Zanesville City Police Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Muskingum County bail and bond: the Zanesville jail and which court takes the money
Adults arrested in Muskingum County are held in the Muskingum County Jail, run by the Sheriff's Office at 1840 East Pike, Zanesville, OH 43701. Use Muskingum County Inmate Search to see whether a person is booked and what bond was set. The jail line is 740-455-7133, and the Sheriff's main office is 740-452-3637.
Three courts share the bond work: Zanesville Municipal Court, Muskingum County Court, and the Common Pleas Court for felonies. The right one depends on the charge and on where the arrest took place.
1. How do I find out whether my daughter is in the Muskingum County Jail?
Search her name on Muskingum County Inmate Search. Sheriff Matt Lutz's office runs that search, and a booking record shows bond details when they have been entered. If nothing appears, call the jail line at 740-455-7133.
The Sheriff's office also answers at 740-452-3637 and 740-455-7924. Use the jail line first for a person who is booked.
2. Which court gets my bail money?
It depends on the charge. Misdemeanors from inside the city of Zanesville go to Zanesville Municipal Court. Misdemeanors and traffic cases from the rest of the county go to Muskingum County Court. Felonies go to the Common Pleas Court. The charging paperwork names the court. If you cannot tell, ask the jail at 740-455-7133.
3. Where is Zanesville Municipal Court?
The clerk of court is at 332 South Street, Zanesville, OH 43701, and the phone is 740-454-3269. The court posts its misdemeanor bond schedule in the clerk's office. Ask the clerk what a particular charge requires and what payment types the window takes.
4. Where is Muskingum County Court?
The county court is at 27 N. 5th Street, Zanesville, OH 43701. Its main and clerk line is 740-455-7138. It hears traffic cases, non-traffic misdemeanors, ordinance violations, evictions and small civil claims. Call it for the bond amount on a misdemeanor charged outside the city.
5. Which office answers felony bond questions?
The Clerk of Courts for the Common Pleas Court is in the Muskingum County Courthouse, 401 Main Street, second floor, Zanesville, OH 43701. The office phone is 740-455-7104, and it is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For bond questions on a felony, this is the number to call.
6. Does the jail take the bond money?
Bond is paid to the court or to a licensed bond agent, so ask the clerk of the court that holds the case. A deposit made to an inmate's account is a different matter. That money pays for phone calls and store items, and it will not release the person.
7. Is the bond amount a number a clerk can quote?
For a misdemeanor, a court may set up a schedule used only to let a person out before the first appearance, and the court reviews it every two years (R.C. 2937.011(I)). A judge can replace that number. In a felony, a judge or magistrate must set the amount (R.C. 2937.23).
8. How soon must a judge look at the bond?
A bail hearing has to take place no later than the second court day after arrest (R.C. 2937.011(J)). A person still jailed without a lawyer gets a second hearing two court days later, and the state pays for a lawyer if the person cannot. A weekend arrest can stretch the wait because only court days count.
9. Which bond forms will a Muskingum County judge accept?
The judge names an amount. The defendant can pay it as an unsecured bond, a ten percent cash deposit, a surety bond, a real estate or securities bond, or all in cash (R.C. 2937.011(C)). Ohio tells judges to choose the least restrictive release that still keeps people safe and gets the defendant back to court.
10. If I pay ten percent, what do I get back?
After all bond conditions are met the court returns 90 percent of the deposit. State fees are separate. When someone else paid the deposit, the court cannot take it for the defendant's fines and costs unless the payer approves (R.C. 2937.40).
11. What should I ask a bail agent before signing?
Ask to see the Ohio Department of Insurance license. Ask what premium the company filed with the state and whether any expense fee applies (R.C. 3905.93). Agents cannot insist that you sign over a deed, and they may not hand out cards at the jail or the courthouse. Get a written contract and read it.
12. Can land or a house back a bond?
Yes. The owner files a sworn statement about the property, the debts against it and other bonds already signed, and the court must see enough value to cover the whole bond (R.C. 2937.011(L)). Lawyers may not sign as surety. Ask the clerk of the court that holds the case about its forms.
13. When does Ohio allow no bail?
In a capital case where the proof is evident or the presumption great, or in a felony with strong proof and a substantial risk of serious physical harm (Ohio Const. art. I, sec. 9). A judge must hold a hearing and find each point by clear and convincing evidence (R.C. 2937.222).
14. Where do juveniles go in Muskingum County?
The county runs the Muskingum County Juvenile Detention Center at 1860 East Pike, Zanesville, OH 43701. Youth who are detained are held there while the case is pending. A child will not appear on the adult search. Call the Common Pleas clerk at 740-455-7104 and ask for the juvenile division to learn the detention hearing time.
15. How can we get a lawyer without paying?
Tell the judge at the first hearing that you cannot afford counsel and ask for an appointed lawyer. The lawyer can argue for a lower bond or for release with conditions. A person who is still jailed without a lawyer must get a second hearing, with state-paid counsel, under R.C. 2937.011(J).
16. What if he does not show up for a hearing?
A missed hearing allows the judge to declare the bail forfeited and issue a warrant (R.C. 2937.011(K)). A surety or depositor is freed from the bond by returning the defendant before the date or paying after default (R.C. 2937.40). Call the lawyer before anything else.
17. How do I avoid a fake bond call?
The jail and courts do not take bond by gift card, crypto or app payment to a stranger. If a caller pressures you, hang up and call 740-455-7133.
Muskingum County bail contacts
- Jail
- Muskingum County Jail, Sheriff's Office, 1840 East Pike, Zanesville, OH 43701; jail 740-455-7133
- Sheriff's Office
- 740-452-3637 or 740-455-7924
- Bail guide
- Muskingum County bail and bond instructions
- Custody lookup
- Muskingum County Inmate Search
- Zanesville Municipal Court
- Clerk, 332 South Street, Zanesville, OH 43701; 740-454-3269
- Muskingum County Court
- 27 N. 5th Street, Zanesville, OH 43701; 740-455-7138
- Common Pleas clerk
- 401 Main Street, 2nd floor, Zanesville, OH 43701; 740-455-7104; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Juvenile detention
- Muskingum County Juvenile Detention Center, 1860 East Pike, Zanesville, OH 43701
The clerks may change hours and payment rules, and each judge decides the real bond in a case. Ask the clerk of the right court before you hand over money. This is not legal advice.
Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Muskingum County
The Muskingum County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Zanesville City Police Jail, or the courthouse in Muskingum County where the offense took place.
Call 740-455-0700 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Muskingum County inmate locator.
Zanesville City Police Jail
Address:
332 South Street
Zanesville, OH 43701
Phone:
740-455-0700
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Muskingum County
Does Muskingum County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Muskingum County?
Who can set bail in Muskingum County?
When is bail set in Muskingum County Ohio?
Does Muskingum County have bail?
Yes, Muskingum County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Muskingum County?
Bail in Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Zanesville City Police 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, Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum County have bail?
Yes, Muskingum County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Muskingum County?
Bail in Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum County Ohio?
Yes, Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Zanesville City Police Jail for more information about posting bail in Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Zanesville City Police 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.