Rockingham/Harrisonburg Regional Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail: how bail works
Rockingham County and the City of Harrisonburg share one jail, one magistrate office and one set of courts in downtown Harrisonburg. When the jail is full, some people are moved to Middle River Regional Jail in Staunton. Here is what families need to know about getting someone out.
Who gets locked up at this jail?
Adults picked up in Rockingham County or the City of Harrisonburg. That includes arrests by city police, county deputies, state troopers and the town officers of Bridgewater, Broadway, Dayton, Elkton, Grottoes and Timberville. The Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail is downtown at 25 South Liberty Street.
Why was my family member moved to Staunton?
The Liberty Street building is small and often full. Since 2015, Rockingham and Harrisonburg have also been partners in the Middle River Regional Jail at 350 Technology Drive, Staunton, VA 24401 (540-245-5420). Extra inmates are sent there, about 25 minutes down I-81. The bail and the court case do not change after a move.
Who decides release after an arrest?
A magistrate, not the jail or the police. The office is in the jail building on Liberty Street (540-564-3848). Officers must bring the person there without delay (Va. Code § 19.2-80), and the magistrate holds a bail hearing right then. Virginia also lets magistrates handle this by two-way video.
How does the magistrate pick the terms?
There is no price list for charges in Virginia. The magistrate weighs things like the charge, any gun use, the strength of the case, work, school, family, how long the person has lived here, their record and any past missed court dates (Va. Code § 19.2-120). The terms also have to fit what the person can pay (Va. Code § 19.2-121).
Is release a right in Virginia?
For most people, yes. The law says a person must be admitted to bail unless there is probable cause that they won't come to court or that freeing them would put the public, family members or themselves in unreasonable danger (Va. Code § 19.2-120). Since 2021 there is no longer a list of charges that start out presumed to be held.
What release choices does the magistrate have?
A signature promise, an unsecured bond (pay only if you skip), or a secured bond, meaning money or property is put up before release (Va. Code § 19.2-123). Smaller first offenses often get the first two. Felonies and repeat arrests more often need money posted.
How do we post a secured bond?
Go to the magistrate at 25 South Liberty Street with cash, or with a deed to Virginia property worth enough to cover it. Only the owner's real share of the property counts. The other way is to hire a licensed bail bondsman, who posts the whole amount for a fee. Bonds can be posted at night.
How much will a bondsman take?
Between 10% and 15% of the bond amount; Virginia does not allow more or less (Va. Code § 9.1-185.8). Example: a $5,000 bond costs $500 to $750, plus any small admin fee. That money is not returned. Use a bondsman licensed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (Va. Code § 9.1-185).
Do Harrisonburg and Rockingham use the same courts?
They do. The shared General District Court is in Room 132 at 53 Court Square (540-564-3130). The JDR court is in Suite 214 of that same building (540-564-3370). The Circuit Court is across the square at 80 Court Square (540-564-3111).
Cases stay with the local courts of the place where the arrest happened, even if the person is being held in Staunton.
How is a misdemeanor handled differently from a felony?
Misdemeanors carry up to 12 months in jail. A district judge hears them, with no jury (Va. Code § 16.1-123.1). Someone who loses has 10 days to send the case up to Circuit Court for a fresh trial (Va. Code § 16.1-132).
Felonies can bring prison time. They start in district court with a preliminary hearing (Va. Code § 19.2-218). If the judge finds enough proof, the case goes to a grand jury and then to trial in Circuit Court.
When does a judge first see someone who is still in jail?
On the first day the district court is in session after the charge (Va. Code § 19.2-158). Often this happens by video from the jail or from Middle River. The judge reads the bail and asks whether the person wants a lawyer. A lawyer can then ask for a bail hearing, which must happen within three business days.
Can the bail decision be appealed?
Yes. A magistrate's ruling can go to the district court. After that, it can go to the Circuit Court on Court Square, and then to higher courts (Va. Code § 19.2-124). Prosecutors can appeal too. New facts help most: a job, a stable address, or a spot in treatment.
Is a court-appointed lawyer possible?
Yes, when jail is a possible sentence and the person signs a sworn statement showing they can't pay (Va. Code § 19.2-159). The judge reviews it at the first hearing.
What conditions do judges here add?
Typical ones are a curfew, staying away from someone, no drinking, drug tests, or GPS on a secured bond (Va. Code § 19.2-123). A pretrial services officer may supervise the person and run the testing (Va. Code § 19.2-152.4:3). An arrest for hurting a family member usually brings an emergency protective order for about three days (Va. Code § 16.1-253.4).
What if a JMU or EMU student is arrested?
Students go through the same steps as residents. Leaving town for break doesn't excuse a court date, and a missed date leads to an arrest order. Families back home can post bond the same ways locals do.
What happens with juveniles?
Anyone under 18 is sent to the JDR court in Suite 214 (Va. Code § 16.1-241), not to adult district court. Juveniles are not kept at Liberty Street. An intake officer or judge decides whether they go home or to juvenile detention.
Where do federal cases from here go?
Right in town. Harrisonburg has a federal courthouse for the Western District of Virginia. There, a federal magistrate judge sets release under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 3142), and local bondsmen do not post federal bonds.
What follows a missed court date?
An arrest order called a capias. The bond is forfeited, and there may be a separate charge for not showing up (Va. Code § 19.2-128). If the person is returned within 150 days, the court may set the forfeiture aside on a motion (Va. Code § 19.2-143).
What does it mean to sign as a surety?
You promise the court the person will show up. Should they skip, the court can make you pay the bond. You can end that risk by turning the person in to the jail or the court (Va. Code § 19.2-149). Cash bail goes back to the payer once the case ends and every date was met.
Who can confirm the bond before I make the trip?
Jail: 540-564-3800. Magistrate: 540-564-3848. Middle River, if the person was moved: 540-245-5420. District court clerk: 540-564-3130. Look the person up first with the Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail Inmate Search.
Contacts for Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail
- Jail
- Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail, 25 South Liberty Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801; 540-564-3800
- Overflow jail
- Middle River Regional Jail, 350 Technology Drive, Staunton, VA 24401; 540-245-5420
- Magistrate
- 25 South Liberty Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801; 540-564-3848
- District court
- 53 Court Square, Room 132, Harrisonburg, VA 22801; 540-564-3130
- JDR court
- 53 Court Square, Suite 214, Harrisonburg, VA 22801; 540-564-3370
- Circuit court
- 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802; 540-564-3111
- Inmate search
- Rockingham-Harrisonburg Regional Jail Inmate Search
This page is not legal advice.
Rockingham/Harrisonburg Regional Jail
Address:
25 South Liberty Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801-3714
Phone:
540-564-3800
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Rockingham County
Does Rockingham County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Rockingham County?
Who can set bail in Rockingham County?
When is bail set in Rockingham County Virginia?
Does Rockingham County have bail?
Yes, Rockingham County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Rockingham County?
There are three types of bail available in Rockingham County: release on own recognizance, unsecured bail, and secured bail.
Who can set bail in Rockingham County?
Bail is set by a magistrate at the first court date, also known as first appearance.
When is bail set in Rockingham County 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 Rockingham 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 Rockingham 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 Rockingham/Harrisonburg Regional 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, Rockingham 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 Rockingham 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 Rockingham County have bail?
Yes, Rockingham County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Rockingham County?
There are three types of bail available in Rockingham County: release on own recognizance, unsecured bail, and secured bail.
Who can set bail in Rockingham County?
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 Rockingham County Virginia?
Yes, your attorney can file a motion to request a reduction or modification of bail.
In Rockingham County 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 Rockingham County Virginia?
Virginia counties do not currently offer online bail payments. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Rockingham/Harrisonburg Regional Jail for more information about the jails in Rockingham County.
What options are there to pay bail in Rockingham County 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 Rockingham/Harrisonburg Regional Jail for more information about posting bail in Rockingham County.
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 Rockingham 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 Virginia?
The Rockingham/Harrisonburg Regional 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.