Norfolk City Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Norfolk city, Norfolk

Virginia • Norfolk city • Bail & bond help

City of Norfolk: getting someone released

This page covers arrests inside the City of Norfolk. All of them start at the city jail downtown.

1. Which jail holds city arrestees?

The Norfolk City Jail, 811 East City Hall Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510. Phone 757-664-4700.

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2. Who decides bail?

The magistrate at 811 East City Hall Avenue, Rm 109, Norfolk, VA 23510, 757-664-4198.

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3. Is there pretrial supervision?

Yes. Norfolk judges can release people to a pretrial agency that checks in with them (Va. Code § 19.2-152.4:3).

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4. How do I search?

5. How fast does Norfolk city set bail?

Normally the same night. Booking is at the City Jail on East City Hall Avenue, and the magistrate's office is inside that building (Va. Code § 19.2-80). Release might be on a signature alone, on an unsecured sum, or only once money or property backs it (Va. Code § 19.2-123).

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6. What can I use to pay a Norfolk city bond?

Cash at the magistrate, open all night (Va. Code § 19.2-48.1), 757-664-4198. Equity in Virginia real estate also counts. Or hire a DCJS-licensed bondsman (Va. Code § 9.1-185), whose 10% to 15% fee isn't refunded (Va. Code § 9.1-185.8).

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7. Is Norfolk city bail ever revisited?

Yes. A district judge reviews it the first court day for anyone in custody (Va. Code § 19.2-158) and explains the right to counsel (Va. Code § 19.2-159). Later bail motions and Circuit Court appeals (Va. Code § 19.2-124) are possible.

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8. Which courts handle Norfolk city cases?

All are in the St. Paul's Boulevard complex. District court tries misdemeanors, with a 10-day appeal window (Va. Code § 16.1-132), and holds felony preliminary hearings (Va. Code § 19.2-218). Indicted felonies are tried in Circuit Court. Youth and household cases are in JDR (Va. Code § 16.1-241).

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9. Can someone in Norfolk city get a court-appointed lawyer?

When jail is possible and they can't pay, a judge appoints one after a sworn finance form (Va. Code § 19.2-159).

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10. What follows a no-show in Norfolk city?

A capias, a forfeited bond and possibly a separate charge under state law (Va. Code § 19.2-128).

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11. What conditions can a Norfolk city bond include?

Magistrates often bar contact with a victim or order the defendant to keep away from places (Va. Code § 19.2-123); after a household arrest, an emergency protective order is common (Va. Code § 16.1-253.4). Another state's warrant can keep someone jailed after bond (Va. Code § 19.2-102) (Va. Code § 19.2-85).

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12. Where are federal arrests from Norfolk city handled?

Downtown, at the Eastern District of Virginia, where a U.S. magistrate judge decides release (18 U.S.C. § 3142).

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13. How do I visit or locate a Norfolk city inmate?

Call the jail at 757-664-4700 about visits and deposits. Moves to state prison show up in the inmate search.

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14. What happens to Norfolk city bail money afterward?

Cash is returned after the case if all dates were kept, minus fines. Sureties take the risk of paying after a missed date (Va. Code § 19.2-143) and are allowed to surrender the defendant (Va. Code § 19.2-149).

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15. Which offices confirm a City of Norfolk bond?

Jail: 757-664-4700. Magistrate: 757-664-4198. Circuit Court clerk: 757-389-8942.

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Contacts for Norfolk city

Jail
Norfolk City Jail, 811 East City Hall Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510; 757-664-4700
Magistrate
811 East City Hall Avenue, Rm 109, Norfolk, VA 23510; 757-664-4198
District court
150 Saint Paul's Blvd, Room 3202, Norfolk, VA 23510; 757-664-4910
Circuit court
150 St. Paul's Boulevard, 7th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510; 757-389-8942
Inmate search
Norfolk city inmate search

This page is not legal advice.

Norfolk City Jail 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 Norfolk City Jail by calling 757-664-4700 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.

Norfolk City Jail

Address:
811 East City Hall Ave.
Norfolk, VA 23510

Phone:

757-664-4700

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Norfolk city, Norfolk


Does Norfolk city, Norfolk have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Norfolk city, Norfolk?

Who can set bail in Norfolk city, Norfolk?

When is bail set in Norfolk city, Norfolk Virginia?


Does Norfolk city, Norfolk have bail?

Yes,  Norfolk city, Norfolk recognizes most types of bonds.


What kind of bonds are accepted in Norfolk city, Norfolk?

There are three types of bail available in Norfolk city, Norfolk: release on own recognizance, unsecured bail, and secured bail.


Who can set bail in Norfolk city, Norfolk?

Bail is set by a magistrate at the first court date, also known as first appearance. 


When is bail set in Norfolk city, Norfolk Virginia?

The first court date, or first appearance is generally scheduled within 1-3 days of arrest.

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in Norfolk city, Norfolk 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 Norfolk city, Norfolk 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 Norfolk City 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, Norfolk city, Norfolk 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 Norfolk city, Norfolk?

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 Norfolk city, Norfolk have bail?  

Yes,  Norfolk city, Norfolk recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Norfolk city, Norfolk? 

There are three types of bail available in Norfolk city, Norfolk: release on own recognizance, unsecured bail, and secured bail.

Who can set bail in Norfolk city, Norfolk?  

Bail is set by a magistrate at the first court date, also known as first appearance. 

When is bail set in Virginia?  

The first court date, or first appearance is generally scheduled within 1-3 days of arrest.

Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Norfolk city, Norfolk Virginia? 

Yes, your attorney can file a motion to request a reduction or modification of bail.

In Norfolk city, Norfolk Virginia, 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 Virginia could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.

Can bail be paid online in Norfolk city, Norfolk Virginia?  

Virginia counties do not currently offer online bail payments. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Norfolk City Jail for more information about the jails in Norfolk city, Norfolk.

What options are there to pay bail in Norfolk city, Norfolk Virginia? 

Cash, check, money order, or surety. Use of a surety may require hiring a bail bond agent. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Norfolk City Jail for more information about posting bail in Norfolk city, Norfolk.  

Will I get all my bond money back in Virginia? 

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 Norfolk city, Norfolk? 

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 Virginia?  

The Norfolk City 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Norfolk city, Norfolk