Bladen County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Bladen County

North Carolina • Bladen County • Bail & bond help

How bail works in Bladen County: Elizabethtown and Bladenboro

Bladen County is a large rural county along the Cape Fear River. People arrested in Elizabethtown, Bladenboro, Clarkton, White Lake, East Arcadia, Dublin, Tar Heel, and Kelly go to Bladen's jail, the Bladen County Jail, 105 Court Street, Elizabethtown, NC 28337. Phone: (910) 862-6969. Inmate search: Bladen County Inmate Search.

Where is the Bladen County Jail?

The jail is at 105 Court Street, Elizabethtown, next to the courthouse. Call (910) 862-6969 or (910) 862-7819. Mail goes to PO Box 396, Elizabethtown, NC 28337.

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Who sets release terms in Bladen?

Usually the Elizabethtown magistrate sets it in Elizabethtown. White Lake officers bring arrestees to a Bladen County magistrate (NC law, G.S. 15A-511; NC law, G.S. 15A-532). The Bladen judge or the Elizabethtown clerk may too. Bladen must have at least 4 magistrates (NC law, G.S. 7A-133). The East Arcadia detainee stays in the Bladen County Jail meanwhile.

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What release options does the Bladen magistrate have?

In Bladen, four release types exist (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part a).

• A Bladen electronic monitor means house arrest. In Elizabethtown, it comes with a secured bond.

• Custody release means an Elizabethtown person supervises. The Bladen defendant may pick a Bladen secured bond instead.

• An unsecured bond in Elizabethtown needs no cash now. Miss Bladen court, and the Bladen defendant owes it.

• A Bladen secured bond uses cash, land, or an Elizabethtown surety.

Elizabethtown dropped written promises December 1, 2025.

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Does an Elizabethtown defendant start with no-money options?

For non-violent Bladen charges, Elizabethtown's magistrate starts with no-money options (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b).

If your Elizabethtown loved one may skip Elizabethtown court, a Bladen secured bond follows. A Bladen County magistrate weighs harm risks too. Elizabethtown witness risks count too in Bladen.

Three Bladen Class 1 convictions in 10 years? Bladen then requires a secured bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b). On probation, a new Elizabethtown felony brings a Bladen danger review (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d2).

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Are bond amounts set by charge in Elizabethtown?

Bladen has no fixed price list in Elizabethtown. The Bladen chief district judge is consulted too. District 15A's senior judge writes Bladen's policy (NC law, G.S. 15A-535). The Bladen policy suggests Elizabethtown amounts.

In Elizabethtown, evidence and record matter (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part c). A job in Clarkton helps. Past no-shows hurt a Bladen defendant.

A first minor Elizabethtown charge often gets an unsecured Bladen bond. Bladen felony bonds often reach thousands in Elizabethtown. Bladen cash bonds run hundreds to thousands in Elizabethtown. Gun charges in Elizabethtown run higher in Bladen.

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How can I pay a Bladen County bond?

Post a Bladen bond with the Bladen magistrate. No official there? The Bladen County Jail can take it (NC law, G.S. 15A-537). Phone the Bladen jail at (910) 862-6969 first.

Pay an Elizabethtown bond in cash, land, or a Bladen surety (NC law, G.S. 15A-531). A Bladen surety may be an Elizabethtown bail agent. An Elizabethtown relative can sign unpaid with enough Bladen property.

A Bladen bondsman may charge up to 15% (NC law, G.S. 58-71-95). Check an Elizabethtown bondsman with the NC Department of Insurance bondsman lookup. Elizabethtown officers can't sign as Bladen sureties, except for family (NC law, G.S. 15A-541). Bladen collateral returns within 15 days of Elizabethtown closure.

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Can an Elizabethtown magistrate release someone charged with murder?

In Bladen, these need the Bladen judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part b and c): assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill causing serious injury; human trafficking; shooting into an occupied building or car; capital crimes; armed robbery; forcible rape and many sex crimes; first-degree burglary; sex crimes against a child 15 or younger; murder or attempted murder; kidnapping; first-degree arson.

For them, Bladen presumes no Elizabethtown release is safe. An Elizabethtown judge can still allow release in Bladen. Some repeat Bladen gun cases match (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part d through g).

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What does Iryna's Law mean for Bladen County?

Bladen now presumes a violent Elizabethtown defendant stays jailed (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b1). Bladen families may call it Iryna's Law.

Forceful felonies charged in Elizabethtown count in Bladen (NC law, G.S. 15A-531, part 9). Bladen registration felonies count too in Elizabethtown. Some Bladen fentanyl trafficking counts in Elizabethtown.

A first violent Bladen charge needs a secured bond or Elizabethtown monitor. Bladen defendants charged twice get an Elizabethtown monitor. A Bladen County magistrate must write reasons (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d).

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How long can Bladen County hold someone on a domestic charge?

At first, only the Bladen judge sets domestic terms (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.1, part a). Stalking an Elizabethtown partner counts in Bladen. An Elizabethtown 50B order violation counts in Bladen.

The Bladen County Jail may hold your Bladen family member up to 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.1, part b). After that, the Bladen magistrate sets Bladen terms. Expect Bladen no-contact orders in Elizabethtown.

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What special holds can a Bladen arrest bring?

Yes. These apply in Bladen:

• Elizabethtown meth cases: Bladen judges may presume release unsafe (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.6).

• Looting in Elizabethtown: a Bladen County judge decides within 24 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.8).

• Bladen child victims: Elizabethtown stay-away orders are required (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.4).

• Threatening an Elizabethtown officer: the Bladen judge acts within 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.9).

• Elizabethtown DWI: a sober Bladen adult may take your Elizabethtown loved one sooner (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.2).

• Elizabethtown mass-violence threats: an Elizabethtown judge acts within 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.7).

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What happens to a Bladen County bond after a new arrest?

Out on release? A Bladen County judge sets new Elizabethtown terms (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part h). Bladen allows up to 48 hours in the Bladen County Jail. After that, Elizabethtown's magistrate steps in for Bladen. Most Bladen traffic cases, except DWI, don't count in Elizabethtown.

Elizabethtown's magistrate may double the old Elizabethtown bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d3). A doubled Bladen bond is $1,000 or more in Elizabethtown. For good cause, Bladen can revoke Elizabethtown release (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part f).

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Can an Elizabethtown bond be lowered?

A Bladen district judge sees the Bladenboro detainee within 72 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-601). If Bladen courts close long, the Elizabethtown limit is 96 hours. Bladen may act sooner, at the next Elizabethtown session.

Before that, the Elizabethtown magistrate can change it in Elizabethtown (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part e). Later, a Bladen district judge can in Elizabethtown.

Still denied? Write to a Bladen superior court judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-538). Bladen prosecutors may ask too (NC law, G.S. 15A-539).

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After a missed Elizabethtown court date, what happens to the bond?

Skipping Bladen court on purpose is an Elizabethtown crime (NC law, G.S. 15A-543). On an Elizabethtown misdemeanor, a Bladen no-show is Class 2. Skip a Bladen felony date, and the new Elizabethtown charge is a Class I felony.

The Bladen court forfeits the full Elizabethtown bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.3). Notice reaches families in Kelly within 30 days (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.4). Only listed Bladen reasons work, like Elizabethtown surrender. There are 150 Bladen days to file in Elizabethtown (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.5).

After 150 days, the Bladen clerk dockets an Elizabethtown judgment (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.6). Picked up again, your Bladen family member faces a doubled Bladen bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d1).

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Can a Bladen bondsman take back a bond?

Before a missed Elizabethtown date, a Bladen surety may surrender the Bladen defendant (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part a). Then the Elizabethtown clerk releases the Bladen surety. Once Bladen court is missed, an Elizabethtown surety may arrest the Bladen defendant (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part b). New Bladen terms follow from a Bladen County magistrate (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part c).

Otherwise, a Bladen bond lasts until Elizabethtown judgment (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part h). An Elizabethtown deferral can end it in Bladen.

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Where will an Elizabethtown case be heard?

Criminal court for Bladen County is held at the Bladen County Courthouse, 166 E. Broad Street, Elizabethtown. Bladen shares Superior Court District 15A with Columbus County.

Elizabethtown misdemeanors stay in Bladen District Court 15 (NC law, G.S. 7A-133). The District 15 DA prosecutes Bladen cases in Elizabethtown (NC law, G.S. 7A-60). After indictment, Bladen felonies go to Elizabethtown Superior Court 15A (NC law, G.S. 7A-41).

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Is there a public defender for Bladen County?

There is one. The District 15 Public Defender covers Bladen County: Bladen County Courthouse, 166 E. Broad Street, Elizabethtown, 910-872-7310. Ask at the Elizabethtown first appearance. An Elizabethtown judge reviews income (Indigent Defense Services directory).

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Where does an Elizabethtown teen go after arrest?

Most Bladen teens under 18 start in Elizabethtown juvenile court (NC law, G.S. 7B-1501). Bladen juveniles face no money bail in Elizabethtown. Some Elizabethtown cases move to Bladen superior court. A Bladen detention hearing comes within 5 Elizabethtown days (NC law, G.S. 7B-1906). Bladen added 17-year-olds in Elizabethtown in 2019.

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Where do federal charges from Elizabethtown go?

Bladen is in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (28 U.S.C. 113). Court meets in Elizabeth City, Fayetteville, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, Wilmington, and Wilson. The clerk: Raleigh, Terry Sanford Federal Building, 310 New Bern Ave., 919-645-1700. A federal judge sets Bladen release.

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Who can confirm a Bladen County bond amount?

Phone the Bladen County Jail: (910) 862-6969. On weekdays, the Bladen clerk in Elizabethtown can help. Have your Elizabethtown loved one's birth date ready for Elizabethtown staff.

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Bladen County bail contacts

Jail
Bladen County Jail, 105 Court Street, Elizabethtown, NC 28337; (910) 862-6969
Courts
Bladen County Courthouse, Elizabethtown
Districts
District Court 15; Superior Court 15A; Prosecutorial 15
Public defender
District 15 Public Defender; 910-872-7310
Inmate search
Bladen County Inmate Search

Judges and magistrates set release terms case by case. Nothing here is legal advice.

How do Bail Bonds work at Bladen County Detention Center

The Bladen County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Bladen County.

However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:

  • You can always pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Bladen County, or in some cases the state of North Carolina, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Bladen County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
  • The typical fee for a bond in North Carolina is between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15% or less.  So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1500.00.
  • Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Bladen County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Bladen County where the offense took place.

Call 910-862-6971 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Bladen County inmate locator.

Bladen County Detention Center

Address:
299 Smith Circle
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Phone:
910-862-6971

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Bladen County


Does Bladen County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Bladen County?

Who can set bail in Bladen County?

When is bail set in Bladen County North Carolina?

 

 

Does Bladen County have bail?

Yes,  Bladen County recognizes most types of bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Bladen County?

Bladen County recognizes being released own recognizance, unsecured bail, secured bail or surety bonds.

 

 

Who can set bail in Bladen County?

Bail is determined by a magistrate. Magistrates are persons who are trained in court and legal procedures. A magistrate does not have to be an attorney but helps move the process by performing some of the routine court functions such as issuing arrest warrants, setting bail and accepting guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors.

 

 

When is bail set in Bladen County North Carolina?

Bail is determined by a magistrate at your first court appearance. This court appearance, also known as first appearance, usually occurs within 48 hours of arrest.

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in Bladen 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 North Carolina 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 Bladen County Detention 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, Bladen 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 Bladen 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 bank 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 Bladen County have bail?  

Yes,  Bladen County recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Bladen County North Carolina?

Bladen County recognizes being released own recognizance, unsecured bail, secured bail or surety bonds.

Who can set bail in Bladen County?  

Bail is determined by a magistrate. Magistrates are persons who are trained in court and legal procedures. A magistrate does not have to be an attorney but helps move the process by performing some of the routine court functions such as issuing arrest warrants, setting bail and accepting guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors.

When is bail set in North Carolina?  

Bail is determined by a magistrate at your first court appearance. This court appearance, also known as first appearance, usually occurs within 48 hours of arrest.

Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Bladen County North Carolina? 

Yes, your attorney can file a motion for bail reduction.

In Bladen County North Carolina, 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 North Carolina could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.

Can bail be paid online in Bladen County North Carolina?  

Yes, North Carolina does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Bladen County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Bladen County.

What options are there to pay bail in Bladen County North Carolina? 

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 Bladen County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Bladen County.  

Will I get all my bond money back in North Carolina? 

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 Bladen County? 

The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.

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 North Carolina?  

The Bladen County Detention 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Bladen County

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