Forsyth County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Forsyth County bail and bond: Winston-Salem, Kernersville, and the county jail
Forsyth County is home to Winston-Salem and Wake Forest University. Arrests in Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Clemmons, Lewisville, Walkertown, Rural Hall, King (part), Tobaccoville, and Bethania end at Forsyth's jail: the Forsyth County Detention Center, 201 North Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Phone: (336) 917-7600. Inmate search: Forsyth County Inmate Search.
1. Where is the Forsyth County Detention Center?
It is at 201 N. Church Street, downtown Winston-Salem, NC 27101, (336) 917-7600. The Forsyth lockup is rated for 1,016 people.
2. Who sets bail after an arrest in Winston-Salem?
In Winston-Salem, a Forsyth County magistrate usually does. Rural Hall officers bring arrestees to the Winston-Salem magistrate (NC law, G.S. 15A-511; NC law, G.S. 15A-532). The Winston-Salem clerk or the Forsyth judge can also act in Forsyth. Forsyth must have at least 20 magistrates (NC law, G.S. 7A-133). Meanwhile, your Winston-Salem loved one waits at the Forsyth County Detention Center.
3. Which bond types does Forsyth County use?
The Forsyth magistrate picks one of four Winston-Salem options (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part a).
• In Forsyth, an unsecured bond costs Winston-Salem families nothing up front. If Winston-Salem court is skipped, your Winston-Salem loved one owes it.
• Post cash, land, or a Forsyth surety for a Winston-Salem secured bond.
• A Forsyth electronic monitor means house arrest. In Winston-Salem, it comes with a secured bond.
• With custody release, a Forsyth program supervises. Your Winston-Salem loved one can choose a Winston-Salem secured bond instead.
Since December 1, 2025, Forsyth can't use a written promise alone.
4. Why did the Winston-Salem magistrate set a money bond?
For non-violent Forsyth charges, a Forsyth County magistrate starts with no-money options (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b).
If your Forsyth family member may skip Winston-Salem court, a Forsyth secured bond follows. The Winston-Salem magistrate weighs harm risks too. Winston-Salem witness risks count too in Forsyth.
Three Forsyth Class 1 convictions in 10 years? Forsyth then requires a secured bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b). A new Forsyth felony on probation means a Winston-Salem danger finding (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d2).
5. How does a Forsyth magistrate pick a bond amount?
Forsyth has no fixed price list in Winston-Salem. For Forsyth, the senior Winston-Salem superior judge issues the policy (NC law, G.S. 15A-535). Forsyth's chief district judge weighs in for Winston-Salem. The Forsyth policy suggests Winston-Salem amounts.
Winston-Salem's magistrate weighs the charge and record (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part c). Past no-shows hurt a Forsyth defendant. A job in Tobaccoville helps.
First small Forsyth misdemeanors often get unsecured bonds in Winston-Salem. Forsyth cash bonds run hundreds to thousands in Winston-Salem. Trafficking charges in Forsyth go higher in Winston-Salem. Forsyth felony bonds often reach thousands in Winston-Salem.
6. How can I pay a Forsyth County bond?
A Forsyth County magistrate takes Forsyth bonds. No official there? The Forsyth County Detention Center can take it (NC law, G.S. 15A-537). Phone the Forsyth jail at (336) 917-7600 first.
Forsyth takes cash, land, or a Winston-Salem surety (NC law, G.S. 15A-531). A King relative can sign unpaid with enough Forsyth property. A Forsyth surety may be a Winston-Salem bail agent.
A Forsyth bondsman may charge up to 15% (NC law, G.S. 58-71-95). Verify any Forsyth bondsman at the NC Department of Insurance bondsman lookup. Forsyth collateral returns within 15 days of Winston-Salem closure. Forsyth jailers can't be sureties, except for Winston-Salem family (NC law, G.S. 15A-541).
7. Which serious Winston-Salem charges go straight to a judge?
In Forsyth, these need a Winston-Salem judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part b and c): armed robbery; forcible rape and many sex crimes; assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill causing serious injury; shooting into an occupied building or car; first-degree burglary; human trafficking; sex crimes against a child 15 or younger; first-degree arson; capital crimes; murder or attempted murder; kidnapping.
A Winston-Salem judge presumes no Winston-Salem terms work. A Winston-Salem judge can still allow release in Forsyth. Some repeat Forsyth gun cases match (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part d through g).
8. What does Iryna's Law mean for Forsyth County?
In Winston-Salem, since December 1, 2025, violent Forsyth charges face a presumption against Winston-Salem release (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b1). Winston-Salem families may call it Iryna's Law.
In Forsyth, Class A-G felonies with force count (NC law, G.S. 15A-531, part 9). Forsyth registration felonies count too in Winston-Salem. Some Forsyth fentanyl trafficking counts in Winston-Salem.
For a first violent Forsyth charge, a judicial official in Winston-Salem must order a secured bond or monitor. Forsyth defendants charged twice get a Winston-Salem monitor. A Winston-Salem judge writes reasons for Forsyth (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d).
9. Can a Forsyth magistrate set bond on a domestic charge?
At first, only a Forsyth County judge sets domestic terms (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.1, part a). Forsyth threats against a Winston-Salem spouse count. Breaking a Forsyth 50B order in Winston-Salem counts.
The Forsyth County Detention Center may hold your Forsyth family member up to 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.1, part b). Then the Winston-Salem magistrate acts in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem judges often order Forsyth no-contact terms.
10. Which Forsyth County cases have special bond rules?
Yes. These apply in Forsyth:
• DWI in Forsyth: an impaired Winston-Salem defendant may wait 24 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.2).
• Forsyth rioting: the Forsyth judge acts within 24 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.8).
• Winston-Salem mass-violence threats: a Winston-Salem judge acts within 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.7).
• Winston-Salem meth cases: Forsyth judges may presume release unsafe (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.6).
• Children harmed in Winston-Salem: a Forsyth County magistrate orders no contact (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.4).
• Threats to Forsyth officials: a Winston-Salem judge decides within 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.9).
11. What happens to a Forsyth County bond after a new arrest?
A new Forsyth charge goes to a Winston-Salem judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part h). Simple Winston-Salem traffic charges don't count in Forsyth. Forsyth allows up to 48 hours in the Forsyth County Detention Center. Then the Winston-Salem magistrate acts for Forsyth.
The Forsyth magistrate may double the old Winston-Salem bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d3). Forsyth's minimum is $1,000 here in Winston-Salem. A Forsyth County judge can revoke the old Winston-Salem release for cause (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part f).
12. How do I ask a Forsyth County judge to lower a bond?
Within 72 hours, the Walkertown detainee sees a Winston-Salem judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-601). Long Winston-Salem closures allow 96 hours in Forsyth. Forsyth may act sooner, at the next Winston-Salem session. Forsyth district court also sits in Kernersville.
Winston-Salem's magistrate may adjust it in Winston-Salem (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part e). A Forsyth County judge may change it at the Winston-Salem hearing.
Still denied? Write to a Forsyth superior court judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-538). Forsyth prosecutors may ask too (NC law, G.S. 15A-539).
13. What happens if someone misses court in Forsyth County?
A willful Winston-Salem no-show is its own crime in Forsyth (NC law, G.S. 15A-543). For Forsyth felonies, it is Class I in Winston-Salem. Misdemeanor no-shows in Forsyth are Class 2 in Winston-Salem.
The Forsyth court forfeits the full Winston-Salem bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.3). Notice reaches Forsyth families within 30 days (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.4). There are 150 Forsyth days to file in Winston-Salem (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.5). Only listed Forsyth reasons work, like Winston-Salem surrender.
After 150 days, the Forsyth clerk dockets a Winston-Salem judgment (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.6). Picked up again, the Bethania detainee faces a doubled Forsyth bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d1).
14. What is a bond surrender in Forsyth County?
A Winston-Salem surety can surrender your Forsyth family member early (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part a). The Forsyth clerk then frees the Winston-Salem surety. After a missed Forsyth date, a Winston-Salem surety may bring the Forsyth defendant in (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part b). New Forsyth terms follow from the Forsyth magistrate (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part c).
A Winston-Salem bond normally runs to Forsyth judgment (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part h). Forsyth dismissal or probation can end it in Winston-Salem.
15. Which court will hear a case from Kernersville?
Criminal court for Forsyth County is held at the Forsyth County Hall of Justice in Winston-Salem. District court also sits in Kernersville.
Winston-Salem misdemeanors stay in Forsyth District Court 31 (NC law, G.S. 7A-133). Forsyth prosecutors handle Winston-Salem cases (NC law, G.S. 7A-60). Forsyth felonies move to Winston-Salem superior court after indictment (NC law, G.S. 7A-41).
16. Who defends a Forsyth County case for free?
There is one. The District 31 Public Defender covers Forsyth County: 175 N. Chestnut Street, Winston-Salem, 336-779-6325. Request one at first appearance in Winston-Salem. The Forsyth judge reviews income (Indigent Defense Services directory).
17. How does juvenile court work in Forsyth County?
Winston-Salem juvenile court handles most Forsyth under-18 cases (NC law, G.S. 7B-1501). Forsyth added 17-year-olds in Winston-Salem in 2019. A Forsyth detention hearing comes within 5 Winston-Salem days (NC law, G.S. 7B-1906). Forsyth juveniles face no money bail in Winston-Salem. Serious Forsyth felonies can move to Winston-Salem adult court.
18. Which federal court covers Forsyth County?
Forsyth falls under the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (28 U.S.C. 113). Court meets in Durham, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. The clerk: Greensboro, L. Richardson Preyer Federal Building, 324 W. Market St., 336-332-6000. Forsyth bondsmen don't work there. The Middle District also holds court in Winston-Salem.
19. Who can confirm a Forsyth County bond amount?
Call the Forsyth County Detention Center at (336) 917-7600. The Winston-Salem clerk can also help Forsyth families on weekdays. Give the Forsyth officer your Winston-Salem loved one's birth date.
Forsyth County bail contacts
- Jail
- Forsyth County Detention Center, 201 North Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101; (336) 917-7600
- Courts
- Forsyth County Courthouse, Winston-Salem
- Districts
- District Court 31; Superior Court 31A through 31D; Prosecutorial 31
- Public defender
- District 31 Public Defender; 336-779-6325
- Inmate search
- Forsyth County Inmate Search
Judges and magistrates set release terms case by case. Nothing here is legal advice.
Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Forsyth County
The Forsyth County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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 $1,500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Forsyth County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Forsyth County where the offense took place.
Call 336-917-7600 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Forsyth County inmate locator.
Forsyth County Detention Center
Address:
201 North Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone:
336-917-7600
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Forsyth County
Does Forsyth County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Forsyth County?
Who can set bail in Forsyth County?
When is bail set in Forsyth County North Carolina?
Does Forsyth County have bail?
Yes, Forsyth County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Forsyth County?
Forsyth County recognizes being released own recognizance, unsecured bail, secured bail or surety bonds.
Who can set bail in Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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, Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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 Forsyth County have bail?
Yes, Forsyth County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Forsyth County North Carolina?
Forsyth County recognizes being released own recognizance, unsecured bail, secured bail or surety bonds.
Who can set bail in Forsyth 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 Forsyth County North Carolina?
Yes, your attorney can file a motion for bail reduction.
In Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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 Forsyth County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Forsyth County.
What options are there to pay bail in Forsyth 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 Forsyth County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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.