Josephine County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Josephine County bail: cash only, two places to pay, and the Grants Pass courthouse
People arrested in Josephine County are booked into the Josephine County Jail at 1901 NE F Street, Grants Pass, the same address as the Sheriff's Office headquarters at 541-474-5123. Bail has two doors, the jail and the courthouse, and both take cash only. Before you gather money, run the Josephine County Inmate Search to see whether the person is in custody and what the security amount is.
Is she in the Grants Pass jail right now?
Check with the Josephine County Inmate Search. The county also runs its own jail roster, and it lists people currently in custody.
If the name does not show, call the Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123. Records staff are at the same number, option 3, and the lobby is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Where can I post bail in Josephine County?
There are two places. One is the jail at 1901 NE F Street, Grants Pass. The other is the Josephine County Courthouse, 500 NW 6th Street, second floor, Grants Pass.
The courthouse window runs on court business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For the jail's own desk hours, call 541-474-5123 before you drive over.
Can I pay with a card, a check, or a money order?
No. Josephine County takes bail and security only in cash, at both locations. Bring bills, not a check, money order, or card. Exact cash saves time.
Money placed on an inmate's account is a different thing and does not count as bail.
How much cash do I need?
The amount depends on what the judge set. Under ORS 135.265 a person can be released after a deposit of 10 percent of the security amount, with a minimum deposit of $25. Some holds ask for more or for the full amount, and the paper on the record controls.
Look up the person on the Josephine County Inmate Search for the amount, and call 541-474-5123 if the number looks wrong.
What is the difference between the jail and the courthouse for paying?
Both take cash only. The courthouse window follows court business hours. The jail is the place to ask when the window is closed, so call 541-474-5123 to learn the jail's own hours.
The Accounting Unit at the court answers questions at 541-476-2309.
How long until she walks out?
Release starts once the receipt and the release agreement reach the jail staff. The time depends on the jail's workload that day, so plan to wait. Do not leave the money with someone who cannot show you a receipt.
Can I use a house or land to bail someone out?
In-state property can serve as security when its equity is at least twice the amount set. You will sign a sworn statement for each item listed, and the magistrate may test whether the total is enough.
This goes through the court, not the jail window. Call the Circuit Court at 541-476-2309 before you pull deeds.
Can a person be freed without paying anything?
Yes, sometimes. State law has the presiding judge sign a standing release order that lists who may go home on a promise to appear, who may go home with conditions, and who is held until arraignment. The order goes to the sheriff.
Ask the judge at arraignment or call 541-474-5123 if you want to know which category applies.
What are the three kinds of release I may hear about?
Oregon courts use three. Release on recognizance is a promise to appear, with no money. Conditional release sets rules on where he lives, who he sees, or what he does, with no money. Security release is the money option in this guide.
The judge must weigh the first two before ordering security. If you can pay, ask the lawyer or the court whether a no-money release is possible first.
When will the judge decide on release?
Senate Bill 48 sets the clock. Release is decided at the first appearance, unless a good reason pushes it back. When a hearing is needed, it follows within 48 hours, and five days is the cap unless the defendant agrees to wait.
At that hearing the judge looks at release without money first, hears from any victim who wishes to speak, and picks the least onerous condition that protects the public.
What charges can mean no bail in Grants Pass?
Bail can be refused for murder and treason when the proof is evident or the presumption strong, as Article I, section 14, of the Oregon Constitution provides. A violent-felony charge can bring a hold if the state proves danger by clear and convincing evidence at a hearing the defendant requests at arraignment.
Excessive bail is barred by section 16, so a lawyer can ask the court to lower a number that is out of reach.
Will I get the cash back?
After the case is done and the conditions were kept, the person on the receipt gets back 85 percent of a 10 percent deposit. The other 15 percent pays court costs, and that fee runs from $5 to $750.
The court may apply the deposit to fines or fees first. If the defendant misses court, the deposit can be forfeited.
Where are the Josephine County courts?
Circuit court is at 500 NW 6th Street, Grants Pass, 97526. The clerk's accounting line is 541-476-2309.
Both the courthouse and the jail are in Grants Pass.
Who represents her if she cannot pay for a lawyer?
Request a court-appointed lawyer when she first sees the judge. The court staff at 541-476-2309 can say which office has the case. Oregon has had a shortage of defense lawyers, so tell the judge right away if she has no attorney.
What happens to a minor arrested in Grants Pass?
Josephine County has its own Juvenile Justice Department at 301 NW F Street, Grants Pass, with a detention program for youth awaiting court or serving probation sanctions. Call 541-474-5186 for the department or 541-474-5404 for detention. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
After hours, ask the Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123 where the youth was taken.
Which sheriff's office do I visit in Merlin or Cave Junction?
Substations serve both towns. Merlin is at 100 Acorn Street, 541-474-5135, open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Cave Junction is at 222 Lister Street, 541-592-5151, open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
These offices answer questions. Money for bail goes to the jail or the courthouse.
What if she already has a warrant for a missed date?
Call the court at 541-476-2309 and ask how to clear it. A warrant can end a release and add a hold. Do not wait for a traffic stop to deal with it.
Josephine County bond contacts
- County jail
- Josephine County Jail, 1901 NE F Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526; 541-474-5123
- Bail guide
- Josephine County jail and bail help
- Custody lookup
- Josephine County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 1901 NE F Street, Grants Pass; 541-474-5123; weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Courthouse
- 500 NW 6th Street, 2nd floor, Grants Pass, OR 97526; accounting 541-476-2309
- Substations
- Merlin 541-474-5135; Cave Junction 541-592-5151
- Juvenile
- Juvenile Justice Department, 301 NW F Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526; 541-474-5186; detention 541-474-5404
Hours at the jail and the courthouse can shift, so call before you carry cash. This page is a plain-language guide to Josephine County practice and is not legal advice.
Josephine County Jail
Address:
1901 NE 'F' Street
Grants Pass, OR 97526
Phone:
541-474-5140
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Josephine County
Does Josephine County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Josephine County?
Who can set bail in Josephine County?
When is bail set in Josephine County Oregon?
Does Josephine County have bail?
Yes, Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine 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, Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine County have bail?
Yes, Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine County Oregon?
Yes, your attorney may file a request to reduce or modify bail.
In Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine County Jail for more information about the jails in Josephine County.
What options are there to pay bail in Josephine 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 Josephine County Jail for more information about posting bail in Josephine 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 Josephine 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.