Jefferson County Corrections Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Jefferson County bail and bond: the Port Hadlock jail and the Port Townsend courts
Adults arrested in Jefferson County are held at the Jefferson County Jail, 79 Elkins Road, Port Hadlock, which is run by the Sheriff's Office at 360-385-3831. Find out whether a person is in custody with Jefferson County Inmate Search. Port Townsend has no jail of its own. Its court cases are handled by Jefferson County District Court. A judge sets bail, and the steps below explain how release works.
Is my brother in the Port Hadlock jail?
Run his name through Jefferson County Inmate Search. If you get no match, phone the Sheriff's Office at 360-385-3831. A person picked up an hour ago may not be entered yet. Ask the dispatcher whether another agency or another county has him.
Where is the jail, and when is the office open?
The Jefferson County Jail is part of the Sheriff's Office at 79 Elkins Road, Port Hadlock, not at the courthouse in Port Townsend. The jail office keeps weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The jail holds people waiting for trial and people serving sentences. Some sentenced people qualify for a work release or work crew program instead of staying inside.
How and where can bail be paid?
Call the Sheriff's Office at 360-385-3831 and ask where the jail or the court takes bail, which hours apply, and which forms of payment are allowed. Pay only the office the dispatcher names. Ask for a receipt with the case number and the person's name. The money goes to the court that set the bail.
How long can police hold someone before a judge looks at the case?
No more than 48 hours before a judge must find probable cause for a warrantless arrest, and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are part of that count. The first hearing, where a lawyer is provided, must come by the close of business the next court day. Judges in Washington may run that hearing by video.
Is there a fixed price list for bail in Jefferson County?
For felonies, no. The law requires a judge to decide bail for class A and B felonies case by case. For misdemeanors, a statewide court rule gives local courts a default amount that a judge can change after a hearing. The District Court clerk at 360-385-9135 can tell you the figure on a specific charge.
Will the judge let him go without bail?
Often the answer starts as yes. The court's starting point is release on a promise to appear. A judge moves toward conditions or money only when the person is likely to skip court, may commit a violent crime, or may threaten witnesses or violate protection orders. The least strict choice that works is supposed to win, and the judge must consider what he can afford.
How do cash bail, a surety bond and a property bond differ?
Cash bail means the full amount paid to the court. A surety bond means a licensed bail bond agent promises the court the money, and you pay the agent a fee. A property bond uses land or a building as the guarantee. Washington protects the right to use a surety, so a court cannot demand cash alone.
What should I check before hiring a bail bond agent?
Make sure the agent holds a Washington license from the Department of Licensing. Ask the fee in dollars and whether any is refundable. Ask what collateral is needed and what happens if he misses court. The agent's fee is not returned when the case ends. Sign only after you have read every page.
Can I put up my house?
A property bond depends on the judge. Property bond agents need a separate state license and must tell the state which courts approved their bonds. Call the County Clerk at 360-385-9125 and ask what papers and what value the court expects.
What does it mean when no bail is allowed?
Washington lets a judge deny bail for offenses that can bring a life sentence, which includes every class A felony. The judge needs a hearing and clear and convincing proof that the person is prone to violence and that no release conditions would keep others safe. The person waits in jail for that hearing, and a ruling can be appealed on an expedited basis.
Why do domestic violence arrests seem slower?
A person arrested for domestic violence must see a judge within one judicial day of the arrest. Courts can hold the person until then. At that hearing the judge usually issues a no-contact order, and breaking it is a crime even if the other person asks to talk.
Do drunk driving arrests follow a special rule?
Yes, when there is a prior. An officer who knows of an earlier DUI or physical control offense within ten years must book the driver and keep him until a judge releases him by bail, promise, or order.
What if Port Townsend police made the arrest?
Port Townsend cases are heard by Jefferson County District Court, 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, 360-385-9135. A person held after a city arrest goes to the county jail in Port Hadlock. Ask the District Court clerk for the charge, bail amount and next hearing.
Which court handles which kind of case?
All of Jefferson County's courts sit at 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend. Superior Court, for felonies, is 360-385-9395. The County Clerk is 360-385-9125. District Court is 360-385-9135, and adult probation is 360-385-9211.
Who is my lawyer if I have no money?
Jefferson Associated Counsel at 624 Polk Street, Port Townsend, takes appointed cases. Call 360-385-5613. The judge appoints a lawyer at the first hearing after looking at your income.
Where are arrested youth held?
Jefferson County has no youth detention center of its own. A young person who must be held goes to a center in another county, such as Clallam County, Kitsap County or Yakima County. Call Jefferson County Juvenile Court at 360-385-9190 to learn where your child is and when the hearing is.
What happens when someone misses a Port Townsend court date?
A missed hearing can lead to a warrant and to a bond being forfeited. Under state law a bonding company must be told in writing within thirty days of an unexplained failure to appear, or the forfeiture is void. Contact the lawyer the same day.
How do I avoid paying a scammer?
Jail staff do not ask for gift cards or wire transfers to free someone. Use only numbers you look up yourself, like the Sheriff's Office at 360-385-3831 or the County Clerk at 360-385-9125.
Key contacts for Jefferson County bond questions
- County jail
- Jefferson County Jail, 79 Elkins Road, Port Hadlock, WA 98339; 360-385-3831
- Bond help
- Jefferson County bail and bond help
- Custody lookup
- Jefferson County Inmate Search
- Courthouse
- 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368
- Superior Court
- 360-385-9395; Clerk 360-385-9125
- District Court
- 360-385-9135
- Adult probation
- 360-385-9211
- Public defense
- Jefferson Associated Counsel, 624 Polk Street, Port Townsend; 360-385-5613
- Juvenile Court
- 360-385-9190
Hours, fees and rules can change without notice, so verify them by phone before paying. This guide explains common practice. It does not replace a lawyer.
Jefferson County Corrections Facility
Address:
81 Elkins Road
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone:
360-344-9743
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Jefferson County
Does Jefferson County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Jefferson County?
Who can set bail in Jefferson County?
When is bail set in Jefferson County Washington?
Does Jefferson County have bail?
Yes, Jefferson County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Jefferson County?
Bonds in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Corrections Facility 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, Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County have bail?
Yes, Jefferson County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Jefferson County?
Bonds in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Washington?
Yes, your attorney can file a motion to reduce or modify bail.
In Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Washington?
Yes, Washington does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Jefferson County Corrections Facility for more information about the jails in Jefferson County.
What options are there to pay bail in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Corrections Facility for more information about posting bail in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Corrections Facility 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.