Guernsey County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Guernsey County bail and bond: the Southgate Parkway jail and the Cambridge courts
People arrested in Guernsey County are booked into the Guernsey County Jail, 601 Southgate Parkway, Cambridge, OH 43725, which the Sheriff's Office runs. Search the name on Guernsey County Inmate Search to see if the person is in custody and what bail is set. The jail line is 740-432-2955, and the Sheriff's Office main and dispatch line is 740-439-4455.
Misdemeanor cases are heard at Cambridge Municipal Court, 150 Highland Avenue, Cambridge. Felony cases are heard in the Common Pleas courthouse at 801 East Wheeling Avenue.
How can I tell if my brother is in the Guernsey County Jail?
Use Guernsey County Inmate Search first. It is the fastest way to see a booking and any bond. When the name does not appear, ring the jail at 740-432-2955. That line is separate from the Sheriff's Office dispatch number, 740-439-4455, which is better for non-jail business.
Cambridge police and deputies who arrest an adult in the county bring that person to the same building on Southgate Parkway.
Is there a difference between the jail line and the main line?
Yes. The jail desk at 740-432-2955 answers questions about a person who is booked. The main office and dispatch line at 740-439-4455 covers everything else the Sheriff's Office does. The civil clerk, who handles court papers the office serves, is at 740-432-3730. Picking the right line gets you a faster answer.
Do I pay bail at the jail on Southgate Parkway?
Not necessarily. Bond in a misdemeanor case is filed with the clerk of the court that holds the case. Cambridge Municipal Court requires criminal bonds to be filed on paper with its clerk. Call the clerk at 740-439-5585 before you drive, and ask where to bring the money and what type is accepted.
A deposit placed on an inmate's account is not bail and does not free anyone.
Where is Cambridge Municipal Court, and when is the clerk in?
The court is at 150 Highland Avenue, Cambridge, OH 43725. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, generally from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except legal holidays. Its violations bureau closes at 4:00 p.m. as well. The clerk's line is 740-439-5585. If you arrive late in the afternoon, expect that the window may already be closing.
What happens at the first court appearance?
Defendants who are still in jail appear by video from the jail for arraignment or the first appearance. The judge decides release terms under R.C. 2937.011. A person placed on pretrial supervision must go to the courthouse right after leaving the jail, so a family driver should plan for that stop on release day.
How quickly does a judge have to review the bond?
No later than the second court day after arrest, a bail hearing has to happen (R.C. 2937.011(J)). A defendant who stays jailed with no lawyer gets another hearing two court days later, with state-paid counsel if the person is poor. Weekends and holidays do not count as court days.
What forms of bond might the judge allow?
The defendant picks among forms set out in R.C. 2937.011(C): a signature (unsecured) bond, a ten percent cash deposit, a surety bond, a bond backed by real estate or securities, or the full amount in cash. Ohio tells judges to use the least restrictive release that still protects people and brings the defendant back, and to keep any money term as light as it can be.
How much of a ten percent deposit do I get back?
Ninety percent returns after all conditions are met. A separate state charge may apply on top. If you paid for someone else, the court may not apply your deposit to that person's fines or costs unless you approve (R.C. 2937.40).
What does a bondsman charge here?
An agent may charge only the rate the company filed with the Department of Insurance, plus any expense fee the agent discloses (R.C. 3905.93). Agents may not require a deed as a condition of the bond, and they may not approach families at the jail or courthouse. Read the contract before you sign.
Can property stand in for cash?
Yes. The owner files a sworn statement describing the property, what is owed on it and any bonds already signed. The court needs to see value that covers the whole bond (R.C. 2937.011(L)). Attorneys may not serve as surety. Ask the court clerk for its forms, because each court has its own steps.
When is no bail allowed?
A capital charge with strong proof, or a felony with strong proof and a substantial risk of serious physical harm to someone, are the only grounds (Ohio Const. art. I, sec. 9). The judge must hold a hearing and be convinced by clear and convincing evidence on each point (R.C. 2937.222).
What if my daughter is under 18?
Guernsey County Juvenile Court is in the Common Pleas courthouse, 801 East Wheeling Avenue, Suite 101-D, Cambridge, phone 740-432-9266. Call the court to learn where a detained youth is held and when the detention hearing is set. Juvenile probation is on the courthouse\'s lower floor. Minors do not appear in the adult records.
Can we get a lawyer without paying?
Ask the judge at the first hearing to appoint one, and say that your family cannot afford counsel. An appointed lawyer can seek lower bail or release with conditions. Appointment is the judge's decision, so the request goes to the court, not to the jail.
What if the arrest was in a village such as Byesville?
Village officers book adults into the county jail. Ask the department for the report number and which court will hear the charge, then check Guernsey County Inmate Search. Misdemeanor bond follows the court named on the paperwork.
What if the defendant misses a date after release?
The court may forfeit the bail and issue a warrant (R.C. 2937.011(K)). A surety or depositor is let off by bringing the defendant back before the date or paying after default (R.C. 2937.40). Call the lawyer first.
How do I spot a fake bail caller?
Courts and the jail do not ask for gift cards, crypto or app transfers to a private person. If the caller creates panic, hang up and call 740-432-2955.
Guernsey County bail contacts
- Jail
- Guernsey County Jail, 601 Southgate Parkway, Cambridge, OH 43725; jail 740-432-2955
- Sheriff's Office
- Main and dispatch 740-439-4455
- Bail guide
- Guernsey County bail and bond instructions
- Custody lookup
- Guernsey County Inmate Search
- Municipal Court
- 150 Highland Avenue, Cambridge, OH 43725; clerk 740-439-5585; Monday to Friday, generally 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Common Pleas courthouse
- 801 East Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge, OH 43725
- Juvenile Court
- Suite 101-D, 801 East Wheeling Avenue; 740-432-9266
Hours, numbers and payment practices at the jail and the Cambridge courts can change, and a judge can set a bond that differs from what you expect. Ask the clerk first. A lawyer, not this page, can advise on your own case.
How do Bail Bonds work at Guernsey County Jail
The Guernsey County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey County Jail, or the courthouse in Guernsey County where the offense took place.
Call 740-439-4455 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Guernsey County inmate locator.
Guernsey County Jail
Address:
601 Southgate Parkway
Cambridge, OH 43725
Phone:
740-439-4455
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Guernsey County
Does Guernsey County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Guernsey County?
Who can set bail in Guernsey County?
When is bail set in Guernsey County Ohio?
Does Guernsey County have bail?
Yes, Guernsey County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Guernsey County?
Bail in Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey County Jail 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, Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey County have bail?
Yes, Guernsey County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Guernsey County?
Bail in Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey County Ohio?
Yes, Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey County Jail for more information about posting bail in Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey County Jail 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.