Highland County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Highland County bail and bond: the Homestead Avenue jail and court in Hillsboro
Highland County keeps its own jail at 130 Homestead Avenue in Hillsboro, the Highland County Jail. Look up a person on Highland County Inmate Search to check custody and the bail amount. The Sheriff's Office answers at 937-393-1421. Hillsboro Municipal Court is at the same address and explains how to post bond.
Where is the Highland County Jail?
At 130 Homestead Avenue, Hillsboro, OH 45133. The Highland County Jail is a full-service jail built for 72 people, and the Sheriff's Office operates it. The main line for the office is 937-393-1421.
Who is the sheriff?
Sheriff Randy Sanders leads the Sheriff's Office, and from here on this page says only the Sheriff's Office. Call 937-393-1421 for office business that is not an emergency, and dial 911 in an emergency.
Is it true the courthouse and the jail share an address?
Hillsboro Municipal Court uses the same street address, 130 Homestead Avenue, Hillsboro, OH 45133, and its main line is 937-393-3022. Felony cases are heard at the Highland County Courthouse, 105 North High Street.
How do I see if my son has been booked?
Search the name on Highland County Inmate Search. It displays the booking and the amount of bail. When the name does not appear after a few hours, call the Sheriff's Office at 937-393-1421.
Who sets the first bail amount?
For a misdemeanor, the Municipal Court. For a felony, a Common Pleas judge or magistrate must set the amount (R.C. 2937.23). For a misdemeanor or ordinance charge, a judge, magistrate or clerk may use the court's schedule, and if none is at hand, an officer holding the person may apply the schedule, but may take bail only at the county courthouse, a municipal or township building, or a county or municipal jail. Call 937-393-3022 to confirm the amount for your case.
Where do I hand over the money?
Ask the Municipal Court at 937-393-3022 which office accepts the bond for your case, and ask the jail through 937-393-1421 whether bond is taken at the jail. Keep every receipt. The case number on the receipt is what the clerk needs for a refund.
Will the court take a credit card?
Ohio requires each county and municipal court to adopt a rule allowing bail by credit card (R.C. 2937.011(I)). Hillsboro Municipal Court can say how the rule works for its docket and whether a fee applies.
How can I know the schedule amount for a misdemeanor?
Each court's misdemeanor schedule exists only to permit release before the first appearance. Courts review it every two years by January 31 of an even-numbered year (R.C. 2937.011(I)). A judge may set a different number.
Which kinds of bond are allowed?
Unsecured, ten percent cash deposit, surety, real estate or securities, or full cash (R.C. 2937.011(C)). The defendant chooses among the secured kinds, and ninety percent of a ten percent deposit is returned after the conditions are met.
What should I expect from a bail agent?
An agent must have a state license, use the filed premium rate and disclose any expense fee (R.C. 3905.93). Agents are barred from making you transfer title to land and from soliciting at the jail or courthouse (Ohio Adm.Code 3901-1-66). A person who became an agent within the last 180 days may not execute bonds (R.C. 3905.85).
Can my parents' land secure my bond?
It can. The owner signs an affidavit describing the land, the mortgages against it and other bonds signed, and must show the ability to cover the entire bond (R.C. 2937.011(L)). Every owner should be ready to sign. A lawyer cannot act as surety.
How soon will a judge hear the bail request?
By the second court day after arrest at the latest (R.C. 2937.011(J)). If the person is still held with no lawyer, there is a second hearing two court days later, and a poor defendant gets appointed counsel at state expense.
When is bail not allowed?
For a capital offense with strong proof, or a felony with evident proof where the person is a substantial risk of serious physical harm (Ohio Const. art. I, sec. 9). The judge must hold a hearing and find clear and convincing evidence (R.C. 2937.222).
Does the judge have to ask for money?
No. The law tells the judge to choose the least restrictive conditions that reasonably protect the community and secure attendance, and a money condition must cost the defendant as little as possible while still working (R.C. 2937.011(A) and (B)). A person who answers a summons is presumed eligible for personal recognizance (R.C. 2937.011(F)).
What happens if my child is arrested?
Juvenile matters go to the Highland County Juvenile Court, which sits in the courthouse at 105 North High Street. Under the court's local rule, a detention hearing must be held within 72 hours of placement in detention, or by the next court day, whichever comes first. If you cannot learn where the child is, call the Sheriff's Office at 937-393-1421.
What if I find a lawyer through the court?
Tell the judge you cannot afford a lawyer when you first appear and ask for appointed counsel. A lawyer can ask the judge to lower bail or to release on conditions instead of money.
What if she misses court after bond?
Missing court puts the bail at risk, and the judge may order her arrest (R.C. 2937.011(K)). Turning her in before the court date, or paying what is due after a default, discharges a surety or depositor (R.C. 2937.40).
Can fines come out of my deposit?
If a third person posted bail, the court cannot apply it to fines or costs unless that person says yes. But when the defendant put up the money and is not indigent, fines and costs can be taken from it once there is a conviction or plea (R.C. 2937.40).
Where do federal prisoners show up?
Federal inmates appear on the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator, not in the county search.
What payments are scams?
A call, text or social media message that asks for gift cards, crypto or a payment-app transfer is a scam. Hang up and call 937-393-1421 or 937-393-3022.
Highland County bail contacts
- Jail
- Highland County Jail, 130 Homestead Avenue, Hillsboro, OH 45133; 937-393-1421
- Bond guide
- Highland County bail and bond instructions
- Custody lookup
- Highland County Inmate Search
- Municipal Court
- 130 Homestead Avenue, Hillsboro, OH 45133; 937-393-3022
- Common Pleas and Juvenile
- Highland County Courthouse, 105 North High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133
- Federal
- Bureau of Prisons inmate locator
Hours, numbers and amounts can change, and a judge can order a different bond. Contact the Municipal Court or the Sheriff's Office before you pay. This page gives general information only and is not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Highland County Jail
The Highland County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland County Jail, or the courthouse in Highland County where the offense took place.
Call 937-840-6240 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Highland County inmate locator.
Highland County Jail
Address:
130 Homestead Drive
Hillsboro, OH 45133
Phone:
937-840-6240
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Highland County
Does Highland County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Highland County?
Who can set bail in Highland County?
When is bail set in Highland County Ohio?
Does Highland County have bail?
Yes, Highland County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Highland County?
Bail in Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland 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, Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland County have bail?
Yes, Highland County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Highland County?
Bail in Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland County Ohio?
Yes, Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland County Jail for more information about posting bail in Highland 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 Highland 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 Highland 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.