Clearfield County Correctional Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Clearfield County Bail and Release
Arrested in DuBois, Curwensville or out past Coalport? Adults from every corner of the county land at the Clearfield County Correctional Facility, 115 Twenty First Street, Clearfield, PA 16830. That one building holds men and women alike. Keep reading to learn which judge picks the bail, the five release types, which offices take the money and what might still block a release.
Open the official inmate lookup to confirm your loved one is there. Next, our Jail Roster page answers custody questions: who sits in the jail today, the newest bookings, each charge, mugshots, open warrants, getting belongings back and finding a public defender.
Call 814-765-7891 now. Give the legal name and birthday, then ask whether bail is set and which district judge set it. Our criminal court guide covers each hearing that comes next.
1. Which judge decides bail after a Clearfield County arrest?
Bail starts with a magisterial district judge, a neighborhood-level judge who sees every new criminal case first. The county's court page says plainly that its district judges both fix bail and accept it.
The first stop is the preliminary arraignment, which is brief and usually comes a few hours after booking. Sometimes it runs over a video screen, with the defendant still at the jail. The defendant is handed the complaint, hears the bail amount and receives the preliminary hearing date (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540).
Normally the district covering the arrest spot gets the case. At night and on weekends, a fill-in district judge may act instead. Jail staff at 814-765-7891 know which judge signed the bail order.
↑ Back to the question list2. Which five release options exist under state rules?
Pennsylvania's court rules give judges a ladder of five choices (Pa.R.Crim.P. 524). Only the top rung asks for cash before release.
- Release on recognizance (ROR). The defendant signs a promise to return and goes home.
- ROR with conditions. That pledge plus terms, like a curfew, no contact with the alleged victim, or weekly check-ins.
- Unsecured bail. A promised amount the court collects only if the defendant skips a hearing.
- Nominal bail. Just a dollar or so on deposit, with a backer, either a person or an agency, vouching that the defendant will show up.
- Monetary bail. Real money, posted up front.
Choosing among them, the judge looks at the charge, past convictions, a job, local family and how faithfully past court dates were kept (Pa.R.Crim.P. 523).
↑ Back to the question list3. How do judges arrive at a dollar amount?
Judges here set the number one case at a time. The rules call for a reasonable money figure that fits what the person can truly afford (Pa.R.Crim.P. 528). Minor first charges often end with ROR or unsecured bail. A violent felony or a long history usually pushes the figure up.
Once set, bail appears on the case docket. The state's UJS Web Portal shows it at no cost: type a name and choose the county. No account is needed, though the newest entries can trail by a day.
Still unsure? The jail at 814-765-7891 can read you the amount.
↑ Back to the question list4. What should I ask the jail before posting bail?
The district judges take bail in this county, so your call to the jail on Twenty First Street is about lining up every detail before you drive anywhere. Work through this list:
- Dial 814-765-7891.
- Get the bail type, the dollar amount and the docket number, and write all three down.
- Ask where the file is right now: still with a district court, or already with the Clerk of Courts in the courthouse.
- Ask what that office takes, and get the exact payee to write on any check or money order.
- Check for any second hold, like a probation detainer.
- Show a photo ID when you pay. The office must give you an itemized receipt, so file it away.
5. Which Clearfield County offices accept bail money?
Pay wherever the case sits right now. Hours differ from office to office, so phone ahead.
- Magisterial District Court 46-3-01, 309 Maple Avenue, DuBois, PA 15801, 814-371-5321
- Magisterial District Court 46-3-02, in the county seat, 814-765-5335. Ask staff for the street address before heading over.
- Magisterial District Court 46-3-03, 131 Rolling Stone Road, Kylertown, PA 16847, 814-345-6789
- Magisterial District Court 46-3-04, 251 Spring Street, Suite 3, Houtzdale, PA 16651, 814-378-7160
- Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts, 1 North Second Street, Suite 124, Clearfield, PA 16830, 814-765-2641, extension 5013. Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Criminal filings for Common Pleas cases go through that Clerk's window inside the courthouse.
↑ Back to the question list6. What can cover a money bail?
Pennsylvania lets families satisfy monetary bail a few different ways (Pa.R.Crim.P. 528):
- the whole amount in cash
- a house or land in Pennsylvania worth as much as the bail after subtracting any mortgage
- a licensed bondsman's surety bond
- a 10 percent deposit, but only with the court's OK
Read this twice: a depositor who signs the bail papers may be billed the full amount when the defendant misses court. The office has to warn you in writing before you sign.
Accepted checks, cards and money orders vary by office and can change. Ask before you go. The Clerk of Courts shares the county switchboard, 814-765-2641. Cash should never go in an envelope.
↑ Back to the question list7. How do bondsmen work for Clearfield County cases?
Commercial bonds are lawful in this state. In return for a premium, the bondsman guarantees the court the full bail.
- Look for a valid license from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (42 Pa.C.S. § 5742).
- A bondsman must file that license in each county where they work. They must also give the county a mailing address for court notices and an insurer form with their top bond amount (42 Pa.C.S. § 5743.1).
- Since 2015 no state law limits the premium, so get the price written down. You will not get the premium back, however the case turns out.
- If you hand over collateral like a car title, get a signed receipt that states when it will be returned.
- A fee only for putting you in touch with a bondsman breaks state law, and so does chasing bail clients at court (42 Pa.C.S. § 5749).
Wondering whether a particular bondsman is cleared for this county? The Clerk of Courts keeps those filings: 814-765-2641, extension 5014.
↑ Back to the question list8. Which holds outlast a paid bail?
One bail settles one case. Other paperwork can keep the person locked up, so ask the jail at 814-765-7891 about holds before money changes hands. Watch for:
- Another open case. Charges at a second district court carry separate bail.
- Out-of-county warrants. If a different county or state wants the person, the jail waits for that place to come get them.
- A probation detainer. Adult Probation works from 230 East Market Street, Suite 233, Clearfield, PA 16830.
- A support warrant. Domestic Relations sits at 230 East Market Street, Suite 300, Clearfield, PA 16830, 814-765-5339.
- State parole, federal or ICE paperwork. A state parole agent, a federal court or immigration officers can each keep the person in custody after bail is paid. Ask the jail which of these, if any, applies.
Reach Adult Probation on the county line, 814-765-2641, extension 5009.
↑ Back to the question list9. Is bail ever refused outright?
Pennsylvania's constitution guarantees bail to nearly all defendants (Pa. Const. art. I, § 14). It carves out just two exceptions:
- a charge where the sentence could be death or a life term, or
- proof that only jail, and no lesser rule, would keep people safe.
Either way, the DA must show proof of that danger, under oath, at a hearing. Simply pointing to the charge does not meet that bar (Commonwealth v. Talley, 2021).
Those prosecutors work in the District Attorney's Office, Courthouse Annex, 230 East Market Street, Suite 210, Clearfield, PA 16830, 814-765-2641, extension 5017, open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
↑ Back to the question list10. Can a bail amount be reduced?
Yes. A lawyer asks for it in writing, using what the rules call a motion to modify (Pa.R.Crim.P. 529). Before the preliminary hearing, the motion may be decided by the issuing district judge. After it, a Common Pleas judge takes over.
- Gather work records, a rent receipt or deed, and short letters from local family.
- Figure out a bail figure the family could really manage.
- Propose rules the judge might like better than cash, such as weekly reporting.
A clock runs too. After 180 days behind bars waiting for trial, with the delay not the defense's fault, the lawyer can request nominal bail (Pa.R.Crim.P. 600).
Court Administration schedules these hearings: 814-765-2641, extension 5010.
↑ Back to the question list11. Can the family get a public defender in Clearfield County?
Each Pennsylvania county except Philadelphia keeps a public defender for people who can't afford counsel (16 P.S. § 9960.1). Applicants fill out a money statement under oath, and the office judges it by its own income rules.
- Public Defender's Office, Courthouse Annex, second floor, 230 East Market Street, Suite 222, Clearfield, PA 16830, 814-765-2641, extension 5007. Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Print the county's adult application, complete it and turn it in.
- This office handles criminal matters only.
Before Act 34 of 2023, the state gave counties nothing for public defense. Now it helps pay. Families hiring privately can use the Clerk's private attorney list.
↑ Back to the question list12. Where do Clearfield County cases get heard?
The 46th Judicial District serves this county by itself. Early hearings take place at four district courts, and bigger cases move to the courthouse.
- Court of Common Pleas, County Courthouse, 1 North Second Street, Clearfield, PA 16830, 814-765-2641, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The DA and public defender work across the way in the Courthouse Annex, 230 East Market Street, Clearfield, PA 16830.
- 46-3-01 for DuBois, Sandy, Falls Creek and nearby townships: 309 Maple Avenue, DuBois, PA 15801, 814-371-5321
- 46-3-02 for the borough of the county seat, Curwensville, Lawrence and Pike: 814-765-5335
- 46-3-03 for Morris, Cooper, Decatur, Osceola Mills and the east: 131 Rolling Stone Road, Kylertown, PA 16847, 814-345-6789
- 46-3-04 for Houtzdale, Coalport, Grampian and the south: 251 Spring Street, Suite 3, Houtzdale, PA 16651, 814-378-7160
13. What gets a deposit refunded, and what forfeits it?
Put the bail receipt in a safe drawer. The rule gives the court 20 days after the case's final end to repay the named depositor, minus a county fee for handling it (Pa.R.Crim.P. 535). If the defendant was the depositor, that refund may first pay off the fines and costs owed.
Here is what follows a missed hearing:
- A bench warrant goes out.
- The court can forfeit the whole bail, and a signer may be billed for it.
- Prosecutors may file a new charge for not appearing.
- Once jailed here on that warrant, a judge must see the person within 72 hours. Being picked up in another county can stretch the wait (Pa.R.Crim.P. 150).
For the status of a refund, dial the Clerk of Courts on 814-765-2641, extension 5013.
↑ Back to the question list14. How do we collect their property and leftover money?
Anything taken during booking, from keys to a cell phone, is locked away until release. Settle the details early so nothing gets stranded at the jail.
Phone 814-765-7891. Ask how leftover commissary or account funds get paid out, what hours you may collect items, and whether your loved one has to sign a form naming you. Bring ID to 115 Twenty First Street, Clearfield, PA 16830.
Our inmate account money page explains deposits and refunds in more depth.
↑ Back to the question list15. Who handles bail in a Clearfield County federal case?
Federal prosecutors file cases from these towns in the Western District of Pennsylvania, whose closest courthouse sits in Johnstown: U.S. Courthouse, 208 Penn Traffic Building, 319 Washington Street, Johnstown, PA 15901, 814-533-4504. The clerk's office keeps weekday hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- A detention hearing in federal court decides between home and jail until trial (18 U.S.C. 3142).
- Marshals keep custody of federal defendants awaiting trial. Write to or visit the U.S. Marshals Service at 700 Grant Street, Room 2360, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, or phone 412-644-3351.
- The Federal Public Defender keeps a Johnstown branch in Room 102 of the Penn Traffic Building, 319 Washington Street, Johnstown, PA 15901, 412-644-6565.
- After a federal sentence, check the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator for their prison.
16. Will posting bail lift an ICE detainer?
No. ICE works outside the state bail system. Here is the common pattern:
- To start, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) places a Form I-247A detainer on file.
- That paper asks the jail for a hold of up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
- The Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Pennsylvania, settled a key point in 2014: jails may say no to detainers, and a county that keeps a person just for ICE can answer for it in court (Galarza v. Szalczyk, 3d Cir. 2014). Detainer practice therefore varies from jail to jail. Ask this one at 814-765-7891.
- ICE custody in this state runs through the Philadelphia Field Office, 114 North 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-656-7164.
- Track the person on the ICE Online Detainee Locator using name and birth country.
17. After sentencing, does the person stay local?
Where the time is served depends on the sentence's maximum (42 Pa.C.S. § 9762). A top term under two years is served locally in the county jail. At five years or above, the state prison system takes them. In the middle band of two to five, the state usually takes them too. Keeping such a person local needs a yes from three sides: the sentencing judge, the prosecutor's office and the jail itself.
- New state inmates spend weeks or months being sorted at an intake center before moving to their assigned prison.
- Look them up on the Department of Corrections inmate locator.
- Department of Corrections headquarters: 1920 Technology Parkway, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050, 717-728-2573.
- Visiting and mail rules for each prison live on our Pennsylvania state prisons page.
18. Is a teenager handled differently?
For most people under 18, the case runs in juvenile court. A teen who must be held waits at a youth center rather than the county jail (42 Pa.C.S. § 6301). Their files never show on the public court portal.
- Juvenile Probation, Courthouse Annex, 230 East Market Street, Suite 234, Clearfield, PA 16830, 814-765-2641, extension 5018. Parents should start here.
- Central Counties Youth Center, 148 Paradise Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823, 814-355-0650. Five counties, this one among them, own this youth detention center together.
There is one big exception. A murder charge against a teen who has turned 15 skips juvenile court, and the case begins with adults. Some violent crimes with a gun, knife or other deadly weapon do the same for that age group. Their defense lawyer can then request a move to juvenile court.
↑ Back to the question listClearfield County Correctional Facility Remote Bail Deposits
There are five choices for putting money on an inmate's books that may be used for paying an inmate's Bond or Bail.
Check with Clearfield County Correctional Facility by calling 814-765-7891 prior to paying a bond online as this is being rolled out to different facilities slowly.
1. Commissary money in the form of a money order may be mailed to:
AdvancePay Service Department
P.O. Box 911722
Denver, CO 80291-1722
2. You may use cash or credit/debit cards at any time by using the kiosk located in the front lobby. The fee for the use of the ATM is generally $1.50 per transaction for cash and 10% fee for credit/debit cards.
3. Commissary money can also be added to an inmates account at any time using any of these methods online.
4. Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are now available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. You’ll start the payment process online in your ConnectNetwork account, then complete your transaction with cash at a participating local retail store. Plus, many of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a retail store near you.
5. You can call customer service 24/7 at 877-650-4249 and get instructions for depositing money over the phone using a debit or credit card.
Clearfield County Correctional Facility
Address:
115 Twenty-First Street
Clearfield, PA 16830
Phone:
814-765-7891
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Clearfield 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 Clearfield 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 Clearfield County Correctional Facility 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, Clearfield 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 Clearfield 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 Clearfield County Pennsylvania have bail?
Yes, Clearfield County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Clearfield County?
Bail in Clearfield County is available in several different forms including release on recognizance (ROR), release on non-monetary conditions, non-secured bail, nominal bail and monetary conditions.
Who can set bail in Pennsylvania?
Bail is set by a judge, either at a District Court or the Court of Common Pleas.
When is bail set in Pennsylvania?
Bail will be set during the first/initial court hearing, also called an arraignment. This court hearing may be the same day as the arrest or the next day depending on the court schedule. Hearings are not held on weekends or holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Clearfield County Pennsylvania?
Yes, your attorney may file a request for bail reduction or modification.
In Clearfield County Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Clearfield County Pennsylvania?
Yes, all Pennsylvania counties offer online bail payment.
You can also contact the jail by going to the Clearfield County Correctional Facility for more information about online bail payments in Clearfield County.
In the alternative, the Clearfield County Clerk of Court or District Court staff can assist during working hours.
What options are there to pay bail in Clearfield County Pennsylvania?
Cash, credit card, or debit card. Access the PA ePay Bail option.
Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay cash. Go to the Clearfield County Correctional Facility for more information about posting bail in Clearfield County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Pennsylvania?
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 Clearfield 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 Pennsylvania?
The Clearfield County Correctional Facility 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.