Alfalfa County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
How bail works in Alfalfa County
Alfalfa County is wheat country on the Kansas line, near the Great Salt Plains. From Cherokee, Helena, Carmen, Aline, and Goltry, people taken into custody go to the Alfalfa County Jail. Phone: 580-596-3269. Inmate search: Alfalfa County Inmate Search.
Where would someone arrested in Goltry be held?
Its address is 300 South Grand, Cherokee, OK 73728, phone 580-596-3269.
The Sheriff's Office runs the Alfalfa County Jail. At the Alfalfa County Jail, bring a photo ID. Cherokee staff need the birth date. Alfalfa County jail staff may explain payment options.
Where are Alfalfa County criminal cases heard?
The Alfalfa County Court Clerk's office is at 300 S. Grand, Cherokee, OK 73728.
The Cherokee court clerk's office keeps case files and bond papers. Alfalfa County case records are online at OSCN. Near Helena, court dates come from the court clerk in Cherokee.
Who sets bail after an arrest in Cherokee?
In Aline, booking may take place at the Alfalfa County Jail (22 O.S. §1105.2). Certain charges appear on the Judicial District 4 bail schedule (22 O.S. §1105.2). Paying that sum in Cherokee may mean release without a hearing (22 O.S. §1105.2). Once bail is paid for Alfalfa County, release ought to come "without undue delay" (22 O.S. §1105.2). Next, an Alfalfa County judge must see your relative "without unnecessary delay" (22 O.S. §181). Across Alfalfa County, charges need not come first (22 O.S. §1105.2).
Does Alfalfa County use a bail schedule?
Alfalfa County belongs to Judicial District 4, which likewise includes Blaine, Dewey, Garfield, Grant, Kingfisher, Major, Woods and Woodward.
The presiding judge for Alfalfa County may issue a bail schedule (22 O.S. §1105.2). In Alfalfa County, traffic, wildlife, and boating cases use a statewide list (22 O.S. §1115.3). A judge in Cherokee may still change it (22 O.S. §1105.2). Across Alfalfa County, the schedule must be published (22 O.S. §1105.2). In Cherokee, yearly review comes by March 1 (22 O.S. §1105.2). Ask the Alfalfa County Court Clerk for the latest amounts.
Can someone leave the Alfalfa County jail without paying?
Four types of bond in the District Court of Alfalfa County:
• Cash bond: the full bail is deposited at the Alfalfa County Jail (22 O.S. §1106).
• Surety bond: a bondsman in Alfalfa County backs it for a fee (59 O.S. §1301).
• Property bond: land for Alfalfa County secures the bond (59 O.S. §1324).
• Own recognizance (OR): a promise to return to the District Court of Alfalfa County (22 O.S. §1108.1).
For stalking or domestic abuse near Cherokee, OR is off the table (22 O.S. §1105(C)).
Will the accused get bail in Cherokee?
Most people in Helena have a right to bail (22 O.S. §1101(A)).
But in these cases, an Alfalfa County judge may deny bail (22 O.S. §1101(C)):
• Capital cases with strong proof
• Violent offenses
• Crimes carrying life in prison
• Felonies after two earlier felony records
• Drug charges carrying 10 or more years
• A DUI felony with two earlier ones
Other than capital matters in Alfalfa County, one more finding is needed (22 O.S. §1101(C)). No release term could keep Alfalfa County families safe, the Cherokee judge must find (22 O.S. §1101(C)).
Why can't the Cherokee jail release a domestic case?
For some offenses, only the judge in Cherokee can set release terms (22 O.S. §1105(B)). A judge in Cherokee weighs facts like strangulation, weapons, and pregnancy (22 O.S. §1105(B)). In Carmen, the list covers domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, and protective-order violations (22 O.S. §1105(B)). So do meth-lab offenses around Aline (22 O.S. §1105(D)). A repeat DUI in Alfalfa County requires an Alfalfa County judge too (22 O.S. §1105(E)). Some child sex cases in Alfalfa County carry a $15,000 minimum bail (22 O.S. §1101.1). Those matters across Alfalfa County get no OR bond (22 O.S. §1101.1).
Does Alfalfa County have a pretrial release program?
Alfalfa County may fund a pretrial program (22 O.S. §1105.3). Check with the court clerk in Cherokee whether Alfalfa County has one. Once a Cherokee bondsman posts bond, the program ends (22 O.S. §1105.2). The judge for Alfalfa County can still order GPS or drug testing (22 O.S. §1105.3(D)). Examples around Cherokee include burglary, trafficking, and domestic abuse (22 O.S. §1105.3(C)). Excluded offenses around Aline number about 40 (22 O.S. §1105.3(C)). The judge for Alfalfa County determines in the end (22 O.S. §1105.3). The program in Aline reviews the case (22 O.S. §1105.3).
Do Cherokee bondsman fees have a cap?
Every bondsman around Helena requires a license from the Oklahoma Insurance Department (59 O.S. §1305). State law for Alfalfa County sets no fixed percentage (59 O.S. §1316). From a Cherokee bondsman, get a numbered receipt (59 O.S. §1316). Once the defendant leaves the Alfalfa County jail, the premium is earned (59 O.S. §1327). In Alfalfa County, a written agreement may say otherwise (59 O.S. §1327). Cash collateral in Cherokee goes into trust inside 2 days (59 O.S. §1314). On the bond, an Alfalfa County bondsman must list the premium (59 O.S. §1316). Jailers, police, and judges in Alfalfa County may not be bondsmen (59 O.S. §1315).
Can I use my house for an Alfalfa County bond?
It can. Land across Alfalfa County counts at four times its assessed value (59 O.S. §1324). A homestead in Alfalfa County may count, with a written waiver (59 O.S. §1324). Near Cherokee, a property bond is a lien (59 O.S. §1324). The lien goes on file with the Alfalfa County Clerk (59 O.S. §1324). Any loans are subtracted across Alfalfa County (59 O.S. §1324). Missing court for Alfalfa County may put the land at risk (59 O.S. §1324).
What if your relative skips a Cherokee court date?
The Cherokee judge forfeits the bond (22 O.S. §1108). Failing to surrender for 30 days across Alfalfa County may bring a charge (59 O.S. §1335). Otherwise, on day 91 in Cherokee, the full amount is due (59 O.S. §1332). The court clerk in Cherokee must mail notice within 30 days (59 O.S. §1332). A warrant in Alfalfa County may follow (22 O.S. §1108). Skipping a felony date for Alfalfa County on purpose is a separate felony (22 O.S. §1110). A bondsman in Alfalfa County then has 90 days around Aline to return your loved one (59 O.S. §1332).
Can a Cherokee bondsman return someone to jail?
It may happen. An Alfalfa County bondsman may surrender the accused (59 O.S. §1327). That may happen in Alfalfa County before any missed date (59 O.S. §1327). A licensed bail enforcer near Aline can arrest your relative (59 O.S. §1329). When the contract for Alfalfa County was broken, a bondsman near Aline may keep the premium (59 O.S. §1327). With a plea or sentence in Cherokee, the bond is cleared (59 O.S. §1327). The District 26 District Attorney receives three days' notice (59 O.S. §1328).
Who may review an Alfalfa County bond?
In Cherokee, excessive bail is not allowed (Okla. Const. Art. 2, §9). An attorney may ask the judge for Alfalfa County to lower it (Okla. Const. Art. 2, §9). A home and family across Alfalfa County may help too (Okla. Const. Art. 2, §9). Proof of a job near Aline may assist (Okla. Const. Art. 2, §9). To change a surety bond near Carmen, a Cherokee bondsman must sign (59 O.S. §1327).
Where can Alfalfa County families find a free lawyer?
Often, yes. When money is tight across Alfalfa County, a judge in Cherokee can appoint an attorney. Alfalfa County matters go to the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System office in Enid: 205 W Maple,, Suite 410 Enid, OK 73701, 580-977-2040.
Where does an Alfalfa County teen go after arrest?
Teens in Alfalfa County start in juvenile detention, not the Alfalfa County Jail (10A O.S. §2-3-101). Juvenile matters sits in the District Court of Alfalfa County. Secure detention in Alfalfa County lasts at most 15 days (10A O.S. §2-3-101). One example: a teen in Alfalfa County, 15 or older, charged with first-degree murder (10A O.S. §2-3-101). Safety or a court date in Cherokee must be the reason (10A O.S. §2-3-101). After a hearing, a judge in Cherokee may extend it (10A O.S. §2-3-101). Adult jail for Alfalfa County is used only in rare cases (10A O.S. §2-3-101). Teens in Alfalfa County are held only when needed (10A O.S. §2-3-101).
Where do federal charges from Alfalfa County go?
Alfalfa County is in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma (28 U.S.C. §116). Court meets in Chickasha, Enid, Guthrie, Lawton, Mangum, Oklahoma City, Pauls Valley, Ponca City, Shawnee, and Woodward. Clerk: 200 NW 4th St., Room 1210, Oklahoma City, 405-609-5000. A federal magistrate judge sets release (18 U.S.C. §3142). A state bond near Helena does not cover a federal case.
Which court hears a Native case near Goltry?
Alfalfa County is outside the reservations recognized after McGirt v. Oklahoma. Trust land for Alfalfa County may still count as Indian country (McGirt v. Oklahoma, 2020). Check with the arresting agency around Cherokee about this. That means the District Court of Alfalfa County hears most matters (McGirt v. Oklahoma, 2020).
Who are the judges for Alfalfa County criminal matters?
State charges from Alfalfa County go in the Cherokee courthouse. The District 26 District Attorney prosecutes these cases. District judges in Alfalfa County hear these matters. The judge in Cherokee then holds a preliminary hearing. Felonies in Goltry start with an initial appearance. In Helena, associate district judges and special judges also hear them.
What if the arrest in Alfalfa County was for a city ticket?
City ordinance matters in Aline are heard in municipal court (11 O.S. §27-101 et seq.). Those cases skip the Alfalfa County District Court. A city in Aline sets its own bond (11 O.S. §27-101 et seq.). Ask the city court clerk in Aline about bonds. A state charge around Carmen still goes to the Cherokee courthouse.
Who can confirm an Alfalfa County bond amount?
Phone the Alfalfa County Jail at 580-596-3269. The court clerk in Cherokee can also assist on weekdays. Cherokee staff need the birth date.
Alfalfa County bail contacts
- Jail
- Alfalfa County Jail, 300 South Grand, Cherokee, OK 73728; 580-596-3269
- Sheriff's Office
- 300 South Grand Cherokee, OK 73728; (580) 596-3269
- Court clerk
- 300 S. Grand, Cherokee, OK 73728
- Districts
- Judicial District 4; District Attorney District 26
- Public defense
- OIDS Enid office, 205 W Maple, Suite 410 Enid, OK 73701; 580-977-2040
- Federal court
- Western District of Oklahoma; 200 NW 4th St., Room 1210, Oklahoma City; 405-609-5000
- Inmate search
- Alfalfa County Inmate Search
Judges set release terms case by case. Nothing here is legal advice.
Alfalfa County Jail
Address:
300 South Grand
Cherokee, OK 73728
Phone:
580-596-3269
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Alfalfa County
Does Alfalfa County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Alfalfa County?
Who can set bail in Alfalfa County?
When is bail set in Alfalfa County Oklahoma?
Does Alfalfa County have bail?
Yes, Alfalfa County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Alfalfa County?
Bail bonds are available in several different forms in Alfalfa County including personal recognizance, cash bond, property bond and surety bond.
Who can set bail in Alfalfa County?
For most non-violent, less serious offenses, Oklahoma uses a bail schedule, also known as jail bail. For more serious offenses, bail is set by a judge.
When is bail set in Alfalfa County Oklahoma?
If the offense charges are listed on the bail schedule the defendant and officers will be provided this information during processing at the jail and bail will be set.
More serious offense requires a hearing in front of a judge. This hearing is usually scheduled within 48 hours of arrest, not including weekends and holidays.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Alfalfa 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 Alfalfa 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 Alfalfa 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, Alfalfa 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 Alfalfa 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 Alfalfa County have bail?
Yes, Alfalfa County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Alfalfa County?
Bail bonds are available in several different forms in Alfalfa County including personal recognizance, cash bond, property bond and surety bond.
Who can set bail in Alfalfa County?
For most non-violent, less serious offenses, Oklahoma uses a bail schedule, also known as jail bail. For more serious offense bail is set by a judge.
When is bail set in Oklahoma?
If the offense charges are listed on the bail schedule the defendant and officers will be provided this information during processing at the jail and bail will be set.
More serious offense requires a hearing in front of a judge. This hearing is usually scheduled within 48 hours of arrest, not including weekends and holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Alfalfa County Oklahoma?
Yes, your lawyer can file a motion to reduce or modify bail.
In Alfalfa County Oklahoma, 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 Oklahoma could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Alfalfa County Oklahoma?
Yes, Oklahoma counties do offer online bail payment in most cases. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Alfalfa County Jail for more information about the jails in Alfalfa County.
What options are there to pay bail in Alfalfa County Oklahoma?
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 Alfalfa County Jail for more information about posting bail in Alfalfa County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Oklahoma?
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 Alfalfa 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 Oklahoma?
The Alfalfa 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.