Morrow County Correctional Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Morrow County bail and bond: the Home Road jail, the High Street courts and the first steps
The Morrow County Correctional Facility, 101 Home Road, Mt. Gilead, holds adults arrested in Morrow County and is managed by the Sheriff's Office. Look up a person on Morrow County Inmate Search to see the booking, the charge and the bail amount. The jail answers at 419-947-1151. Misdemeanors are heard at Morrow County Municipal Court and felonies at Common Pleas Court, both at 48 East High Street.
Is my father in the Mt. Gilead jail?
Start with Morrow County Inmate Search. A completed booking shows the charge and the bail. Give a fresh arrest some time to appear before you worry.
The jail's own line is 419-947-1151. Ask for him by full name and date of birth. Administration is at 419-947-4845.
Who does the Morrow County jail hold?
The Correctional Facility is a 126-bed, full-service jail at 101 Home Road, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338. It houses men charged with felonies or misdemeanors and women charged with misdemeanors.
A woman charged with a felony is held at a different jail. Call 419-947-1151 and ask where she is.
Can I visit or see my son on a screen?
Video visitation is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A visit must be scheduled at least 12 hours ahead.
A video visit does not replace a court date. Call 419-947-1151 if the schedule does not fit.
Which court takes a misdemeanor?
Morrow County Municipal Court, 48 E. High Street, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338, hears traffic cases, non-traffic misdemeanors, ordinance violations and evictions, along with civil claims up to $15,000. The main number is 419-947-5045.
Call it for the arraignment date and to ask whether bail has been set.
Which court takes a felony, and where is the clerk?
Felonies belong to the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk of Courts, Legal Division, is at 48 East High Street, Room 6, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone is 419-947-2085.
On a felony, the amount comes from a judge or a magistrate alone.
What is the earliest I can expect a bail hearing?
The law gives you a hearing no later than the second court day after the arrest. A person who is still in custody and has no lawyer gets another hearing two court days later, with counsel appointed at state expense if he is poor.
Because Saturday and Sunday are not court days, a Friday arrest may mean a Tuesday hearing.
Does Morrow County use a fixed list for misdemeanors?
Every Ohio court has to keep a misdemeanor schedule for release before the first appearance, and has to review it by January 31 of each even-numbered year. The figure on that list is not a finding about the case.
The municipal court at 419-947-5045 can tell you whether the charge is on its schedule.
Where do I pay the bond?
The court that has the case decides. Ask the municipal court at 419-947-5045 for a misdemeanor and the Clerk of Courts at 419-947-2085 for a felony. Ohio municipal and county courts must have a rule that allows bail by credit card.
The jail at 419-947-1151 can say what it needs from the court before it lets him go.
How does a ten percent deposit work?
The court can take ten percent of the bond amount as a deposit. Once every condition is met, ninety percent returns to the depositor. Other choices are an unsecured promise, a surety bond, real estate or securities, or the whole amount in cash.
The judge picks the amount, but the choice among forms is the defendant's under R.C. 2937.011.
What should I know about hiring a bondsman?
Surety bail bond agents get their licenses from the Ohio Department of Insurance. They charge the filed rate, disclose any expense fee and keep the fee even if the charge is dropped.
An agent may not require title to your property and may not approach families at the jail or the courthouse.
Can I post my property for a bond?
A pledge of land, a house or securities can back a bond. The owner signs an affidavit that describes the property and what is owed on it, lists the other bonds the owner has backed and other debts. The court may ask for more proof, and it needs to see that the owner could cover the full bond.
The Clerk of Courts at 419-947-2085 can say which forms the court wants.
What cases can have no bail?
A judge may deny bail for a capital offense with strong proof, or for a felony with strong proof when the person poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm to anyone or to the community.
R.C. 2937.222 requires a hearing first, with a lawyer, witnesses and cross-examination, and the judge must find the facts by clear and convincing evidence.
What if the family cannot pay for a lawyer?
Say so at the first hearing. The judge decides who qualifies and appoints counsel. The Clerk of Courts at 419-947-2085 can tell you which office accepts the appointment.
The lawyer may ask the court to lower bail or to release your relative on conditions instead of cash.
Will release come with rules?
It can. Judges may order no contact with a victim or witnesses, limits on where a person lives or travels, drug or alcohol treatment, electronic monitoring, house arrest or day reporting. Ohio law asks for the least restrictive set of terms that still protects people and ensures a return to court.
Either side can ask the judge to add, ease or remove a term. When the other side objects, the court holds a hearing as promptly as it can.
When is the bond money returned?
Money comes back after the case ends, once every condition and court date has been kept. On a ten percent deposit, the court returns ninety percent. An agent's fee is not returned. Ask the Clerk of Courts at 419-947-2085 how the refund is requested.
Keep the receipt with the case number written on it, since the clerk will ask for it.
What about a minor?
Juvenile cases are private and do not show on the adult search. Call the Clerk of Courts at 419-947-2085 to learn which office hears the case and where the young person is kept.
What happens if he does not show up for court?
A warrant can issue and the court can start to forfeit the bond. A surety can be released by delivering the defendant into court or by asking for a warrant before the date.
Money posted by a friend cannot be used for fines or costs unless that friend expressly approves.
What do fake bail callers say?
No official demands gift cards, crypto or a payment app transfer. Check Morrow County Inmate Search, then call 419-947-1151 or 419-947-2085 yourself.
Morrow County bail contacts
- Jail
- Morrow County Correctional Facility, 101 Home Road, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338; 419-947-1151; administration 419-947-4845
- Custody lookup
- Morrow County Inmate Search
- Municipal Court
- 48 E. High Street, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338; 419-947-5045
- Clerk of Courts
- Legal Division, 48 East High Street, Room 6, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338; 419-947-2085; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Bond help
- Morrow County bail and bond pages
Morrow County court fees, hours and phone numbers can change, and a judge may set an amount different from any schedule. Confirm details with the clerk before you pay. Treat this page as a guide and not as legal counsel.
How do Bail Bonds work at Morrow County Correctional Facility
The Morrow County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow County Correctional Facility, or the courthouse in Morrow County where the offense took place.
Call 419-947-1151 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Morrow County inmate locator.
Morrow County Correctional Facility
Address:
101 Home Road
Mt. Gilead, OH 43338
Phone:
419-947-1151
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Morrow County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Morrow County?
Who can set bail in Morrow County?
When is bail set in Morrow County Ohio?
Does Morrow County have bail?
Yes, Morrow County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Morrow County?
Bail in Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow County Correctional Facility 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, Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow County have bail?
Yes, Morrow County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Morrow County?
Bail in Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow County Ohio?
Yes, Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow County Correctional Facility for more information about posting bail in Morrow 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 Morrow 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 Morrow County Correctional Facility 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.