Licking County Justice Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Licking County bail and bond: the Newark Justice Center and the courts downtown
Adults arrested in Licking County are held at the Licking County Justice Center, 155 E. Main Street, Newark, OH 43055. The jail desk answers at 740-670-5501, and the Sheriff's Office, in the same building, answers at 740-670-5555. Misdemeanor court is in the Licking County Municipal Court at 40 W. Main Street, 3rd Floor. Search first with the Licking County Inmate Search. The judge on the case sets bail, and the court clerk is the person who tells you how to pay it.
Where is my family member being held in Newark?
Licking County runs one jail, the Justice Center on East Main Street, and the Sheriff's Office operates from the same address. Look the person up with the Licking County Inmate Search. It shows who is inside now.
A person who was arrested in the last hour or two may not appear yet. Call the jail at 740-670-5501 if the search stays blank by the next morning.
Who handles misdemeanor bond, and when is that office open?
Misdemeanors and traffic charges go to the Licking County Municipal Court. Its Clerk's Office is on the 3rd Floor at 40 W. Main Street and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Criminal/Traffic Division number is 740-670-7800, and the payments line is 740-670-7812.
Ask the division what the amount is, what forms of payment it takes, and how it tells the jail so the person can walk out.
Where do felony bonds go?
Felony cases belong to the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, whose Clerk of Courts can be reached at 740-670-5791. A judge sets felony bail; a clerk cannot.
Ask which office is taking bond payments for the case number you have, because a person may have a misdemeanor and a felony open at once.
Can I set up a video visit while someone waits for court?
Yes. Visitors register for free on the video system the jail uses, then book a visit at least 12 hours ahead and up to two weeks out. Each visit runs 30 minutes and may be monitored or recorded. Two adults and two children can join, and a visitor who is more than 25 minutes late loses the slot.
Visits are not a way to hand over bail money. Payment goes through the court.
What is the deadline for a first bail hearing?
Ohio law sets the outer limit at the second court day after arrest. Weekends and court holidays are not court days, so a Saturday night arrest can reach a judge on Tuesday.
An unrepresented person still held after that gets a second hearing two court days later, and an indigent person receives a lawyer at state expense.
What can a judge require instead of cash?
Ohio law lets a judge release a person on a signed promise, hand the person to a responsible adult, restrict travel or contact, order electronic monitoring or house arrest, require treatment when drugs or alcohol are involved, or use a diversion or day-reporting program.
The judge must choose the least restrictive combination that still works. If a person was released after a summons instead of an arrest, the law presumes release on a personal promise unless the judge finds good cause.
How much of a 10 percent bond is refundable?
A 10 percent bond means you leave a deposit with the court equal to a tenth of the bond. Ninety percent of that deposit comes back after the person has met every condition.
If a relative paid, the court needs that relative's approval to use the money on costs. If the defendant paid personally, the court may apply it to fines and costs after a conviction when the defendant is not indigent.
How do I choose a bail agent?
Look for an Ohio-licensed surety bail bond agent and ask to see the license. The Department of Insurance, 1-614-644-2665, answers premium questions; the rate must be the one it approved and filed, and any expense fee must be disclosed.
Agents are barred from approaching people at the courthouse or jail. They also cannot make you sign over your home's title as a condition. The Municipal Court clerk can say whether an agent must register with the court first.
Can I offer my home as bond?
Ohio allows real estate or securities as security. The person who pledges it signs a sworn statement that describes the property, the mortgages or liens on it, and other bonds that person backs. The court has to see enough strength to cover the full amount of the bond. A licensed attorney may not be the surety.
Call the clerk at 740-670-7800 for municipal cases or 740-670-5791 for felonies to learn which forms the local judge wants.
Why does the jail record say no bond?
Sometimes it means a judge has not yet set an amount. Sometimes it means a hold from another county, a probation hold, or a federal detainer. In the rare case of a true denial, the Ohio Constitution limits it to capital offenses and certain felonies where the person poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm, and a hearing with clear and convincing proof is required.
Ask the court clerk to say which one applies.
How can the bail amount be reduced?
A lawyer asks the judge for a hearing. Bring proof of a job, a stable address, family in the area, and any treatment plan. The judge may add, ease, or take off a condition at any time.
If you cannot afford counsel, ask for an appointed lawyer at the first hearing.
What if the Newark arrest involves someone under 18?
Youth matters are handled in juvenile court, which keeps its records private. The adult search will not show a child. Call the Licking County Clerk of Courts at 740-670-5791 to learn which court has the case and when the detention hearing is.
Call the same day you learn of the arrest.
What does a missed Newark hearing mean for the bond?
The judge can order an arrest and forfeit the bond. Ohio law also lets the state prosecute a failure to appear on its own. A friend who posted the bond can end their exposure by surrendering the person before the court date.
Contact the court at once and ask what the next step is.
Can I put money on a Justice Center account to get someone out?
No. Money added to an inmate account pays for calls and store items only. Release requires a payment to the court or a bond through a licensed agent.
Keep each receipt, and write down the case number.
Which bail scams show up in Licking County?
Callers claim to be a deputy, a clerk, or a judge and demand gift cards, wires, or app payments. None of those offices does that.
Hang up. Call 740-670-5501 or 740-670-7800 yourself.
Key contacts for Licking County bond questions
- Jail
- Licking County Justice Center, 155 E. Main Street, Newark, OH 43055; 740-670-5501
- Bond guide
- Bail and bond guide
- Sheriff's Office
- 155 E. Main Street, Newark, OH 43055; 740-670-5555
- Municipal Court
- 40 W. Main Street, 3rd Floor, Newark, OH 43055; Criminal/Traffic 740-670-7800; payments 740-670-7812; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Clerk of Courts
- 740-670-5791
- Custody lookup
- Licking County Inmate Search
- Insurance agents
- Ohio Department of Insurance, 1-614-644-2665
Payment rules and amounts depend on the judge and the case. Check with the Municipal Court clerk first, and treat this page as general help rather than legal advice.
Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Licking County
The Licking County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking County Justice Center, or the courthouse in Licking County where the offense took place.
Call 740-670-5501 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Licking County inmate locator.
Licking County Justice Center
Address:
155 E. Main Street
Newark, OH 43055
Phone:
740-670-5501
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Licking County
Does Licking County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Licking County?
Who can set bail in Licking County?
When is bail set in Licking County Ohio?
Does Licking County have bail?
Yes, Licking County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Licking County?
Bail in Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking County Justice 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, Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking County have bail?
Yes, Licking County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Licking County?
Bail in Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking County Ohio?
Yes, Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking County Justice Center for more information about posting bail in Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking County Justice 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.