Okanogan Co. Juvenile Detention Fac Inmate Bail & Bonds
Okanogan County bail and bond: the county jail, the courts and the Colville Tribal Jail
Adults arrested in Okanogan County are held at the Okanogan County Jail. People under Colville tribal jurisdiction may instead be held at the Colville Tribal Jail. Check county custody with Okanogan County Inmate Search. The District Court clerk at 509-422-7170 can give the charge, the bail amount and the next hearing. A judge sets bail, and the sections below explain each step.
1. How do I check whether she is in the Okanogan County Jail?
Search her name at Okanogan County Inmate Search. If the page shows nothing, call the County Clerk at 509-422-7275 or District Court at 509-422-7170. The courts know who has an open case, the charge, and the next hearing. A brand-new booking can take time to appear. Know her full name and birth date before you call. Ask also which agency made the arrest, because that agency can say where she was taken.
2. Who sets bail, and where do I ask about it?
A judge sets it, in the court that has the charge. District Court, 149 North 3rd Avenue, Room 306, Okanogan, hears misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors. Superior Court, 149 3rd Avenue North, hears felonies. The clerks at 509-422-7170 and 509-422-7130 can tell you the amount once a judge has set it.
3. What are the first steps after an arrest?
Police have 48 hours to get a judge to find probable cause when they arrest without a warrant. Weekends and holidays count. The person must also go before a judge by the close of business on the next court day. That judge must provide a lawyer, explain the charge and the right to stay silent, and consider release. If the judge finds no probable cause, the person must be let go.
4. Does the judge have to ask for money?
No. A person is first considered for release on a simple promise to appear. A judge may require reporting, travel limits or no-contact rules when the risk is higher. Bail in money is the next step, and the judge has to think about the person's income when picking an amount.
5. What do cash, surety and property bonds mean?
Cash means the whole bail amount goes to the court. A surety bond comes from a licensed bail bond agent who keeps a fee. A property bond uses real estate as security. Washington keeps the surety option open, so a judge may not require cash only.
6. How do I hire a bail bond agent?
Washington's Department of Licensing licenses bail bond agents. Ask to see the license. Learn the fee, any collateral, and how a missed hearing is handled before you sign. The fee is paid to the agent and is not returned when the case ends.
7. Can I use property to cover the bond?
A judge has to approve it. A property bond agent needs a separate license and has to give the state a list of courts that approved the agent's bonds. Call the Okanogan County Superior Court at 509-422-7130 to ask about the papers it requires.
8. What if the arrest happened on the Colville Reservation?
Tribal police can arrest people on tribal land, and tribal members may be held by the Colville Tribes. Non-members arrested on state charges are handled by Washington courts. If you cannot find the person on the county search, ask the arresting agency which jail holds the person, then call the matching court.
9. Can a judge bar contact as a release condition?
Yes. A judge can release someone and order no contact with a named person, no weapons, no alcohol, or a ban on certain places. The order must say in writing what is forbidden and what penalties follow. A violation can lead to a new arrest and to the loss of release.
10. What does "no bail" mean in Washington?
A judge can refuse bail in cases that may bring a life sentence, which includes every class A felony. This takes a hearing and clear and convincing proof of a propensity for violence that no release conditions can control. Other holds, such as a warrant from another county, can stop release too.
11. Is domestic violence treated differently?
A person arrested for domestic violence must appear before a judge within one judicial day, and the court can hold the person until then. The judge usually sets a no-contact order with the release.
12. What about a DUI arrest?
When an officer knows of a DUI-type offense within the prior ten years, the driver is held until a judge orders release. First-time arrests follow the standard release rules.
13. Which court hears cases from Omak, Brewster or Winthrop?
Omak Municipal Court is at 2 North Ash, 509-826-2971. Brewster Municipal Court is at 105 South 3rd Street, 509-689-2756. Winthrop Municipal Court is at 208 Riverside Avenue, 509-996-2320. Cases from Coulee Dam, Elmer City, Okanogan, Oroville, Pateros, Riverside, Tonasket and Twisp go to Okanogan County District Court.
14. What is the Colville Tribal Jail?
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation run their own jail in the Nespelem area. It holds people under tribal jurisdiction, and the tribal court is in Nespelem at 38 School Loop Road. Call the tribal court at 509-634-2500 to ask whether someone is held there. The county search shows only county bookings.
15. Is a free lawyer available through the county?
The Okanogan County Office of Public Defense, 149 North 3rd Avenue, Okanogan, answers at 509-422-7150. Ask the judge for a lawyer at the first hearing. The court must provide one at that hearing if you qualify. The court asks about your income first. District Court Probation Services, Room 101, is 509-422-7369.
16. Where does Okanogan County hold young people?
Okanogan County runs its own juvenile detention. Call 509-422-7260 for detention and 509-422-7250 for Juvenile Court, 237 North 4th Avenue, Okanogan.
17. What happens if the person does not come to court?
A warrant can be issued and a bond forfeited. If the court fails to send written notice to the bonding company within thirty days of the missed hearing, the forfeiture is void. Contact a lawyer or the clerk at once. Real bail goes only to a jail, a court or a licensed bond agent, so ignore any caller who asks for gift cards or app payments.
18. Does the money come back after the case?
Cash paid into the court is returned through the court. Ask the clerk at 509-422-7275 how to request it. The bond agent's fee stays with the agent.
Key contacts for Okanogan County bond questions
- County jail
- Okanogan County Jail; District Court 509-422-7170
- Bond help
- Okanogan County bail and bond help
- Custody lookup
- Okanogan County Inmate Search
- District Court
- 149 North 3rd Avenue, Room 306, Okanogan, WA 98840; 509-422-7170
- Superior Court
- 149 3rd Avenue North, Okanogan; 509-422-7130; Clerk 509-422-7275
- Public defense
- 509-422-7150
- Juvenile Court
- 237 North 4th Avenue, Okanogan; 509-422-7250; detention 509-422-7260
- Colville Tribal Court
- 38 School Loop Road, Nespelem; 509-634-2500
Rules, numbers and fees change over time. Confirm with the court clerk before paying. This guide offers general information and does not replace a lawyer.
Okanogan Co. Juvenile Detention Fac
Address:
237 4th Avenue North
2nd Floor
Okanogan, WA 98840
Phone:
509-422-7260
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Okanogan County
Does Okanogan County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Okanogan County?
Who can set bail in Okanogan County?
When is bail set in Okanogan County Washington?
Does Okanogan County have bail?
Yes, Okanogan County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Okanogan County?
Bonds in Okanogan 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 Okanogan 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 Okanogan 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 Okanogan 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 Okanogan Co. Juvenile Detention Fac 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, Okanogan 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 Okanogan 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 Okanogan County have bail?
Yes, Okanogan County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Okanogan County?
Bonds in Okanogan 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 Okanogan 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 Okanogan County Washington?
Yes, your attorney can file a motion to reduce or modify bail.
In Okanogan 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 Okanogan County Washington?
Yes, Washington does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Okanogan Co. Juvenile Detention Fac for more information about the jails in Okanogan County.
What options are there to pay bail in Okanogan 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 Okanogan Co. Juvenile Detention Fac for more information about posting bail in Okanogan 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 Okanogan 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 Okanogan Co. Juvenile Detention Fac 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.