more information about posting bail in Otsego 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 Otsego 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 Otsego 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay a Otsego County Correctional Facility inmate's bond online?
Yes, you can pay a Otsego County Correctional Facility inmate's bond online using a third-party service called 'allpaid'. The instructions are easy... From their website, look up Otsego County Correctional Facility or Otsego 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 Otsego County Correctional Facility, 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 Otsego County Correctional Facility, call allpaid directly at 877-392-2455, or call the jail at 607-547-4252.