Wayne County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Wayne County bail and bond: the Wooster jail and the courts on Grant Street
The Wayne County Jail is at 201 W. North Street, Wooster, OH 44691, run by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's main line is 330-287-5750, and the Sheriff's website has a Corrections page with inmate information. Look up a person on the Wayne County Inmate Search first. Misdemeanor cases go to Wayne County Municipal Court, 215 N. Grant Street, where the clerk answers at 330-287-5652. The judge sets bail, and the clerk explains how the court takes payment.
Where is my family member held in Wayne County?
In the county jail on West North Street in Wooster. The Sheriff's Office and the jail share that address.
Search the Wayne County Inmate Search before you call. If the name has not posted, the booking may still be underway, and you can call 330-287-5750.
Which court has the case?
Misdemeanors and traffic charges that begin in Wooster usually go to Wayne County Municipal Court at 215 N. Grant Street. Felony charges are heard in Common Pleas Court.
The municipal clerk's line is 330-287-5652. Give the clerk the person's full name and birth date to get the case number.
How do I pay a bond for a misdemeanor?
Call the Municipal Court clerk at 330-287-5652 and ask three things: the amount, the forms of payment, and how the jail is told about the payment. Every Ohio municipal court must also have a rule that allows bail by credit card.
Keep the receipt with the case number written on it.
How fast does a judge see the person?
Ohio law requires the first bail hearing by the second court day after arrest. The count skips weekends and court holidays.
Someone who is still held without a lawyer gets a second hearing two court days after the first, and a lawyer is appointed at state expense if the person is indigent.
Who sets the bail amount?
In a felony, a judge or magistrate must set it. In a misdemeanor, a judge, a magistrate, or a clerk may apply a schedule the judge adopted, and the court must review that schedule every two years.
The law tells the court to consider how serious the offense is, the person's record, and the likelihood of returning, and the Constitution now adds public safety.
What bond choices does Ohio allow?
Ohio lists them: a signature (unsecured) bond, a 10 percent deposit, a surety bond through a licensed agent, a bond secured by real estate or securities, and cash in full. The person chooses the form the law permits.
Financial terms must be the least costly ones that still work.
Does the court give back the 10 percent deposit?
Ninety percent comes back when all conditions are met. A deposit by a friend cannot be used for the defendant's fines or costs unless that friend agrees in writing.
If the defendant posted their own deposit, the court may apply it to costs after a conviction when the defendant is not indigent.
What should I look for in a bail agent?
An Ohio license, a filed premium rate, and a written explanation of fees. The Department of Insurance at 1-614-644-2665 can answer questions on rates.
Agents may not demand title to your property as a condition. They may not solicit at the courthouse or jail.
Can my home secure the bond?
Ohio allows real estate and securities. The owner signs an affidavit that describes the property, the loans on it, and any other bonds the owner supports, and the court must find the owner able to cover the full bond. Attorneys cannot act as sureties.
Ask the clerk for the local forms.
Why would the record say no bond?
The judge may not have set one yet, or a hold from another place may exist. Ohio allows denial of bail only for capital offenses and for felonies where the person poses a substantial risk of serious physical harm, proven by clear and convincing evidence at a hearing.
The clerk can say which applies.
Can bail be lowered?
Yes. A judge can change the type, amount, or conditions at any time, and a hearing must be held as promptly as possible if the sides do not agree.
Bring proof of work, a home address, and family ties. A lawyer can present them.
How do I get a lawyer I can afford?
Ask the judge at the first hearing for an appointed lawyer. The court decides who qualifies.
Your court clerk can give you the date of the next hearing.
What if the Wooster arrest is a child?
Juvenile records are private, and the adult search will not show a child. Ask the Wayne County clerk's office or the Municipal Court at 330-287-5652 which court holds the case.
Plan to attend the first hearing with the young person.
What if a Wooster hearing is missed?
A warrant may issue and the bond can be forfeited. Failing to appear can also be punished on its own.
A person who posted the bond can protect themselves by returning the defendant before the date.
Does commissary money open the door in Wooster?
No. Money for the jail account pays for calls and store items only.
Bail goes to the court or to a licensed agent.
What should I have with me when I call or visit the clerk?
Have the person's full legal name, birth date, and the date of the arrest in front of you. If you know the charge or a case number, say so first, because it speeds up the search.
Ask what forms of payment the court takes, and write down the name of whoever helps you. Keep the receipt until the court tells you the case is closed.
Can the judge release the person without money?
Yes. Ohio's statute lets a judge release a person on a signature, put the person in the care of another adult, restrict travel, bar contact with a victim, require monitoring, or order treatment where drugs or alcohol played a part.
When a person answers a summons instead of being arrested, the law presumes release on a signature unless the judge finds good cause. A lawyer can press for the lightest option before any money is posted.
What bail scams should Wayne County callers watch for?
No deputy or clerk will ask for gift cards, wires, or app payments. Hang up, and call 330-287-5750 or 330-287-5652 yourself.
Do not trust a number that arrived in a text.
Key contacts for Wayne County bond questions
- Jail
- Wayne County Jail, 201 W. North Street, Wooster, OH 44691
- Bond guide
- Bail and bond guide
- Sheriff's Office
- 201 W. North Street, Wooster, OH 44691; 330-287-5750
- Municipal Court
- 215 N. Grant Street, Wooster, OH 44691; clerk 330-287-5652
- Custody lookup
- Wayne County Inmate Search
- Insurance agents
- Ohio Department of Insurance, 1-614-644-2665
Bond amounts and payment methods follow each judge's order. Ask the Municipal Court clerk to confirm yours before paying. This is general information and not legal advice.
How do Bail Bonds work at Wayne County Jail
The Wayne County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County Jail, or the courthouse in Wayne County where the offense took place.
Call 330-287-5770 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Wayne County inmate locator.
Wayne County Jail
Address:
201 West North Street
Wooster, OH 44691
Phone:
330-287-5770
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Wayne County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wayne County?
Who can set bail in Wayne County?
When is bail set in Wayne County Ohio?
Does Wayne County have bail?
Yes, Wayne County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wayne County?
Bail in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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, Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County have bail?
Yes, Wayne County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wayne County?
Bail in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County Ohio?
Yes, Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County Jail for more information about posting bail in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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.