Wallowa County Sheriff's Office Inmate Bail & Bonds
Wallowa County bail: the Union County jail in La Grande, the Enterprise courthouse, and release deposits
Wallowa County does not run a jail. Since July 1, 2023, people arrested here are held at the Union County Correctional Facility, 1109 K Avenue, La Grande, under a contract that allows up to six Wallowa County inmates there at a time. Check Wallowa County Inmate Search to see whether your relative is in custody. The jail answers at 541-963-1020. The case itself is heard at the Wallowa County Circuit Court in Enterprise, 541-426-4991. Both places matter when you arrange bail.
Which jail holds people arrested in Wallowa County?
The Union County jail in La Grande holds them. The Union County Sheriff's Office runs it. The building has 37 beds and takes prisoners from several agencies.
Wallowa County's contract began on July 1, 2023. Before that, Wallowa people were taken to the Umatilla County jail in Pendleton, which is much farther away.
What number do I call about a person in custody?
Call 541-963-1020 and follow the phone tree to the option that fits your question. Do not use 541-963-1017, because that is the law enforcement line and does not handle jail questions.
Start with Wallowa County Inmate Search. It shows who is in custody and why.
Where do I pay the release deposit?
Ask before you travel. The jail in La Grande at 541-963-1020 can explain how bail is accepted for the person's name. The Wallowa County Circuit Court at 541-426-4991 can explain the deposit for a Wallowa case.
The court is at the Wallowa County Courthouse, 101 S. River Street, Enterprise, OR 97828. Hours are weekdays, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.
How big is the release deposit?
Oregon's security release law lets a person leave jail after depositing 10 percent of the security amount the judge set. The smallest deposit is $25. The person promises in writing to appear in court.
Under the state law, the deposit is made with the court clerk. Ask for a receipt that names who paid.
How much comes back after the case?
After the case is finished and the person is discharged, the clerk returns 85 percent to the person named on the receipt. The court keeps 15 percent as costs, never less than $5 and never more than $750, plus the interest.
Fines, fees, other court debts, and child support can be deducted before a refund. The court can take the whole deposit if release rules are broken.
Can a ranch, a truck, or a house back the release?
Oregon law lets cash, stocks, bonds, or Oregon property with real equity stand in. The value has to be at least double the security amount. Each item comes with its own sworn statement.
Land in Wallowa County meets the in-state rule. The magistrate may check the property's value first. Call the court at 541-426-4991 to ask how to begin.
Why is the person in La Grande and not in Enterprise?
Wallowa County has no jail of its own, so the county pays Union County a daily rate to hold its prisoners.
La Grande is in the next county. Ask the court clerk how a person held there will appear at each hearing.
Where does the first court hearing happen?
Wallowa County cases are heard in Enterprise. The courthouse is at 101 S. River Street. The mailing address adds Room 204. A drop box next to the service window is checked at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The court is in the 10th Judicial District, which it shares with Union County. The district has two elected judges.
When will a judge decide whether the person can leave?
At the first court appearance, called arraignment, unless there is good cause to wait. A release hearing generally happens within 48 hours and no later than five days, unless the defendant agrees to a delay.
The law directs the judge to try release without money first. Victims may attend and speak.
What does it mean if the court says release is denied?
Murder and treason cases may carry no bail at all if the proof is strong. Violent felonies can lead to a hearing where the state must show danger by clear and convincing evidence.
Under a standing order from the presiding judge, some people also wait for a judge before any release. The court at 541-426-4991 can tell you which rule applies.
Does the court offer a pretrial release page?
The Wallowa County Circuit Court keeps a Pre-Trial Release page on its website. A release can come with conditions such as check-ins or limits on contact.
Call the court if you do not understand a condition. A breach without a new crime can still lead to a new release decision or a return to jail.
Who can help me if I cannot afford a lawyer?
Say at the first hearing that you cannot pay for a lawyer. Eastern Oregon Defenders, LLC takes appointed cases and answers at 541-963-8485.
A short means form decides who qualifies. A lawyer can ask the judge to lower the security amount.
What happens to a teenager arrested in Wallowa County?
A person under 18 is handled through juvenile court. Juvenile records are private, so the adult search page may not show a young person.
Call the Circuit Court at 541-426-4991 for the hearing date and for where a young person held in custody is placed.
How can my relative stay in touch from the jail?
The Union County jail handles visits, mail, and phone calls under its own rules. Call 541-963-1020 to ask about visiting and scheduling.
Money added to a jail account for phone time or snacks is not bail.
What happens at the first appearance in Enterprise?
The judge tells the person what the charges are, decides on release, and asks whether a lawyer is needed. Many people leave with a next court date in hand.
If the person is in La Grande, ask the court whether the hearing is held with the person in the room or on a screen. Family members can attend the courthouse session in Enterprise even when the person is held in another county.
How can family far away help?
Keep a written list: the person's full name, birth date, case number, jail booking date, and every court date. Share it with relatives so that only one person calls the jail at a time.
Pass along the lawyer's number from this page, and keep receipts for every payment. A clear paper trail helps if the court has to return a deposit.
What if my relative misses a hearing?
The judge can order a warrant and forfeit the deposit. Call the court and the defense lawyer the same day.
Write down every court date the moment you learn it.
What bail scams target Wallowa County families?
Courts and jails do not take bail in gift cards, crypto, or app transfers. Hang up on any caller who pushes you to pay in minutes.
Check with the jail at 541-963-1020 or the court at 541-426-4991 before you send money.
Wallowa County bail contacts
- Jail
- Union County Correctional Facility, 1109 K Avenue, La Grande, OR; 541-963-1020; holds Wallowa County prisoners
- Bond guide
- Wallowa County bail and bond help
- Custody lookup
- Wallowa County Inmate Search
- Circuit Court
- Wallowa County Courthouse, 101 S. River Street, Enterprise, OR 97828; 541-426-4991; weekdays 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Public defense
- Eastern Oregon Defenders, LLC, 541-963-8485
- Juvenile
- Ask the Circuit Court, 541-426-4991, for the youth hearing date and placement
Wallowa County and Union County jail amounts, hours, payment steps, and phone numbers can change, and a judge may order a different security. Call before you pay. This page is a starting point, not legal advice.
Wallowa County Sheriff's Office
Address:
104 West Greenwood Street
Enterprise, OR 97828
Phone:
541-966-3600
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Wallowa County
Does Wallowa County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wallowa County?
Who can set bail in Wallowa County?
When is bail set in Wallowa County Oregon?
Does Wallowa County have bail?
Yes, Wallowa 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 Wallowa 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 Wallowa 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 Wallowa 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 Wallowa 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 Wallowa 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 Wallowa County Sheriff's Office 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, Wallowa 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 Wallowa 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 Wallowa County have bail?
Yes, Wallowa 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 Wallowa 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 Wallowa 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 Wallowa County Oregon?
Yes, your attorney may file a request to reduce or modify bail.
In Wallowa 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 Wallowa 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 Wallowa County Sheriff's Office for more information about the jails in Wallowa County.
What options are there to pay bail in Wallowa 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 Wallowa County Sheriff's Office for more information about posting bail in Wallowa 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 Wallowa 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.