Wahkiakum County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Wahkiakum County bail and bond: the Cathlamet jail and a Sheriff's Office that never closes
Adults arrested in Wahkiakum County are held at the Wahkiakum County Jail, 64 Main Street in Cathlamet, which the Sheriff's Office runs. The Sheriff's Office answers around the clock at 360-795-3242. Check custody with Wahkiakum County Inmate Search. Cash bail goes to the court during business hours and to the Sheriff's Office after hours. Bail bonds must come from a company the local courts have approved.
Is he in the jail in Cathlamet?
Type his name into Wahkiakum County Inmate Search. Wahkiakum County is small, and the Sheriff's Office books and holds its own prisoners at 64 Main Street. The Sheriff's Office is open 24 hours a day, every day, at 360-795-3242. Dial it for anything the search cannot answer.
Who runs the jail, and who do I ask for?
The Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office runs it, under Sheriff John Mason. The jail has a Jail Sergeant, who approves anything outside the standard property rules. After hours, the dispatcher answers the main number at 360-795-3242. Press 0 after the greeting.
What deadlines start running after an arrest here?
A judge has 48 hours after a warrantless arrest to find probable cause, and weekends and holidays use up that time. The first appearance is due as soon as practicable and no later than the close of business on the next court day, and the court provides counsel there.
The District Court meets only twice a month. Does he wait that long?
No. The regular criminal calendar meets twice a month at 9 a.m., but a new arrest cannot wait for it. The first appearance must occur by the close of business on the next court day, and a judge may hear it by video. The District Court clerk, 360-795-3461, can tell you how the hearing is being held.
Can I ask for a remote appearance?
The District Court accepts a Request to Appear Remotely form for people who cannot travel to Cathlamet. A court rule allows preliminary appearances, arraignments and bail hearings to be held by video when everyone can see and hear one another. Any party may ask for an in-person hearing. Ask the court clerk for the form.
Will he go home on a promise to appear?
Often, yes. Washington starts with release on a written promise. A judge departs from that only after finding the promise will not assure a return to court, or that a violent crime or witness threats are likely. The judge then adds conditions such as no contact, or sets bail after weighing the person's finances.
Where do I pay cash bail on a weekday?
If a court grants bail, you may pay the full amount in cash at the appropriate court during business hours. The District Court is at 64 Main Street, open Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to noon. The Superior Court clerk is at the same address, 360-795-3558.
How do I post bail at night or on a weekend?
After court hours, cash bail is paid at the Sheriff's Office. The office never closes, so call 360-795-3242 and ask who is on duty to take the payment. Ask for a written receipt. The jail's bail guide covers the steps for bonds.
How do I find an approved bail bond company?
Bail bonds come from approved bail bond companies. Get the approved list from the court or from the jail. Not every bail bond company is approved by the local courts, so confirm approval before you pay a fee. Washington requires every agent to hold a state license, and the Department of Licensing answers at 360-664-1809.
What does the bondsman's fee cover?
The agent guarantees the full bond to the court. In return, you pay a fee that is not refunded, even if the charges are dropped. The agent may ask for collateral and a signed contract. Read both before you sign, and ask for copies.
What happens if he misses a court date?
The court can order his arrest and forfeit the bond. If the surety gets no written notice within 30 days of the unexplained missed date, the forfeiture is void. Only failure to appear forfeits a surety bond. Cash paid to the court comes back through the court after the case ends, less any fines.
What about a domestic violence arrest?
The person is held until the first appearance, and nobody can post bail before the judge sees the case. The judge commonly issues a no-contact order that bars calls, texts and messages through friends or family, and may keep the person away from the home. An invitation from the protected person is no defense to a violation.
Does a DUI arrest follow different rules?
Yes. If the officer knows of a prior offense within ten years, or a pending charge that would count as one, the driver is held until a judicial officer releases him. A person who needs urgent medical care and is admitted to a hospital need not be held.
Can a judge deny bail entirely?
Only in narrow cases. The Washington Constitution allows denial for capital offenses and for offenses punishable by life in prison, which includes every class A felony. A hearing comes first, and the proof of violent propensity must be clear and convincing. Fast appellate review is available.
Who defends someone in Wahkiakum County who cannot pay?
Tell the judge at the first appearance that you cannot afford a lawyer. The court provides counsel at that hearing. The District Court clerk, 360-795-3461, and the Superior Court clerk, 360-795-3558, can say who was appointed.
When can I visit, and can I put money on his account?
In-person visits run Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., 15 minutes each, through a video terminal in the visitation area. Remote visits through CIDNET run Monday, Wednesday and Friday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., booked 12 hours to 14 days ahead. Call 360-795-3242 and press 0 to schedule. Account money buys commissary and is not bail.
Where are Wahkiakum County youths held?
Wahkiakum County's juvenile court sits in South Bend, at 300 Memorial Avenue, second floor, 360-875-9350. That office tells you which detention center holds a youth and when the hearing is. A youth sent from juvenile court to adult court is seen there by the close of the next court day.
Wahkiakum County bond contacts
- County jail
- Wahkiakum County Jail, 64 Main Street, Cathlamet, WA 98612; 360-795-3242
- Bond instructions
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Wahkiakum County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 64 Main Street, open 24 hours; 360-795-3242 then press 0 for dispatch
- District Court
- 64 Main Street; 360-795-3461
- Superior Court clerk
- 64 Main Street; 360-795-3558
- Public defense
- Appointed at first appearance; ask the District Court clerk, 360-795-3461
- Juvenile
- Juvenile Court, 300 Memorial Avenue, South Bend, WA; 360-875-9350
Court calendars, visiting hours and approved-company lists change. Call the Sheriff's Office before you travel to Cathlamet with money. This is a plain-language overview and does not replace a lawyer's advice.
Wahkiakum County Jail
Address:
64 Main Street
Cathlamet, WA 98612
Phone:
360-795-3242
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Wahkiakum County
Does Wahkiakum County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wahkiakum County?
Who can set bail in Wahkiakum County?
When is bail set in Wahkiakum County Washington?
Does Wahkiakum County have bail?
Yes, Wahkiakum County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wahkiakum County?
Bonds in Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum 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, Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum County have bail?
Yes, Wahkiakum County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wahkiakum County?
Bonds in Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum County Washington?
Yes, your attorney can file a motion to reduce or modify bail.
In Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum County Washington?
Yes, Washington does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Wahkiakum County Jail for more information about the jails in Wahkiakum County.
What options are there to pay bail in Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum County Jail for more information about posting bail in Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum 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.