Orleans County Sheriff Inmate Bail & Bonds
Orleans County bail and bond: the Newport court and Northern State
Newport is where the Orleans County criminal court and a state prison both sit. Men arrested in Derby, Barton, Troy, or Craftsbury are usually held at the Northern State Correctional Facility, 802-334-3364. Inmate search: Orleans County Inmate Search.
Where is someone from Orleans County held after an arrest?
Most men stay in Newport, at the Northern State Correctional Facility, 2559 Glen Road, Newport, VT 05855, 802-334-3364.
Women go to the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in most cases. A short stay in Newport can come before the move.
Which court hears criminal cases from Derby and Barton?
The Orleans Criminal Division, 217 Main Street, Newport, VT 05855, 802-334-3325. It is on Main Street in downtown Newport. Orleans, Troy, Irasburg, Glover, Craftsbury, Coventry, and Jay cases are heard there too.
When is the Newport court open?
Its hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays only. It closes for holidays, and on the third Wednesday of each month the office stays shut until noon.
How can I tell if someone from Orleans County is locked up?
Use Orleans County Inmate Search. Sign up on VINELink for free custody updates. Northern State takes calls at 802-334-3364.
Who sets bail after a Newport arrest?
It can be a judge or a court clerk (13 V.S.A. § 7554). If the arrest happens late, the officer calls the judicial officer on call (V.R.Cr.P. 5). For a charge carrying less than two years, someone the Court Administrator has named can set it before arraignment (13 V.S.A. § 7559a).
Does an arrest in Derby or Newport usually mean bail?
No. The judge has to think first about release on the person's promise to come back (13 V.S.A. § 7554). Money can only be used when there is a flight risk, and the judge must keep the terms as light as they can be.
A misdemeanor ticket rules out bail at the first hearing. On many minor charges, $200 is the limit (13 V.S.A. § 7551).
What kinds of bail does the Newport court set?
One kind is a deposit with the clerk of not more than 10 percent of the bond, which is paid back if the person shows up (13 V.S.A. § 7554(a)(1)(D)). Another is the full sum in cash, or a surety bond (13 V.S.A. § 7554(a)(1)(E)). The judge chooses.
Can I use a bondsman for an Orleans County case?
Only one the state has approved (13 V.S.A. § 7554a). The approved bail bond agents list is the place to look. Their fee is not paid back.
Where is bail paid for a Newport case?
Pay the clerk on Main Street while the court is open. When it is closed, pay at Northern State on Glen Road (13 V.S.A. § 7559a). Staff there give a receipt and send the payment to the court (Judiciary testimony, Jan. 2025).
Call before you go and ask what kinds of payment work. Court: 802-334-3325. Facility: 802-334-3364.
How soon does someone held in Newport see a judge?
Promptly, with no needless waiting (V.R.Cr.P. 5). People are usually seen on the next court day, many times by video from the facility (Judiciary testimony, Jan. 2025). A judge must look at probable cause within 48 hours.
Can someone in Orleans County be held with no bail?
Yes, for a small set of serious charges. That includes crimes that can mean life when the evidence is strong (13 V.S.A. § 7553), and violent felonies when the person is a serious danger (13 V.S.A. § 7553a). A trial must then begin within 60 days (13 V.S.A. § 7553b).
How do I ask to lower bail on a Newport case?
Ask the court for a bail review. Someone who stays jailed because they cannot pay must have it heard within 48 hours (13 V.S.A. § 7554(d)). A Supreme Court justice can review it after that (13 V.S.A. § 7556).
What if someone skips a Newport court date?
The court can issue a warrant and keep the bail once it holds a hearing (13 V.S.A. § 7560a). Failure to appear is a separate crime with a penalty of up to two years or $5,000 (13 V.S.A. § 7559).
Does a public defender cost money in Orleans County?
Usually some. The fee is at least $50 for most adults and is due within 60 days (13 V.S.A. § 5238). Higher earners pay a larger part. No child is ever charged.
Is there a tribal court for Orleans County arrests?
No. Vermont recognizes the Nulhegan Abenaki, but the federal government does not. Arrests in Newport, Derby, and every other town go through state courts.
Where does a youth case from Orleans County go?
Generally the Family Division takes it. For a serious listed crime, a youth aged 14 to 16 has the right to a hearing within 24 hours (13 V.S.A. § 7554(j)).
Is a ticket near the Derby Line border a bail case?
If it is a civil ticket, no. The Judicial Bureau, a statewide court with its clerk in White River Junction, decides those, and no one is jailed. See the Judicial Bureau page.
Where would a federal case from Orleans County be heard?
In Burlington or Rutland, the two federal courthouses in Vermont. See the federal court locations page. Federal release is decided under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 3142).
Who do I call to confirm an Orleans County bail?
On weekdays, call the Orleans Criminal Division at 802-334-3325. After hours, call Northern State at 802-334-3364.
Orleans County bail contacts
- Usual facility
- Northern State Correctional Facility, 2559 Glen Road, Newport, VT 05855; 802-334-3364
- Women
- Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, 7 Farrell Street, South Burlington, VT 05403; 802-863-7356
- Court
- Orleans Criminal Division, 217 Main Street, Newport, VT 05855; 802-334-3325
- Inmate search
- Orleans County Inmate Search
This page is not legal advice.
Orleans County Sheriff
Address:
5578 US Route 5
Derby, VT 05855
Phone:
802-334-3333
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Orleans County
Does Orleans County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Orleans County?
Who can set bail in Orleans County?
When is bail set in Orleans County Vermont?
Does Orleans County have bail?
Yes, Orleans County recognizes most types of bonds.
In Vermont, bail is not imposed at the initial appearance for misdemeanor offenses unless the defendant is deemed a flight risk. In the case of a flight risk, a $200 bail is set. For felonies and infrequent misdemeanor bail amounts, the defendant can pay the full amount to the court or use a commercial bond agency that is approved by the State of Vermont.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Orleans County?
Orleans County offers several types of bail including own recognizance, conditional release, and cash bail. State law requires the release on own recognizance unless the court has reason to believe the defendant will not appear for all hearings.
Who can set bail in Orleans County?
A judge or court clerk determines bail until the time of arraignment. State law requires the release on own recognizance unless the court has reason to believe the defendant will not appear for all hearings.
When is bail set in Orleans County Vermont?
Bail is set during the first court appearance, also known as an arraignment hearing. This hearing will be set on the first available court date after arrest, not counting weekends or holidays.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance. In Orleans County.
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 Orleans 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 Orleans County Sheriff 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 thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond through a bond company right away.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
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.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
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 Orleans 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. In Vermont, the judge will set bail at either cash, ROR with conditions or obtaining a bond through a bond company.
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 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. The following examples are types of bonds that a bond agent might consider:
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.)
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 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.
Does Orleans County have bail?
Yes, Orleans County recognizes most types of bonds.
In Vermont, bail is not imposed at the initial appearance for misdemeanor offenses unless the defendant is deemed a flight risk. In the case of a flight risk, a $200 bail is set. For felonies and infrequent misdemeanor bail amounts, the defendant can pay the full amount to the court or use a commercial bond agency that is approved by the State of Vermont.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Orleans County?
Orleans County offers several types of bail including own recognizance, conditional release, and cash bail. State law requires the release on own recognizance unless the court has reason to believe the defendant will not appear for all hearings.
Who can set bail in Orleans County?
A judge or court clerk determines bail until the time of arraignment. State law requires the release on own recognizance unless the court has reason to believe the defendant will not appear for all hearings.
When is bail set in Vermont?
Bail is set during the first court appearance, also known as an arraignment hearing. This hearing will be set on the first available court date after arrest, not counting weekends or holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Orleans County Vermont?
Yes, your attorney may file a motion requesting bail be reduced or modified.
In Orleans County Vermont, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail could be the arrested, a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court. 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 Vermont could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Orleans County Vermont?
Yes, Orleans County does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Orleans County Sheriff's Office for more information about paying bail online.
What options are there to pay bail in Orleans County Vermont?
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 Orleans County Sheriff's Office for more information about paying bail online.
An alternative would be to contact the Clerk of Court during working hours.
Will I get all my bond money back in Vermont?
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 Orleans 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.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Vermont?
The Orleans County Sheriff 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.