Whitman County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Whitman County bail and bond: the Colfax jail, set bail amounts, and a cash-or-bondsman choice
Adults arrested anywhere in Whitman County, including Pullman, are held at the Whitman County Jail, 411 N. Mill Street in Colfax. The jail answers at 509-397-5585. Use Whitman County Inmate Search to see whether the person is in custody and what the bail is. Judges often set a cash amount, and the person goes home after you pay it in full or hire a bondsman. A cash-bail-only note on the charge rules out a bondsman.
1. Is my brother in the Colfax jail?
Check Whitman County Inmate Search first. It shows who is in custody and the bail amount. A booking from the last hour or two may take a while to appear. For anything the search leaves out, call the jail at 509-397-5585. Arrests by city and county officers in the county are booked into this one jail.
2. Where is the jail, and who runs it?
The Whitman County Jail is at 411 N. Mill Street in Colfax, in the same building as the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Brett Myers leads the office, which answers at 509-397-6266 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3. How soon does a judge see him?
Police that arrest without a warrant must get a judge's probable-cause finding within 48 hours, and weekends and holidays count. After that comes the first appearance, which must occur as soon as practicable and no later than the close of business on the next court day. The court names a lawyer there and takes up release.
4. What time are first appearances?
Superior Court takes felony first appearances at 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. on Friday. District Court takes misdemeanor first appearances at 1 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
5. What bail amounts apply in Whitman County?
District Court's local rule sets bail at $500 for a misdemeanor and $1,000 for a gross misdemeanor. A DUI or physical-control booking carries $1,000 unless a state hold rule applies. Felony bail follows a schedule the Superior Court sets. A judge may depart from any schedule, so the amount on the booking sheet can change after the hearing.
6. What does Cash Bail Only mean?
Judges often set a bail amount with a cash option. Usually you either hire a bondsman or pay the cash amount, not both. When an officer marks the charge Cash Bail Only, a bondsman cannot be used. Bail is not a percentage. You pay the full amount in cash.
7. How do I pay the cash amount?
Look up the amount through the county's inmate listing or ask an officer at 509-397-5585. Go to the jail in person with the full cash bail, or pay remotely through the jail's Inmate Canteen website. The jail accepts cash or certified checks only. Personal checks are refused. Cards work only for charges filed in Whitman County District Court.
8. Why does a check slow the release?
The jail verifies a certified check with the bank before it releases the person, and release waits for the bank to confirm. Cash avoids that delay.
9. How much does a bondsman charge?
That fee is not refunded. Find an agent through the phone book or the internet, and give the agent the charges and bond amounts. Washington guarantees the right to use a surety, and the state licenses agents. Check a name with the Department of Licensing at 360-664-1809. See also the bond guide.
10. What happens if he is arrested for domestic violence?
Under the District Court's local rule, a person arrested for domestic violence under the state arrest statute is held until a judge sees the case on the next judicial day, unless a judge orders otherwise. Bail cannot be posted before that hearing. Expect a no-contact order, which the protected person cannot cancel by asking to talk.
11. Do DUI arrests follow different rules?
Yes. Officers must hold certain DUI drivers, such as those with a prior offense within ten years, until a judicial officer releases them. A driver who needs urgent medical care and is admitted to a hospital need not be held. Bail for a booked DUI is $1,000 under the local rule.
12. Can he go home on a promise to appear?
That is the starting point for most charges. Washington presumes release on personal recognizance unless the judge finds the promise will not assure the person returns, or sees a likely danger of a violent crime or of witness threats. The judge uses the least restrictive conditions and weighs the person's finances before setting money bail.
13. When does a judge refuse bail entirely?
Only for capital offenses and for offenses punishable by life in prison, which includes every class A felony. The judge holds a hearing and must be convinced by clear and convincing evidence that the accused tends toward violence in a way no conditions can contain. Appellate review is available on an expedited basis.
14. Which court hears the case if the arrest was in Pullman?
Whitman County District Court has a Pullman branch at 325 SE Paradise Street, 509-332-2065, and a Colfax court at 400 N. Main Street, Suite 130, 509-397-6260. Colfax Municipal Court, 400 N. Mill Street, answers at 509-397-3861. Felonies go to Superior Court, Suite 210, 509-397-6244.
15. Who appoints a lawyer for a Whitman County defendant?
The judge does, at the first appearance, if the person cannot afford counsel. The Superior Court clerk, Suite 235 at 400 N. Main Street, answers at 509-397-6240, and District Court staff can say who was appointed.
16. Where does Whitman County hold juveniles?
Whitman County Juvenile Court is at 400 N. Main Street, Suite 201, 509-397-5300. Detention uses Martin Hall in Medical Lake, and the detention manager answers at 509-565-8118. When juvenile court declines a case, the youth goes before an adult court by the end of the next court day.
17. What happens if he misses court, and who refunds bail?
The judge may issue a warrant and forfeit the bond. The surety is entitled to written notice within 30 days of an unexplained missed date, or the forfeiture is void. District Court handles bail refunds on its cases once the case ends, less fines and costs. A bondsman's fee stays with the bondsman.
Whitman County bond contacts
- County jail
- Whitman County Jail, 411 N. Mill Street, Colfax, WA 99111; 509-397-5585
- Bond instructions
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Whitman County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 411 N. Mill Street; 509-397-6266; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Superior Court
- 400 N. Main Street, Suite 210; 509-397-6244; clerk, Suite 235, 509-397-6240
- District Court
- 400 N. Main Street, Suite 130; 509-397-6260; Pullman branch 509-332-2065
- Municipal Court
- Colfax, 400 N. Mill Street; 509-397-3861
- Probation
- 404 N. Main Street; 509-397-6265
- Juvenile
- Juvenile Court, Suite 201, 509-397-5300; detention at Martin Hall, Medical Lake, 509-565-8118
Court times, accepted payment and local rules change. A call to the jail before you leave saves a trip to Colfax. Use this page as background only; it is not legal advice.
Depositing Money in an Inmate's Account so that they can Self Bail
Whitman County Bail Bond Deposit
Whitman County Jail uses a third-party, Inmate Canteen, to let you use a credit or debit card to deposit funds into an inmate's account so that they can pay their bail and get released after an arrest.
- To begin the process, first call the Whitman County Jail at 509-397-5585 to get the exact amount needed to pay the bail.
- Next, go to Inmate Canteen, register and select this facility by first choosing Washington. Then you will select the inmate you want to deposit money for, then the amount.
- Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
There will be a delay between the time you deposit the money and when Inmate Canteen forwards it to the inmate's account, but the sooner you notify the inmate and the Whitman County Jail, the quicker they will be released.
Whitman County Jail
Address:
411 North Mill Street
Colfax, WA 99111
Phone:
509-397-5585
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Whitman County
Does Whitman County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Whitman County?
Who can set bail in Whitman County?
When is bail set in Whitman County Washington?
Does Whitman County have bail?
Yes, Whitman County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Whitman County?
Bonds in Whitman 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 Whitman 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 Whitman 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 Whitman 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 Whitman 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, Whitman 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 Whitman 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 Whitman County have bail?
Yes, Whitman County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Whitman County?
Bonds in Whitman 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 Whitman 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 Whitman County Washington?
Yes, your attorney can file a motion to reduce or modify bail.
In Whitman 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 Whitman County Washington?
Yes, Washington does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Whitman County Jail for more information about the jails in Whitman County.
What options are there to pay bail in Whitman 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 Whitman County Jail for more information about posting bail in Whitman 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 Whitman 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 Whitman 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.