Eaton Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Preble County bail and bond: from the Eaton jail to the court next door
Adults arrested in Preble County are held at the Preble County Jail, 1139 Preble Drive, Eaton. Eaton Municipal Court is on the same road at 1199 Preble Drive, and it publishes a bond schedule for misdemeanors. Use Preble County Inmate Search to confirm the booking and see any bond amount. For court questions, the municipal clerk answers at 937-456-4941.
1. Where does Preble County keep its pretrial inmates?
At the Preble County Jail, 1139 Preble Drive, Eaton, OH 45320, the same address as the Sheriff's Office. Preble County does not send its pretrial prisoners to a regional jail.
Eaton is the county seat, so the jail, the municipal court and the courthouse are all in one town.
2. What should I do first after a Preble County arrest?
Type the name into Preble County Inmate Search. The search shows whether the booking is complete and, when a court has set it, the bond.
Then call the court that will hear the case. For a misdemeanor that is Eaton Municipal Court at 937-456-4941.
3. Does Eaton Municipal Court have a bond schedule?
Yes. The court posts a bond schedule as a PDF on its website, and it applies to misdemeanors. Under R.C. 2937.011(I), each court must set one, and its only purpose is to let a person leave before the first hearing.
A schedule amount is not a judge's decision. The judge can set a different amount at the hearing.
4. What are the hours at the municipal court?
Eaton Municipal Court, 1199 Preble Drive, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed on weekends and major holidays. Good Friday, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve close at noon.
Plan to arrive well before closing, because the clerk needs time to process a bond.
5. Who takes a felony bond in Eaton?
Felonies belong to the Common Pleas Court. The Clerk of Courts is on the third floor of the courthouse, 101 East Main Street, Eaton, and answers at 937-456-8160.
Call with the defendant's name and case number. The clerk can tell you how the court takes that particular bond.
6. Can I pay court money online?
The municipal court runs a Pay Online page for fines and costs. Fine payments by phone go through a call center at 866-895-0198.
Those channels are for fines. For a bond, call the clerk first to confirm how the court takes it.
7. How long can he sit before seeing a judge?
The first bail hearing is due by the second court day after arrest (R.C. 2937.011(J)). A person who is still held and has no lawyer must get another hearing two court days after the first.
Counsel is appointed at state expense when the person cannot pay.
8. What kind of bond saves the most money?
An unsecured bond asks for no money at the start. A 10 percent bond costs the deposit, and the court returns 90 percent at the end (R.C. 2937.011(C)). A surety bond costs the agent's fee, which is not returned.
The law tells judges to choose the least costly financial terms that still assure appearance (R.C. 2937.011(B)).
9. What does a judge look at when setting bail?
R.C. 2937.011(E) lists the factors: the charge, whether a weapon was involved, the weight of the evidence, family ties, job, finances, character, residence, criminal record, and whether the person has come to court or run before.
Bring proof of a steady address and work to the hearing. Ohio Const. art. I, sec. 9 also tells the court to weigh public safety.
10. Can the bond be changed after it is posted?
Yes. A judge may add, change, ease or remove conditions on a motion or on the court's own motion, and a hearing follows as promptly as possible if the sides disagree (R.C. 2937.011(G)).
Conditions stay in place until verdict or plea, and may continue through sentencing.
11. Is it worth hiring a bail agent?
Sometimes. Only a licensed Ohio agent should write the bond, and the premium must match the rate filed with the Department of Insurance. Ask for fees and collateral demands in writing.
Agents may not demand title to your home. If a stranger approaches you in the courthouse hall, say no.
12. Can the judge keep him without bail?
Only in the situations the Ohio Constitution spells out. Art. I, sec. 9 lists capital offenses and felonies where the proof is evident and the person poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm.
A hearing is required under R.C. 2937.222, and the judge must find the facts by clear and convincing evidence.
13. Can land or a house in Preble County be pledged?
Ohio law permits it. The owner swears to the property, the mortgages on it and other bonds signed (R.C. 2937.011(L)). The court must find the surety financially responsible for at least the bond amount.
Ask the Clerk of Courts at 937-456-8160 what documents are needed before you collect them.
14. Who is my lawyer if I cannot pay one?
Raise it with the judge at your first hearing. The court decides eligibility and appoints counsel for those who qualify.
Eaton Municipal Court's probation office, 937-533-4108, and bailiff, 937-533-4120, handle court supervision matters.
15. Where are Preble County teenagers taken?
The Preble County juvenile court decides on detention for a child. Call the Clerk of Courts at 937-456-8160 and ask for the juvenile court's number and the date of the detention hearing.
Parents should ask for that hearing date the same day the child is picked up.
16. Is a deposit on the commissary the same as bail?
No. Money in the inmate's account is for personal spending. Bail goes to the court and secures release.
Keep each receipt separate so there is no confusion at the end of the case.
17. Does the county search show federal prisoners?
No. To find a federal prisoner, use the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. For a prisoner in a state facility, check the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Preble County Inmate Search shows Preble County jail bookings.
18. What if he forgets a court date?
The court can issue a warrant and begin forfeiture of the bail (R.C. 2937.011(K)). Phone the clerk without delay.
If a surety posted the bond, the surety can take the defendant back to court before the date.
19. What happens to a bond a friend posted?
A bond posted by a friend cannot be used on the defendant's fines or costs without that friend's express approval (R.C. 2937.40(B)).
If the defendant posts his own bail and is not indigent, the court may apply it to costs after a plea or conviction.
Preble County bail contacts
- County jail
- Preble County Jail, 1139 Preble Drive, Eaton, OH 45320
- Bond guide
- Preble County jail bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Preble County Inmate Search
- Municipal Court
- 1199 Preble Drive, Eaton, OH 45320; 937-456-4941; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
- Clerk of Courts
- 101 East Main Street, third floor, Eaton; 937-456-8160
- Court probation
- 937-533-4108
Hours and payment methods can change, so phone the clerk before you drive over with money. Nothing here is legal advice; it is a plain-language guide to Preble County practice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Eaton Jail
The Preble County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Preble 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 Preble 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 Preble 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 Eaton Jail, or the courthouse in Preble County where the offense took place.
Call 937-456-5531 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Preble County inmate locator.
Eaton Jail
Address:
328 North Maple Street
Eaton, OH 45320
Phone:
937-456-5531
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Preble County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Preble County?
Who can set bail in Preble County?
When is bail set in Preble County Ohio?
Does Preble County have bail?
Yes, Preble County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Preble County?
Bail in Preble 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 Preble 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 Preble 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 Preble 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 Preble 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 Eaton 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, Preble 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 Preble 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 Preble County have bail?
Yes, Preble County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Preble County?
Bail in Preble 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 Preble 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 Preble 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 Preble 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 Preble County Ohio?
Yes, Preble 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 Preble 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 Eaton Jail for more information about posting bail in Preble 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 Preble 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 Eaton 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.