Worth Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Allen County bail and bond: the jail in the Lima Justice Center and what happens next
People arrested in Allen County are held at the Allen County Jail inside the Allen County Justice Center, 333 N. Main Street, Lima. The Sheriff's Office runs it. Start with Allen County Inmate Search to see if your person is booked, what the charge is and what the bail is. Questions the search cannot answer go to the Sheriff's Office at 419-227-3535. In Ohio, a judge or magistrate sets the amount, and you can pay bail only in the ways the court allows, so read the questions below before you hand over any money.
1. How do I find out if someone is in the Allen County Jail?
Use Allen County Inmate Search. Type the last and first name. A booking only minutes old may not show, so check again after an hour or two.
If the person does not appear, ask the police agency that made the arrest where they took the person, then call the Sheriff's Office at 419-227-3535. Allen County Sheriff Matthew Treglia's office answers that line.
2. Where exactly is the jail?
The jail is part of the Allen County Justice Center, which opened in 1990. The street address is 333 N. Main Street, Lima, Ohio. The same building holds the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Corrections Division staffs the cell blocks.
Do not go to the front desk expecting to see the person. Check first with the search link, then ask the Sheriff's Office about visiting rules.
3. How soon will a judge look at the case?
Ohio law requires a first bail hearing no later than the second court day after the arrest (R.C. 2937.011). If the person is still held and has no lawyer, a second hearing must follow two court days later, and a lawyer paid by the state is appointed for someone who cannot afford one.
An arrest on Friday evening can mean the first hearing is on Tuesday. That is normal and not a sign that anyone lost the file.
4. Who sets the amount, and can the jail just release my son?
For felonies a judge or magistrate must set the amount. For many misdemeanors a court bond schedule allows quick release before the first hearing, but that schedule exists only for early release and does not limit what the judge does later.
Ohio law tells the court to choose the least restrictive release that still protects the public and gets the person back to court, and to keep any money condition as low in cost as it can while still doing that job. Ask the lawyer to raise this at the hearing.
5. What is a 10 percent bond?
A court can accept a deposit of ten percent of the bond amount. If the bond is $5,000, the deposit is $500. When the case ends and every condition was met, the court returns 90 percent of that deposit. The state fee on top of the bond is a separate charge.
This is different from paying a bail agent. An agent keeps the fee you pay, no matter how the case turns out.
6. Where do I pay bail in Allen County?
The Clerk of Courts is at 301 N. Main Street, Lima, and the office is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk's line is 419-223-8513. Ask which court holds the case, because a municipal court case and a common pleas case can be paid at different counters.
For payment after hours or on a weekend, ask the Sheriff's Office at 419-227-3535 whether bail can be taken at the jail for that case. Have the booking name ready. Never send money to a person who contacts you first.
7. Does the court take credit cards?
Every Ohio municipal and county court must adopt a rule that allows bail to be paid by credit card (R.C. 2937.011(I)). For a felony case in common pleas court, ask the clerk at 419-223-8513 which forms of payment the clerk takes before you drive in.
8. How does a bail agent work in Lima?
A licensed surety bail agent signs a bond with the court. You pay the agent a fee and sign a contract. The Ohio Department of Insurance licenses these agents, and an agent must charge the premium rate the state has approved and must tell you about any added expense fee.
Ohio rules bar an agent from asking you to sign over the title to your home as a condition of the bond. They also bar agents from soliciting people at the jail or the courthouse. If someone approaches you there, walk away.
9. Can my house be used as a property bond?
Ohio law allows a bond secured by real estate. The owner signs a sworn statement describing the property and every mortgage or lien on it, and the court must be satisfied that the person can cover at least the full bond amount. A licensed attorney cannot be the one who backs a bond.
Ask the Clerk of Courts at 419-223-8513 which forms the judge expects and how long review takes. Every owner of the property will need to sign.
10. Why does the record say no bond?
The Ohio Constitution allows a judge to refuse bail only for a capital offense with strong proof, or for a felony with strong proof where the person poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm to anyone or the community. The prosecutor asks for a hearing, and the judge must find the facts by clear and convincing evidence (R.C. 2937.222).
A hold from another county or from a parole or probation officer can also keep a person in. A lawyer can tell you which one applies.
11. What if the arrest was federal or the person was moved?
People held on federal charges do not show up in the county search. The Federal Bureau of Prisons runs its own online inmate locator at bop.gov. A person sent to prison after a sentence is tracked by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, not by the county.
12. What happens if he misses a court date?
The judge can issue a warrant and begin the process of forfeiting the bail. A surety who brings the person back before the court date, or who asks for a warrant so the Sheriff holds the person, can be released from the bond. Call the lawyer or the bail agent the same day.
Money posted by a family member or friend cannot be taken for the defendant's fines or court costs unless that person approves it in writing. When the defendant posts his own money and is not indigent, the court may apply it to fines and costs after a conviction.
13. What if the family cannot afford a lawyer?
Tell the judge at the first hearing that you cannot afford a lawyer, and the court will appoint one. For help with where to start, ask the Clerk of Courts at 419-223-8513 which office handles appointed counsel for the case. The Ohio Public Defender in Columbus also supports local systems across all 88 counties.
14. Can the judge let him go without paying anything?
Yes. The court may release a person on personal recognizance, which means a signed promise to return. Under R.C. 2937.011, a person who came to court on a summons instead of being arrested is presumed eligible for that kind of release unless the judge has good reason to say otherwise.
A judge can also add rules to any release: staying away from the victim, limits on travel or where the person lives, drug or alcohol treatment, electronic monitoring or house arrest. Breaking a rule can bring a new bail hearing and a higher amount.
15. Will the money come back to me?
Cash or a 10 percent deposit that you paid for someone else is returned after the case ends and the person made every court date, minus the 10 percent the court keeps on a deposit bond and any state fee. Keep the receipt and the case number. The Clerk of Courts at 419-223-8513 can tell you how a refund is requested.
Fees paid to a bail agent are not refunded.
16. How do I avoid a bail scam?
No court clerk or jail officer asks for gift cards, cryptocurrency or a payment app. Use only the numbers on this page. A caller who says a person will be moved or charged unless you pay in minutes should be hung up on. Then check Allen County Inmate Search and call the Sheriff's Office at 419-227-3535.
17. Where are young people held?
Allen County has its own juvenile detention center for youth held before a hearing. A juvenile case is private and will not show up on the adult search. The Clerk of Courts at 419-223-8513 can point you to the juvenile court office for the hearing time.
Allen County bail contacts
- Jail
- Allen County Jail, inside the Allen County Justice Center, 333 N. Main Street, Lima, OH
- Sheriff's Office
- 419-227-3535
- Custody lookup
- Allen County Inmate Search
- Clerk of Courts
- 301 N. Main Street, Lima, OH; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 419-223-8513
- Bond help
- Allen County bail and bond pages
- Youth
- Allen County juvenile detention center; ask the Clerk of Courts for the juvenile court office
Dollar amounts, office hours and phone lines can change, and a judge may order something different from what is described here. Check with the Clerk of Courts or the Sheriff's Office before paying. This page explains the process in general terms and is not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Worth Center
The Allen County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Allen 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 Allen County, or in some cases the state of Ohio, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Allen County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
- The typical fee for a bond in Ohio 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 Worth Center, or the courthouse in Allen County where the offense took place.
Call 419-222-3339 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Allen County inmate locator.
Worth Center
Address:
243 East Bluelick Rd.
Lima, OH 45801
Phone:
419-222-3339
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Allen County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Allen County?
Who can set bail in Allen County?
When is bail set in Allen County Ohio?
Does Allen County have bail?
Yes, Allen County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Allen County?
Bail in Allen County is available in several different types including personal bond (aka own recognizance), cash bond, 10% bond, surety bond, and property bond.
Who can set bail in Allen County?
A judge usually sets bond. In some counties the County Court has established a bail schedule, which outlines the bail for many non-violent or minor crimes. If a charge is not part of the bail schedule a hearing will be necessary.
When is bail set in Allen County Ohio?
Bail is set in Ohio the first time the accused is brought into court. Although this hearing is set as soon as possible based on court availability, it can take up to 3 days not including weekends or holidays.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Allen 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 Allen 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 Worth 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, Allen 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 Allen 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 Allen County have bail?
Yes, Allen County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Allen County?
Bail in Allen County is available in several different types including personal bond (aka own recognizance), cash bond, 10% bond, surety bond, and property bond.
Who can set bail in Allen County?
A judge usually sets bond. In some counties the County Court has established a bail schedule, which outlines the bail for many non-violent or minor crimes. If a charge is not part of the bail schedule a hearing will be necessary.
When is bail set in Ohio?
Bail is set in Ohio the first time the accused is brought into court. Although this hearing is set as soon as possible based on court availability, it can take up to 3 days not including weekends or holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Allen County Ohio?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the judicial officer know. The accused can ask for bail reduction or a change in bail conditions.
In Allen County Ohio, 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 Ohio could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Allen County Ohio?
Yes, Allen County does offer online bail payment. In Ohio, bail payment is made to the Clerk of Court.
What options are there to pay bail in Allen County Ohio?
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 Worth Center for more information about posting bail in Allen County. An alternative would be to contact the Clerk of Court.
Will I get all my bond money back in Ohio?
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 Allen 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 Ohio?
The Worth 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.