Island County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Island County

Washington • Island County • Bail & bond help

Island County bail and bond: the Coupeville jail and what to do next

People arrested anywhere on Whidbey or Camano Island are held at the Island County Jail, 503 North Main Street, Coupeville. Island County has no city jails. Look up a person with Island County Inmate Search, then call the Sheriff's Office at 360-678-4422 with anything the search does not answer. A judge sets bail, and the court's rules allow several ways to pay it. Details for each step follow.

How do I find out if she is in the Coupeville jail?

Start with Island County Inmate Search. Corrections deputies staff the jail around the clock, so a new booking can appear at any hour. If the search shows nothing, call the Sheriff's Office at 360-678-4422 or the jail administration office at 360-679-7317. Have her full name and birth date ready.

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Who runs the jail, and who sets the bail amount?

Sheriff Rick Felici's office runs the Island County Jail. It does not set bail. A judge does, in the court that has the charge. Jail staff carry out the order. If you think an amount is wrong, a lawyer must ask the judge to change it.

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When does a judge first look at an arrest?

Washington law gives the court 48 hours to find probable cause after an arrest without a warrant, and weekends count. The accused must also see a judge no later than the close of business on the next court day. That hearing can happen by video, and any side may ask for it in person. The judge appoints a lawyer if the person needs one.

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Are some arrests handled in person only?

Yes. Island County District Court requires a person arrested for domestic violence to appear personally for arraignment. The same is true for the first hearing after a DUI or physical-control arrest. In domestic violence cases the court sets bail at the first appearance. Expect a hold until then.

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Can she go home without paying a dollar?

She can. The court may release a person on a promise to come back, called a recognizance bond. In Island County District Court that kind of release needs approval from the prosecutor or the judge. The judge can also add conditions, such as staying away from a person, avoiding alcohol, or reporting to a supervisor.

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What forms of payment does bail allow?

District Court rules name the ways bail may be posted: cash, a cashier's or certified check, a money order, a traveler's check, a credit card charge, a trust account check, or a bail bond. Ask a corrections deputy at the jail which of these the jail window takes, and what hours it keeps. Get a written receipt that shows the case number.

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Is a bail bond agent necessary?

Only when you cannot cover the full bail. Bail bond agents in Washington are licensed by the Department of Licensing. The agent charges a fee, and the fee stays with the agent even when the case ends well. Read the contract for collateral, check-in duties, and what happens if the person misses court. The jail will not choose an agent for you.

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Can land or a home secure a bond?

Some courts accept property. Washington requires property bond agents to hold their own license and to tell the state which courts approved their bonds. Ask the court handling the charge what documents it wants, and ask the lawyer who is helping you what proof of ownership and value to bring.

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Why does the roster show a hold with no bail amount?

A judge may not have seen the person yet. A person charged with an offense that carries possible life in prison, including class A felonies, can be held without bail after a hearing if the proof of danger is clear and convincing. A probation hold or a warrant from another place also stops release.

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Which police departments book into this jail?

Island County has no city jails. Arrests by the Sheriff's Office and by the police of Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley that lead to custody end at the Coupeville jail. The Sheriff's Office also keeps a Freeland office at 360-321-5113 and a Camano Island office at 360-629-4523. Those are sheriff's offices, not jails.

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I live on Camano Island. Where do I go?

The jail is on Whidbey Island at 503 North Main Street, Coupeville. The Camano Island sheriff's office is at 121 North East Camano Drive, and it answers at 360-629-4523, but it is not a jail window.

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What do recognizance, surety and bond mean?

A recognizance is a signed promise to come to court. A bond is a promise backed by money. A surety is a person or company that stands behind the promise, which is what a licensed bail bond agent does. Cash bail is money you hand the court in place of that promise. Washington lets the accused choose a surety instead of putting up all the cash.

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Can the judge order no contact as a condition of release?

Yes. When someone is freed on bail or a promise to appear, the judge can bar contact with a victim or family member, keep the person away from a home, job or school, and add monitoring. A violation can mean a new arrest even when the other person invites contact. Read the written order and keep a copy.

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Where will the case be heard?

Misdemeanors go to Island County District Court, 800 SE 8th Avenue, Oak Harbor, 360-675-5988. That court also hears city cases from Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley. Felonies go to Superior Court in the Whidbey Law and Justice Center, 101 NE 6th Street, Coupeville, 360-679-7359.

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How does Island County help someone with no money for a lawyer?

Tell the judge at the first hearing. Island County Public Defense, 1 NE 7th Street, Coupeville, handles appointed cases and answers at 360-678-5700. The court will ask about your income and bills before it assigns one.

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Where does the county hold a teenager?

Island County runs its own youth lockup, the Juvenile Detention Center at 501 North Main Street, Coupeville. It has 21 beds and is staffed all day and night. Call 360-679-7325 or 360-678-2344. Parents and guardians may visit from 6 to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

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What if she misses a court date?

The judge can issue a warrant and take the bond. Do not wait. Call her lawyer and the court right away. Some judges will recall a warrant after a prompt call, but that is the judge's choice.

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Does the money come back?

Cash bail is tied to the court case. When the case ends, ask the court that set the bail how to claim it. A bond agent's fee does not come back. Keep every receipt.

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Key contacts for Island County bond questions

County jail
Island County Jail, 503 North Main Street, Coupeville, WA 98239; jail administration 360-679-7317
Bond help
Island County bail and bond help
Custody lookup
Island County Inmate Search
Sheriff's Office
Law and Justice Building, 101 NE 6th Street, Coupeville; 360-678-4422; weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
District Court
800 SE 8th Avenue, Oak Harbor, WA 98277; 360-675-5988
Superior Court
Whidbey Law and Justice Center, 101 NE 6th Street, Coupeville; 360-679-7359
Public defense
Island County Public Defense, 1 NE 7th Street, Coupeville; 360-678-5700
Youth detention
Juvenile Detention Center, 501 North Main Street, Coupeville; 360-679-7325

Rules, hours and fees change, and each judge can order something different. Phone the jail or the court before you travel or send money. Nothing on this page replaces advice from a lawyer.

Island County Jail

Address:
503 N Main Street
Coupeville, WA 98239
Phone:
360-678-4422

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Island County


Does Island County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Island County?

Who can set bail in Island County?

When is bail set in Island County Washington?

 

 

Does Island County have bail?

Yes,  Island County recognizes most types of bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Island County?

Bonds in Island County are available in several forms including release on own recognizance, citation release, cash bail, property bond, and surety bond.

 

 

Who can set bail in Island County?

For minor, non-violent crimes bail is set according to a bail schedule. For more serious offenses a judge will set the bond following a hearing.

 

 

When is bail set in Island County Washington?

For minor, non-violent offenses when bail is set according to a bail schedule the defendant will be informed of bail during the booking process. For more serious offenses a bail hearing will be scheduled, usually on the next court date not including weekends or holidays.

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in Island 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. 

Washington State's suggested bail schedule, though a judge has the authority to set bail above or below the suggested amounts:

If a judge in Washington 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 Island 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, Island 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 Island 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 Island County have bail?  

Yes,  Island County recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Island County?

Bonds in Island County are available in several forms including release on own recognizance, citation release, cash bail, property bond, and surety bond.

Who can set bail in Island County?  

For minor, non-violent crimes bail is set according to a bail schedule. For more serious offenses a judge will set the bond following a hearing.

When is bail set in Washington?  

For minor, non-violent offenses when bail is set according to a bail schedule the defendant will be informed of bail during the booking process. For more serious offenses a bail hearing will be scheduled, usually on the next court date not including weekends or holidays.

Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Island County Washington? 

Yes, your attorney can file a motion to reduce or modify bail.

In Island County Washington, 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 Washington could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.

Can bail be paid online in Island County Washington?

Yes, Washington does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Island County Jail for more information about the jails in Island County.

What options are there to pay bail in Island County Washington? 

Cash, cashier’s check, credit card, debit card, surety or via the inmate’s jail account. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted and fees involved: Go to the Island County Jail for more information about posting bail in Island County.  

Will I get all my bond money back in Washington?

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 Island 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 Washington?  

The Island 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 at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Island County

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.