Benton County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Benton County bail and bond: the Corvallis jail and how a court deposit works
Adults arrested in Benton County are booked into the Benton County Jail, 190 NW 4th Street in Corvallis, next to the historic courthouse. It is the only jail in the county, and the Sheriff's Office runs it around the clock. Start with Benton County Inmate Search to see whether the person is in custody and what release terms are set. The jail desk at 541-766-6866 answers questions the search cannot. In Oregon, a judge or a release officer decides on release, and bail is paid as a court deposit.
Is my family member in the Benton County Jail?
Search the name on Benton County Inmate Search. If a record shows, the person is in custody or was booked recently. A booking that is only minutes old can take a short while to appear, so look again later in the day.
Every arrest in the county ends up at the jail on NW 4th Street, whether the arresting officer worked for Corvallis, Philomath, Albany, Oregon State University, or the Sheriff's Office. The jail desk answers at 541-766-6866 at any hour.
Where exactly is the jail and how do I reach it?
The jail is at 190 NW 4th Street, Corvallis, OR 97330. The phone line, 541-766-6866, is staffed 24 hours a day. The jail's mailing box is P.O. Box 788, Corvallis, OR 97339.
The Sheriff's main office is a separate building at 180 NW 5th Street in the Law Enforcement Building. Its public hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and its line is 541-766-6858. Use the jail number for anything about a person in custody.
Why do some people get released before they see a judge?
The Benton County Jail is the smallest county jail in Oregon for the size of its population. It was built in 1976 and holds 40 beds, and the Sheriff's Office rents 40 more beds in other facilities.
When space runs short, the jail releases some adults early, and it can close to new arrestees until room opens. An early release is not a dismissal. The person still has a court date and a case. Ask the jail desk for the date before you assume anything.
Could my relative be sleeping in a different county's jail?
Yes, it can happen. Because the Benton County Jail rents beds elsewhere, a person booked here may be housed at a partner facility. Benton County Inmate Search is the first place to check. If the record shows a booking but you cannot reach the person, call 541-766-6866 and ask where the person is sleeping tonight.
How do I find out the bail or release terms?
Open Benton County Inmate Search and read the booking record. In Oregon a judge sets the terms, and the number is tied to each charge. Terms can change at the first court hearing.
If the record is blank, the judge may not have acted yet. Call the jail at 541-766-6866 with the full name and birth date. The court clerk at 541-243-7841 can confirm terms once the case has a court file.
Where do I pay the bail money?
A security deposit is paid to the court. Call the jail desk at 541-766-6866 and ask whether the jail or the court clerk takes the payment for this person's case. The Benton County Circuit Court is at 120 NW 4th Street, Corvallis, and its clerk answers at 541-243-7841.
Bring a government photo ID and the person's full legal name. Ask for a written receipt that shows the case number. Do not hand cash to anyone who calls you first.
How much of the bail do I actually pay?
Oregon law lets a judge accept a cash deposit of 10 percent of the security amount. The least a deposit can be is $25. Someone who posts $1,000 on a $10,000 security has paid the usual deposit.
That deposit is paid to the court clerk, not to a bond company. When the case ends and the person has been discharged, the clerk gives back 85 percent. The court keeps a fee that runs from $5 to $750, plus interest. Fines and fees on the case can be taken out first.
Can a house, land, or a savings account stand in for cash?
Yes. Oregon law lets the person or a helper put up cash, stocks, bonds, or property with equity. The property must be in Oregon, and its value must be at least double the security amount. Each item needs a sworn statement.
The judge can ask more questions before accepting it. Ask the circuit court clerk at 541-243-7841 for the forms and the steps before you go to the courthouse.
How long can the jail keep someone before a judge decides on release?
A judge or release officer decides on release at the first court appearance unless there is a good reason to wait. If the judge holds the person for a release hearing, that hearing must happen within 48 hours, and never later than five days unless the person agrees to wait.
At that hearing the judge must look at release without money first. A cash deposit is used when lighter conditions will not do. Victims can speak, so the process may take extra time on a serious charge.
Why does the record say I cannot post bail?
Some charges carry a hold until the judge sees the person. A person can also be held on a warrant from another county, on a probation violation, or on a hold from another agency.
Oregon's constitution bars bail for murder or treason when the proof is evident or the presumption is strong. For a violent felony, a judge can deny release after a hearing if the state shows clear and convincing evidence of danger. The person can ask for that hearing at arraignment, and the court has five days to hold it.
What do I do if the person has no lawyer?
Say so at the first court date. The judge can appoint a lawyer when the person cannot pay, and the person fills out a financial form. The court clerk at 541-243-7841 can tell you where the paperwork goes.
Oregon is working through a shortage of public defenders, so ask early and keep the case number handy. A lawyer can ask the judge to change conditions or lower the amount.
What if the person arrested is a minor?
Youth are not held in the adult jail. Linn and Benton counties share the Linn-Benton Juvenile Detention Center, 4400 Lochner Road SE, Albany. Its line is 541-791-9397. Linn County runs the center, and Benton County buys a set number of beds.
Benton County's juvenile office posts 541-766-6810 for questions about a young person. Ask there about visits and about the first hearing.
What happens if the person misses a court date?
The judge can issue an arrest warrant and take the deposit. The person who posted can also be held responsible for the whole security amount, not only the 10 percent paid in. Call the court clerk the same day if a date was missed.
A lawyer may be able to ask the judge to recall the warrant. Walking in without a plan often leads to a night in the jail.
When does posted money come back?
The refund waits until the case is over and the court signs an order to release it. It goes to the person named on the receipt. Fines, fees, and unpaid child support in any Oregon circuit court case can be taken from it first. Keep the receipt safe, because it names who is paid.
Ask the clerk at 541-243-7841 how a refund request is made after the case closes.
How can I tell a real call from a bail scam?
No jail officer, clerk, or judge will call and ask for gift cards, money apps, or wire transfers to free someone. If a caller says your relative is in trouble, hang up and call 541-766-6866 yourself.
Check Benton County Inmate Search before you send a cent. If the person is not in custody, there is nothing to pay.
Key contacts for Benton County bail questions
- County jail
- Benton County Jail, 190 NW 4th Street, Corvallis, OR 97330; 541-766-6866 (24 hours)
- Bail instructions
- Benton County jail page
- Custody lookup
- Benton County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 180 NW 5th Street, Corvallis, OR 97330; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 541-766-6858
- Circuit court
- 120 NW 4th Street, Corvallis, OR 97339; 541-243-7841
- Juvenile detention
- Linn-Benton Juvenile Detention Center, 4400 Lochner Road SE, Albany, OR 97322; 541-791-9397
- Juvenile office
- Benton County juvenile line, 541-766-6810
Amounts, hours, and phone numbers in Benton County can change, and a judge can set different terms for any case. Check with the jail desk or the court clerk before you pay. This page is a general guide, not legal advice.
Benton County Jail
Address:
190 NW 4th St.
Corvallis, OR 97330
Phone:
541-766-6866
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Benton County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Benton County?
Who can set bail in Benton County?
When is bail set in Benton County Oregon?
Does Benton County have bail?
Yes, Benton County does have bail, but not in the traditional sense. Bail, also called a “security release agreement”, can be either personal recognizance or cash or a cash bond.
The State of Oregon does not allow a commercial entity to make money on securing a bond so there are no bail bond companies.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Benton County?
Pay the full bail amount in cash from the defendant, family or friends, or, Cash percentage in lieu of bonds. If the bond order permits, the defendant pays 10 % of the bond amount to the jail or court, which then holds the money until the case is over. 85% of the paid amount is returned if the defendant is acquitted or the case is dismissed with the remaining 15% to cover court costs. The defendant, family or friends can sign off on the bond.
Who can set bail in Benton County?
Oregon uses a predetermined bail schedule, so an officer can determine bail at booking. For more serious crimes, a judge is required to set the bail at the first appearance/arraignment.
When is bail set in Benton County Oregon?
For less serious and non-violent crimes bail is set according to a bail schedule and this information will be made available during the booking process. For cases requiring a judge to set bail, a hearing will be set within 36 hrs. of arrest, not counting weekends or holidays.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Benton 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 Benton 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 Benton 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, Benton 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 Benton 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.
(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 Benton County have bail?
Yes, Benton County does have bail, but not in the traditional sense. Bail, also called a “security release agreement”, can be either personal recognizance or cash or a cash bond.
The State of Oregon does not allow a commercial entity to make money on securing a bond so there are no bail bond companies.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Benton County?
Pay the full bail amount in cash from the defendant, family or friends, or, Cash percentage in lieu of bonds. If the bond order permits, the defendant pays 10 % of the bond amount to the jail or court, which then holds the money until the case is over. 85% of the paid amount is returned if the defendant is acquitted or the case is dismissed with the remaining 15% to cover court costs. The defendant, family or friends can sign off on the bond.
Who can set bail in Benton County?
Oregon uses a predetermined bail schedule, so an officer can determine bail at booking. For more serious crimes, a judge is required to set the bail at the first appearance/arraignment.
When is bail set in Oregon?
For less serious and non-violent crimes bail is set according to a bail schedule and this information will be made available during the booking process. For cases requiring a judge to set bail, a hearing will be set within 36 hrs. of arrest, not counting weekends or holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Benton County Oregon?
Yes, your attorney may file a request to reduce or modify bail.
In Benton County Oregon, who can pay bail for me?
If bail is set 10% must be paid prior to your release. This can be paid by you, family, or friends. Oregon does not allow the use of bail bond agents.
Can bail be paid online in Benton County Oregon?
Oregon counties do not currently offer online payment of bail. All payments must be made in person at the county jail where the defendant is being held. Go to the Benton County Jail for more information about the jails in Benton County.
What options are there to pay bail in Benton County Oregon?
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 Benton County Jail for more information about posting bail in Benton County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Oregon?
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.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Benton 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 Oregon?
All bonds are processed through the courts and efforts are being made nationwide not to detain someone on lesser charges due to the inability to pay bail.