Brown County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Brown County bail and bond: two buildings on Mt. Orab Pike in Georgetown
Brown County holds its adult prisoners at the Brown County Adult Detention Center, 750 Mt. Orab Pike, Georgetown. The county court that handles most misdemeanors sits a few doors away at 770 Mt. Orab Pike. Start with Brown County Inmate Search to see whether your person is booked and what bond was set. The Sheriff's Office answers questions at 937-378-4435, and the Municipal Court clerk answers at 937-378-6358.
Where is a person held after an arrest in Brown County?
The Brown County Adult Detention Center, 750 Mt. Orab Pike, Georgetown, OH 45121. It is run by the Sheriff's Office, whose main number is 937-378-4435.
The sheriff's administration and the jail share that address, so one call reaches deputies who know the booking.
Can I look up the booking myself?
Yes. Enter the last name on Brown County Inmate Search. A fresh arrest can take a little while to post, so check again later in the day.
When the name stays off the page, call 937-378-4435 and ask the deputy whether the person is still being processed.
What if the arrest happens on a Friday night?
The Municipal Court clerk closes at 4 p.m. and does not open on weekends. A person arrested on Friday evening normally stays in the detention center until the first bail hearing, which Ohio law sets no later than the second court day.
Misdemeanor bail schedules exist to let someone leave before that first hearing (R.C. 2937.011(I)). Call the Sheriff's Office at 937-378-4435 to ask whether your charge qualifies and where payment is taken.
Where do I take care of a bond on a misdemeanor charge?
Go to Brown County Municipal Court, 770 Mt. Orab Pike, Georgetown, OH 45121. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on legal holidays.
The phone is 937-378-6358. The court posts a waiver and bond schedule on its website, so the clerk can quote the amount for a ticket-level or low-level charge.
Can I pay the court from home?
The court operates an online payments page tied to its clerk's site. Ohio law (R.C. 2937.011(I)) requires every municipal and county court to adopt a rule allowing bail by credit card.
Ask the clerk at 937-378-6358 which charges the online page accepts before you enter a card number.
How long until a judge reviews the bond?
No later than the second court day after arrest. R.C. 2937.011(J) sets that limit for the first hearing. A person who is still held without a lawyer gets a second hearing two court days later.
At that second hearing, an indigent defendant receives appointed counsel at state expense.
What is the cheapest kind of bond in Ohio?
Ohio law tells judges to use the financial conditions that cost the defendant the least while still assuring a return to court (R.C. 2937.011(B)). A personal bond needs no cash at the start.
If a deposit is required, a 10 percent bond lets you hold back 90 percent of the money: the court returns it when every condition is met.
Can a judge attach rules besides money?
Yes. R.C. 2937.011(D) lets the court order travel limits, house arrest, electronic monitoring, work release, treatment for drugs or alcohol, and no contact with a victim or witness.
If a no-contact order is part of the release, the defendant must follow it from the moment he leaves the detention center.
Should I call a bail bondsman?
Only if you cannot meet the bond another way. Agents who write bonds in Ohio hold a license from the Department of Insurance, and the premium they charge must be the rate filed with the state.
An agent may not require you to sign over title to real estate. Agents also may not solicit at the courthouse or the jail, so be wary of anyone who approaches you there.
Who defends me if I have no money for a lawyer?
Brown County is one of ten Ohio counties that contract with the Office of the Ohio Public Defender for trial defense. The state office is at 250 East Broad Street, Columbus, and its main line is 614-466-5394.
Ask the judge to appoint counsel at your first appearance. The court decides whether you qualify.
Where do Brown County teenagers go if they are detained?
Brown County has no juvenile detention center of its own, so a child who needs secure detention is placed in another county's facility. Call the Sheriff's Office at 937-378-4435 and ask where the child was taken.
Parents should also ask the juvenile court clerk when the detention hearing is.
Can the judge deny bail?
Only where the Ohio Constitution permits it. Art. I, sec. 9 lets a court refuse bail for a capital offense, or for a felony where the proof is evident and the person poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm to anyone.
R.C. 2937.222 requires a hearing and a finding by clear and convincing evidence before a judge refuses bail.
Can a farm or house secure a bond?
Ohio law allows it. The owner swears to the property's value and to every lien (R.C. 2937.011(L)), and the court approves the surety only if the person appears financially responsible for at least the bond amount.
Find out before you file whether every owner must sign, and bring deeds and lender statements for each parcel.
Is jail account money the same thing as bond?
No. A deposit to an inmate account buys phone time and store items. A bond goes to the court and frees the person.
Ask the clerk for a receipt for every bond payment.
What if the arrest was by a village officer?
Village and township officers make arrests all over the county, and the person is brought to Georgetown. Ask the arresting department which court received the charge.
Misdemeanor charges go to Brown County Municipal Court. Felony charges go to Common Pleas Court.
Where do I look for a federal or state prisoner?
The county search covers county custody only. Use the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator to find a federal inmate. Ohio prison inmates are found in the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records.
Start with the county search; if the name is absent, try the federal and state tools next.
What if he fails to appear after posting?
A warrant may issue, and the court may begin to forfeit the bail. R.C. 2937.011(K) makes failure to appear a punishable offense.
Contact the clerk at 937-378-6358 right away. Surrender through the surety before the court date ends the surety's risk.
Brown County bail contacts
- County jail
- Brown County Adult Detention Center, 750 Mt. Orab Pike, Georgetown, OH 45121; 937-378-4435
- Bond guide
- Brown County jail bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Brown County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Brown County Sheriff's Office, 750 Mt. Orab Pike, Georgetown; 937-378-4435
- Municipal Court
- 770 Mt. Orab Pike, Georgetown, OH 45121; 937-378-6358; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
- Public defense
- Office of the Ohio Public Defender, 250 East Broad Street, Columbus; 614-466-5394
Hours and fees can change, so call the clerk before you drive over with money. Nothing here is legal advice; it is a plain-language guide to Brown County practice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Brown County Detention Center
The Brown County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Brown County where the offense took place.
Call 937-378-4435 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Brown County inmate locator.
Brown County Detention Center
Address:
750 Mt. Orab Pike
Georgetown, OH 45121
Phone:
937-378-4435
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Brown County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Brown County?
Who can set bail in Brown County?
When is bail set in Brown County Ohio?
Does Brown County have bail?
Yes, Brown County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Brown County?
Bail in Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown 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, Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown County have bail?
Yes, Brown County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Brown County?
Bail in Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown County Ohio?
Yes, Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown 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.