Craig County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Bail and bond basics for Craig County families
Craig County is in the northeast corner along I-44. People arrested in Vinita, Welch, Bluejacket, and Ketchum are booked into the Craig County Jail. Phone: 918-256-3150. Inmate search: Craig County Inmate Search.
1. Where is the Craig County Jail in Vinita?
You'll find it at 210 West Delaware Ave., Vinita, OK 74301. Call 918-256-3150.
The Sheriff's Office (918-256-6466) runs the Craig County Jail. At the Craig County jail, bring a photo ID. Vinita staff need the birth date. Vinita staff can list the payments taken.
2. Where is the Craig County court clerk?
The court clerk for Craig County is listed at 210 W. Delaware, Suite 201, Vinita, OK 74301.
The Craig County Court Clerk keeps case files and bond papers. Near Bluejacket, court dates come from the Vinita court clerk's office. Craig County case records are online at OSCN.
3. Who determines release terms in Vinita?
Arrests around Welch may lead to booking at the Craig County Jail (22 O.S. §1105.2). Before any charge, a Craig County judge may set bail (22 O.S. §1105.2). Once bail is posted across Craig County, release ought to come "without undue delay" (22 O.S. §1105.2). After that, the judge for Craig County must see the accused "without unnecessary delay" (22 O.S. §181). Some charges appear on the Judicial District 12 bail schedule (22 O.S. §1105.2). Paying the listed sum at the Vinita jail may skip the hearing (22 O.S. §1105.2).
4. Is bail set per charge in Vinita?
Craig County is part of Judicial District 12, which likewise includes Mayes and Rogers.
The presiding judge for Craig County can adopt a bail schedule (22 O.S. §1105.2). Ask the court clerk in Vinita for the latest amounts. The Vinita judge may still change it (22 O.S. §1105.2). Near Bluejacket, traffic, wildlife, and boating cases use a statewide list (22 O.S. §1115.3). Near Ketchum, yearly review comes by March 1 (22 O.S. §1105.2). In Bluejacket, the schedule must be published (22 O.S. §1105.2).
5. Which bonds work at the Vinita jail?
The main kinds of bond in the Vinita courthouse:
• Cash bond: the full bail is deposited with the Vinita court clerk's office (22 O.S. §1106).
• Surety bond: a bondsman near Vinita guarantees it for a fee (59 O.S. §1301).
• Property bond: land near Bluejacket secures the bond (59 O.S. §1324).
• Own recognizance (OR): a promise to return at the Craig County District Court (22 O.S. §1108.1).
For domestic abuse or stalking for Craig County, OR is not allowed (22 O.S. §1105(C)).
6. Will the defendant get bail in Vinita?
Most people around Bluejacket have a right to bail (22 O.S. §1101(A)).
But in these matters, a judge in Vinita may deny bail (22 O.S. §1101(C)):
• A capital crime and evident proof
• Violent crimes
• Offenses carrying life in prison
• Felonies after 2 earlier felony records
• Drug crimes with ten or more years
• Felony DUI after 2 prior ones
Other than capital matters in Craig County, one more finding is needed (22 O.S. §1101(C)). No condition would keep Vinita families safe, a judge in Vinita must find (22 O.S. §1101(C)).
7. Why can't the Vinita jail release a domestic case?
Jail staff across Craig County cannot bond out some arrests (22 O.S. §1105(B)). Certain child sex crimes around Vinita carry a $15,000 minimum bail (22 O.S. §1101.1). Those cases in Vinita get no OR bond (22 O.S. §1101.1). The Vinita judge weighs facts like strangulation, weapons, and pregnancy (22 O.S. §1105(B)). Around Ketchum, the list covers domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, and protective-order violations (22 O.S. §1105(B)). A repeat DUI in Vinita needs the judge in Vinita too (22 O.S. §1105(E)). So do meth-lab charges in Vinita (22 O.S. §1105(D)).
8. Does Craig County have a pretrial release program?
Craig County can fund a pretrial program (22 O.S. §1105.3). Once a bondsman in Craig County posts bond, the program ends (22 O.S. §1105.2). Examples in Craig County include burglary, trafficking, and domestic abuse (22 O.S. §1105.3(C)). A program worker in Welch screens the case (22 O.S. §1105.3). Ask the Vinita court clerk's office if Craig County has one. Excluded offenses in Vinita number about 40 (22 O.S. §1105.3(C)). The judge in Vinita can still order GPS or drug testing (22 O.S. §1105.3(D)). The Vinita judge decides after that (22 O.S. §1105.3).
9. How do I hire a Vinita bondsman?
Each bondsman across Craig County requires a license from the Oklahoma Insurance Department (59 O.S. §1305). Cash collateral across Craig County goes into trust within two days (59 O.S. §1314). Jailers, police, and judges for Craig County can't be bondsmen (59 O.S. §1315). From a Vinita bondsman, get a numbered receipt (59 O.S. §1316). Once the accused leaves the Vinita jail, the premium is earned (59 O.S. §1327). State law in Craig County sets no fixed percentage (59 O.S. §1316). Across Craig County, a written agreement may say otherwise (59 O.S. §1327). On the bond, a Craig County bondsman must list the premium (59 O.S. §1316).
10. How does a property bond work near Welch?
Yes. Land in Vinita counts at four times its assessed value (59 O.S. §1324). Debts on it come off in Vinita (59 O.S. §1324). The lien goes on file with the Craig County Clerk (59 O.S. §1324). Missing court in Craig County may put the land at risk (59 O.S. §1324). Near Ketchum, a property bond is a lien (59 O.S. §1324). A homestead in Vinita may count, with a written waiver (59 O.S. §1324).
11. What if your loved one skips a Vinita hearing date?
The judge in Vinita declares forfeit the bond (22 O.S. §1108). A Vinita bondsman receives 90 days near Bluejacket to return your relative (59 O.S. §1332). The court clerk in Vinita must mail notice inside 30 days (59 O.S. §1332). A warrant around Bluejacket may follow (22 O.S. §1108). Failing to surrender for 30 days in Craig County may bring a charge (59 O.S. §1335). Skipping a felony case around Welch on purpose is a separate felony (22 O.S. §1110). Otherwise, on day 91 around Ketchum, the full amount is due (59 O.S. §1332).
12. When does a Craig County bond end?
It can happen. A bondsman in Craig County can surrender your loved one (59 O.S. §1327). That may happen near Ketchum before any missed date (59 O.S. §1327). With a plea or sentence around Vinita, the bond is cleared (59 O.S. §1327). The District 12 District Attorney gets three days' notice (59 O.S. §1328). When the contract around Vinita was broken, a Craig County bondsman can keep the premium (59 O.S. §1327). A licensed bail enforcer around Vinita may arrest your loved one (59 O.S. §1329).
13. How do I ask a Vinita judge to change bail?
Near Bluejacket, excessive bail is not allowed (Okla. Const. Art. 2, §9). To change a surety bond around Ketchum, a Vinita bondsman must sign (59 O.S. §1327). A home and family in Welch can help too (Okla. Const. Art. 2, §9). Proof of a job in Vinita can assist (Okla. Const. Art. 2, §9). An attorney may ask a Craig County judge to lower it (Okla. Const. Art. 2, §9).
14. Where may Bluejacket families find a free lawyer?
Yes. If money is tight across Craig County, the judge for Craig County can appoint an attorney. The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System hires contract attorneys for Craig County. Ask in Welch at the first hearing date.
15. How is a juvenile arrest in Welch handled?
Teens in Vinita start in juvenile detention, not the Craig County Jail (10A O.S. §2-3-101). Teens in Craig County are held just if needed (10A O.S. §2-3-101). After a hearing, the Vinita judge may extend it (10A O.S. §2-3-101). One example: a teen around Vinita, 15 or older, charged with first-degree murder (10A O.S. §2-3-101). Secure detention for Craig County lasts at most 15 days (10A O.S. §2-3-101). Juvenile cases are heard in the Craig County District Court. Adult jail in Craig County is allowed just in rare cases (10A O.S. §2-3-101). Safety or a court date near Vinita must be the reason (10A O.S. §2-3-101).
16. Where do federal charges from Craig County go?
Craig County is in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma (28 U.S.C. §116). Court meets in Bartlesville, Miami, Pawhuska, Tulsa, and Vinita. Clerk: 333 W. 4th St., Room 411, Tulsa, 918-699-4700. A federal magistrate judge determines release (18 U.S.C. §3142). A state bond for Craig County does not cover a federal case.
17. Which court hears a Native case in Craig County?
Part or all of Craig County is inside the Cherokee Nation reservation. Judges upheld this after McGirt v. Oklahoma (2020) and Court of Criminal Appeals rulings in 2021, such as Hogner v. State (2021 OK CR 4).
Inside reservation lines, a tribal citizen in Welch faces tribal court (McGirt v. Oklahoma, 2020). A state bond at the Vinita jail won't cover those matters (McGirt v. Oklahoma, 2020). Non-Indian defendants in Craig County may still face state court (Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, 2022). Major crimes for Craig County move to federal court (McGirt v. Oklahoma, 2020).
Cherokee Nation District Court: 17675 S. Muskogee Ave., 2nd Floor, Tahlequah, 918-207-3900.
18. Which court will hear a case from Vinita?
Criminal cases from Craig County go in the Vinita courthouse. Around Bluejacket, associate district judges and special judges do too. A Craig County judge then holds a preliminary hearing. District judges near Welch hear these matters. Felonies for Craig County start with an initial appearance. The District 12 District Attorney prosecutes these matters.
19. What if the arrest in Bluejacket was for a city ticket?
City ordinance cases around Vinita go to municipal court (11 O.S. §27-101 et seq.). Those cases skip the District Court of Craig County. Ask the city court clerk in Ketchum about bonds. A city across Craig County sets its own bond (11 O.S. §27-101 et seq.). A state charge for Craig County always goes to the District Court of Craig County.
20. Who can confirm a Craig County bond amount?
Phone the Craig County Jail at 918-256-3150. Vinita staff need the birth date. The Vinita court clerk's office can also help on weekdays.
Craig County bail contacts
- Jail
- Craig County Jail, 210 West Delaware Ave., Vinita, OK 74301; 918-256-3150
- Sheriff's Office
- 210 W. Delaware, Suite 101 Vinita , OK 74301; 918-256-6466
- Court clerk
- 210 W. Delaware, Suite 201, Vinita, OK 74301
- Districts
- Judicial District 12; District Attorney District 12
- Public defense
- Oklahoma Indigent Defense System (contract counsel)
- Federal court
- Northern District of Oklahoma; 333 W. 4th St., Room 411, Tulsa; 918-699-4700
- Tribal court
- Cherokee Nation District Court, 17675 S. Muskogee Ave., 2nd Floor, Tahlequah; 918-207-3900
- Inmate search
- Craig County Inmate Search
Judges set release terms case by case. Nothing here is legal advice.
Craig County Jail
Address:
210 West Delaware Ave.
Vinita, OK 74301
Phone:
918-256-3150
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Craig County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Craig County?
Who can set bail in Craig County?
When is bail set in Craig County Oklahoma?
Does Craig County have bail?
Yes, Craig County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Craig County?
Bail bonds are available in several different forms in Craig County including personal recognizance, cash bond, property bond and surety bond.
Who can set bail in Craig 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 Craig 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 Craig 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 Craig 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 Craig 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, Craig 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 Craig 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 Craig County have bail?
Yes, Craig County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Craig County?
Bail bonds are available in several different forms in Craig County including personal recognizance, cash bond, property bond and surety bond.
Who can set bail in Craig 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 Craig County Oklahoma?
Yes, your lawyer can file a motion to reduce or modify bail.
In Craig 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 Craig 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 Craig County Jail for more information about the jails in Craig County.
What options are there to pay bail in Craig 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 Craig County Jail for more information about posting bail in Craig 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 Craig 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 Craig 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.