Union County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Bail and bond basics for Union County
Union County is home to Lewisburg and Bucknell University. Most arrests in Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, New Berlin, and Hartleton lead to the Union County Jail. Inmate search: Union County Inmate Search.
Is my relative in the Union County jail?
Check the Union County Inmate Search first.
Booking questions go to the Union County Jail, 103 South Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837 (570-524-8711).
On the phone:
- Share the person's legal name.
- Give their date of birth.
- Ask if bail has been set.
Charge details may not be shared.
Where does Common Pleas sit in Union County?
The Union County Courthouse is at 103 S. Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837 (570-524-8761).
The Clerk of Courts office in Lewisburg keeps criminal files and bail papers (Pa.R.Crim.P. 535(C)).
Ask which payment forms they accept.
Which Union County district judge has the case?
Each MDJ office covers certain towns (Pa.R.Crim.P. 130). Find offices on the UJS MDJ directory. Docket numbers start with MJ on the UJS Portal.
The complaint names the office handling it.
Who sets bail after a Union County arrest?
For arrests in Union County, a magisterial district judge usually sets bail (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540; 42 Pa.C.S. §1515(a)(4)). This happens at the preliminary arraignment (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(F)). Bail is set day or night (Pa.R.Crim.P. 520(B)). The hearing may use video (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(A)). Common Pleas may change it later (Pa.R.Crim.P. 529(c)).
What is the first Union County bail hearing like?
The judge reads the complaint aloud (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(F)). The judge does not ask about guilt (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(F)). They get the complaint in writing (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(C)). The judge explains the bail terms (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(F)). A preliminary hearing is then scheduled (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(G)). Jailed only on this case? The 14-day limit applies (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(G)). Otherwise, it is set within 21 days (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(G)).
What are the release types in Union County?
The bail rules name five options (Pa.R.Crim.P. 524(C)):
- ROR: Just a written promise.
- Nonmonetary conditions: Conditions such as check-ins or curfews.
- Unsecured bail bond: No deposit, but money owed on violation.
- Nominal bail: A token sum like $1.
- Monetary condition: A cash amount that must be reasonable.
ROR must be considered first (Pa.R.Crim.P. 524 cmt.). No bail may be set to keep someone locked up (Pa.R.Crim.P. 524 cmt.).
What factors shape bail in Union County?
All known facts must be weighed (Pa.R.Crim.P. 523(A)). The charge, job, and money situation matter (Pa.R.Crim.P. 523(A)). So do family ties and local roots (Pa.R.Crim.P. 523(A)). Past missed court dates count, too (Pa.R.Crim.P. 523(A)). Staying silent cannot make bail higher (Pa.R.Crim.P. 523(B)). A risk score cannot decide alone (Pa.R.Crim.P. 523 cmt.).
Can a Union County judge refuse bail?
Pennsylvania's constitution makes most charges bailable (Pa. Const. art. I, §14). Charges carrying life are an exception (Pa. Const. art. I, §14). Bail can also be denied for public safety (Pa. Const. art. I, §14). The proof must be strong (Pa. Const. art. I, §14). Any denial must be explained (Pa.R.Crim.P. 520(A)).
Do we pay the full amount in Union County?
Money bail has to be reasonable (Pa.R.Crim.P. 528(B)). The judge must consider ability to pay (Pa.R.Crim.P. 528(A)). A 10% deposit may be allowed (Pa.R.Crim.P. 528(C)). Cash or certain bonds work (Pa.R.Crim.P. 528(D)(1)–(2)). So can real estate or a bondsman (Pa.R.Crim.P. 528(D)(3)–(5)). The person paying gets an itemized receipt (Pa.R.Crim.P. 535(A)).
What if a relative pays bail in Union County?
Signers risk the full amount (Pa.R.Crim.P. 528(F)). You can instead deposit money without signing (Pa.R.Crim.P. 528(F)). Then any refund goes to the defendant (Pa.R.Crim.P. 528(F)). That money can also cover court costs (Pa.R.Crim.P. 535(E)). Staff must explain this before you pay (Pa.R.Crim.P. 535(B)).
What rules apply to a Lewisburg bondsman?
Bondsmen are licensed by the Insurance Department (42 Pa.C.S. §5742). They must register with the Union County Clerk of Courts (42 Pa.C.S. §5743.1). The filing lists their limit per bond (42 Pa.C.S. §5743.1). No soliciting in court offices (42 Pa.C.S. §5749). Overcharging is also an offense (42 Pa.C.S. §5749). Your lawyer cannot be the surety (Pa.R.Crim.P. 531(B)).
What must someone do after Union County bail?
These conditions apply to everyone (Pa.R.Crim.P. 526(A)):
- Show up for all hearings.
- Follow every new order.
- Give a new address within 48 hours.
- No contact meant to scare witnesses.
- Stay out of trouble with the law.
Judges can add reporting or travel rules (Pa.R.Crim.P. 527(A)). In abuse cases, victim safety counts (Pa.R.Crim.P. 523 cmt.; 18 Pa.C.S. §2711).
What follows a missed hearing in Union County?
The judge may issue a bench warrant (Pa.R.Crim.P. 536(A)). Bail can be revoked (Pa.R.Crim.P. 536(A)). The money is not taken right away (Pa.R.Crim.P. 536(A)). Missing court can be its own crime (18 Pa.C.S. §5124).
Call the lawyer and the Union County Clerk of Courts right away.
Can bail be lowered in Union County?
The MDJ can change it early (Pa.R.Crim.P. 529(a)). Either side may ask (Pa.R.Crim.P. 529(a)). The next hearing is another chance (Pa.R.Crim.P. 529(b)). A motion can go to the Common Pleas court in Lewisburg (Pa.R.Crim.P. 529(c)). From then on, only Common Pleas can change it (Pa.R.Crim.P. 529(d)).
Is cash bail returned in Union County?
Refunds are due within 20 days (Pa.R.Crim.P. 535(D)). Fees allowed by law may be kept (Pa.R.Crim.P. 535(D)). Those fees must match real costs (Pa.R.Crim.P. 535 cmt.). The bond lasts through direct appeals (Pa.R.Crim.P. 534). ARD counts as the end (Pa.R.Crim.P. 534 cmt.).
Ask the Clerk of Courts office in Lewisburg about refund timing.
Can we get a free lawyer in Union County?
At the first hearing, the judge must explain the right to free counsel (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(F)(1); Pa.R.Crim.P. 122). Ask about the Union County Public Defender. Counsel can file a bail motion (Pa.R.Crim.P. 529(c)).
Is there a limit on Union County pretrial jail?
The usual limit is 180 days (Pa.R.Crim.P. 600(B)). Then nominal bail may be sought (Pa.R.Crim.P. 600(D)(2)). Defense delays may not count (Pa.R.Crim.P. 600(C)). Non-bailable cases are excluded (Pa.R.Crim.P. 600(B)).
What happens when a Union County teen is arrested?
A child is held only for safety or flight risk (42 Pa.C.S. §6325). Intake staff release most youth right away (42 Pa.C.S. §6331). A hearing comes within 72 hours (42 Pa.C.S. §6332). The youth may have a lawyer there (42 Pa.C.S. §6332).
What if the charge is federal in Union County?
Federal cases go to the U.S. District Court, Middle District (28 U.S.C. §118). The nearest clerk's office is at 240 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701. A federal judge decides release (18 U.S.C. §3142).
A county bond does not cover it.
How do we confirm a Union County bail amount?
Call the Clerk of Courts office in Lewisburg and the Union County Jail before you go.
- Ask about hours.
- Ask what payment they take.
- Have a photo ID.
- Bring the docket number.
Union County bail contacts
- Jail / booking
- Union County Jail, 103 South Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837, 570-524-8711
- Courthouse
- Union County Courthouse, 103 S. Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837, 570-524-8761
- Judicial district
- 17th Judicial District (with Snyder County)
- Public defender
- Union County Public Defender
- Federal court
- U.S. District Court, Middle District, 240 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701, 570-323-6380
- Inmate search
- Union County Inmate Search
Judges set release terms case by case. Nothing here is legal advice.
Union County Jail
Address:
103 South Second Street
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Phone:
570-524-8711
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Union County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Union County?
Who can set bail in Union County?
When is bail set in Union County Pennsylvania?
Does Union County have bail?
Yes, Union County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Union County?
Bail in Union 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 Union County?
Bail is set by a judge, either at a District Court or the Court of Common Pleas.
When is bail set in Union County 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.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Union 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 Union 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 Union 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, Union 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 Union 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 Union County Pennsylvania have bail?
Yes, Union County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Union County?
Bail in Union 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 Union County Pennsylvania?
Yes, your attorney may file a request for bail reduction or modification.
In Union 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 Union County Pennsylvania?
Yes, all Pennsylvania counties offer online bail payment.
You can also contact the jail by going to the Union County Jail for more information about online bail payments in Union County.
In the alternative, the Union County Clerk of Court or District Court staff can assist during working hours.
What options are there to pay bail in Union 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 Union County Jail for more information about posting bail in Union 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 Union 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 Union 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.