Butler County Prison Inmate Bail & Bonds

Butler County Prison

Address:
202 S. Washington Street
Butler, PA 16003

Phone:

724-284-5256

Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Butler County

The Butler County Sheriff recommends that you use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Butler County.

  • You can pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Butler County, or in some cases the state of Pennsylvania, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Butler County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
  • The typical fee for a bond will be between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15%.  So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1500.00.

Call 724-284-5256 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Butler County inmate locator.


 

Who do I call to find out the Bond for an Inmate?

Please call the jail at 724-284-5256 for the type of bond and any information that is required for a particular individual at Butler County Prison.
A bond is set according to a court-approved schedule.
The purpose of the bond is to assure the offender's appearance in court.

Instructions on how to post Bail or Bond in Butler County

Because Butler County and Pennsylvania can change their bail bond procedures, it is always best to call either the Butler County Prison at 724-284-5256, or the court in the jurisdiction (i.e. Municipal Court, District Court, etc.) where the offender was charged, right after an arrestee has been booked. 

Ask the staff at the Butler County Prison or the Butler County Court Clerk these specific questions:

  1. Is the defendant eligible for bail or a bond?
  2. How much will the bail or bond be, and what are the additional fees?
  3. Where do I go to pay it?
  4. Are there any days or times of the day or night when I cannot post bail?
  5. What types of payment are allowed? Cash? Money order? Credit card? What types of credit cards? Property or other collateral? Surety bonds?
  6. Do I have to use a bail or bond agent?

If you feel the bail is too high and you wish to get it reduced, contact a lawyer or the defendant's public defender and get them to look into what they can do to get a bail reduction. The sooner you get working on this the quicker you will get your loved one released. 

This entire process will go smoother and faster with a criminal attorney or bail agent handling it for you.

Option 1 - How to Post Bail using Cash for a Defendant at Butler County Prison

The first option, a cash bond, is to pay the full bail amount in cash, cashier's check, or money order. Personal Checks are not accepted.

Depending on the crime, this amount could be anywhere from $100 to $75,000 or more.

To pay a cash bond, go to Butler County Prison or to the court where the bail hearing occurred. Going directly to the jail will quicken the release of the defendant as any bail paperwork processed at the court will have to be transferred to the jail.

Cashier's Checks and Money Orders may be made out to Butler County Prison where the defendant is being held, but usually to the Butler County Sheriff's Office or to the Butler County Court.

To purchase money orders visit any Western Union, Moneygram or Post Office.

Option 2 - How to Post a Private or Surety Bond for a Defendant at Butler County Prison

In the event that someone does not have the full bond amount available to him or her, there is what is called a private bond or surety bond.

This is an agreement made with a bail agent or bondsman who will post the full bail amount. In return, the defendant and/or cosigner will pay a premium to the bail agent. This premium will be 10-15% of the full bail amount.



For example, if bail is posted at $5,000, then the premium will cost approximately $500-$750.

A bail agent will often require some form of collateral, for example, a lien on a house, a car or jewelry. This is to ensure that if the defendant skips bail, or does not appear in court, the bail agent has some sort of compensation for the full bail amount being paid.

Remember, by making an agreement with a bail agent the signatory takes responsibility for paying the full bail amount if the defendant does not appear in court.

Option 3 - How to Post a Property Bond for a Defendant at Butler County Prison

If you are a landowner in Butler County you may be able to post a property bond. Property within Butler County may be used as collateral to bail someone out. All owners of the property must be present to sign the bond in order for this to happen.

To find if property located outside of Butler County can be used as collateral, call a local bail or bond agent or contact a defense lawyer.

Click here for additional information on how to post bail at Butler County Prison.

Who can post Bail or Bond for a Defendant at Butler County Prison?

Anyone over the age of 18 who can produce a valid government-issued photo ID can post bail. Accepted forms of ID include a Photo Driver's License, Passport, or Motor Vehicle issued ID.

In many circumstances, if the defendant has the resources, they can post their own cash bail from jail.

Surety Bonds are arranged by a third party, typically a Pennsylvania state licensed Bail Bond firm.

Juveniles may only be bailed or bonded out of custody by a parent or legal guardian.

Butler County Justice System Flowchart

When will the Cash Bail or Collateral be returned to me?

Money or collateral will not be returned until the defendant's court case is finished, so realistically it could take several months to years, depending on the severity of the charges. If a defendant posts his or her own bail, Butler County Court may retain whatever amount of fines or fees have accumulated throughout the trial.

What happens to my Bail or Collateral if the Defendant misses Court?

The Butler County Judge may order a failure to appear warrant for the person's arrest or the Judge may order a Bail Commissioner's Letter be issued that will be sent to the person with a new court date.

If cash bail was paid, the entire amount may be forfeited.

Butler County Bail Bond Information

Because Butler County and Pennsylvania can change their bail bond procedures, it is always best to call either the Butler County Prison at 724-284-5256, or the court in the jurisdiction (i.e. Municipal Court, District Court, etc.) where the offender was charged, and do this right after an arrestee has been booked. 

Ask the staff at the Butler County Prison or the Butler County Court Clerk these specific questions:

  1. Is the defendant eligible for bail or a bond?
  2. How much will the bail or bond be, and what are the additional fees?
  3. Where do I go to pay it?
  4. Are there any days or times of the day or night when I cannot post bail?
  5. What types of payment are allowed? Cash? Money order? Credit card? What types of credit cards? Property or other collateral? Surety bonds?
  6. Do I have to use a bail or bond agent?

If you feel the bail is too high and you wish to get it reduced, contact a lawyer or the defendant's public defender and get them to look into what they can do to get a bail reduction. The sooner you get working on this the quicker you will get your loved one released. 

This entire process will go smoother and faster with a criminal attorney or bail agent handling it for you.


 

Butler County Prison Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Butler County Prison allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.

Envelopes
The Butler County Prison also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates.

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Prison #
Butler County Prison
PO Box 9156
Seminole, FL 33775-9156



Legal Mail

Send all legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Prison #
Butler County Prison
202 S Washington St.
Butler, PA 16001



Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The Butler County Prison allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as AmazonBarnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address below.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Butler County Prison standards will be disposed of. No more than three books may be shipped at any one time.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.


All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Prison #
Butler County Prison
202 S Washington St.
Butler, PA 16001


 

How to Schedule & Visit with an Inmate in Butler County Prison

To schedule a visit and meet with an inmate in Butler County, either at-the-jail or remotely by video, follow these instructions:

  • To schedule and visit with an inmate you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for Butler County inmate to visit with.
  • When you locate the Butler County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • Butler County Prison will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.

For all the information you need to schedule and visit with a Butler County Prison inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, visitation using a rented tablet, how often and when you can visit and more, check out our Visit Inmate Page.
NOTE: Your visits will be monitored, recorded and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case as anything discussed can be used against them in court.


 

Butler County Prison Gives Inmates Access to Tablets At No Cost for Communication, Research and Entertainment

They may not be directly connected to the internet, but inmates at Butler County Prison are provided free tablets to use within the jail that allow them to have access to the following services and information:

  • Phone Calls - Inmates may make calls directly from their tablet allowing for more privacy. The rates are the same as the phones in the unit, and the calls are still recorded and monitored.
  • eMessaging - Communicate via a text based message or picture. Fee based system.
  • Job Search - Using JobView, a secure job search application, inmates have the ability to see what jobs are available when they are released.
  • Education - Free educational platform and course catalog that provides thousands of educational resources.
  • Self Help -Inmates have daily access to mental health and addiction recovery programming.
  • Music - Top-40, Hip-Hop, Country, Rock, Gospel, and more.
  • Law Library -  Legal research with up-to-date case information.
  • eBooks - Thousands of available titles.
  • Religion - Religious resources for spiritual guidance.
  • Games - Inmates can play their favorite games. Available through monthly subscriptions
  • Facility Services - Digital access to submitted forms, requests, facility documents, and notifications from staff.
  • Video Visitation - Visitation may not be allowed on the Tablets.  Call Butler County Prison at 724-284-5256 to confirm.

The availability of tablets may seem like something that inmates who are serving time do not deserve, but here are some of the benefits for inmates in Butler County:

  • Keeps inmates busy.
  • The threat of losing access to tablets keeps them better behaved.
  • Safer for the staff to keep inmates happy.
  • Allows communication with family members.
  • Educational programming.
  • Legal research.
  • Social programming such as anger management, substance abuse, etc.

For more information about Tablets and how your inmate can get one to use while he is in jail, chek out our Inmate Tablet page.


 

Butler County Prison Inmate Mail Types

Postcards
The Butler County Prison allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.

Envelopes
The Butler County Prison also allows regular postcards and envelopes to be mailed to inmates as well.

Personal postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Prison #
Butler County Prison
PO Box 9156
Seminole, FL 33775-9156


Legal Mail
Legal Mail is mail from Attorneys, law enforcement, the courts, bail companies, etc.

Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The Butler County Prison allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as AmazonBarnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address above.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Butler County Prison standards will be disposed of. No more than three books may be shipped at any one time.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.


All legal mail, newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Prison #
Butler County Prison
202 S Washington St.
Butler, PA 16001


 

How to Set up a Phone Account and Receive Calls from an Inmate in Butler County Prison

To communicate by telephone with a Butler County inmate, follow these instructions:

  • To receive phone calls from a Butler County inmate you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for Butler County inmates or detainees to connect with.
  • When you locate the Butler County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • Butler County Prison will then need to approve the request before you can receive phone calls.

For all the information you need to receive phone calls from a Butler County Prison inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, how often you can receive calls and when you can receive them and more, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: Your phone calls will be monitored and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case. Anything discussed on the calls may be used in your inmate's court case.


 

How to Deposit Money in an Inmate's Account in Butler County Prison

To deposit money into the account of a Butler County inmate, follow these instructions:

  • To deposit money you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for the Butler County inmate you want to send money.
  • When you locate the Butler County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them money.
  • Butler County Prison may need to approve the deposit, but more than likely, it will be approved.

For all the information you need to send money to a Butler County Prison inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, what payment methods you can use, how much you can send, and more, check out our Send Money Page.


 

How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate in Butler County

To deposit money online for an inmate in Butler County Prison follow these steps:

  • Register to open an account, or Sign In to JailATM, a service that acts as a bank for inmates in Butler County.
  • After registering and signing in, select 'Send Money Now'.
  • Choose Pennsylvania, then choose Butler County Prison
  • Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
  • Select your inmate.
  • Input an amount to deposit to your inmate in Butler County Prison, and then input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much money you can send your inmate in Butler County at any one time.
  • If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914.

For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Butler County Prison, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Butler County.


 

How to Send and Receive Secure Text and Email Messages with an Inmate in Butler County Prison

To communicate by text or email with an Butler County inmate, follow these instructions:

  • To send or receive a message you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for Butler County inmates or detainees to connect with.
  • When you locate the Butler County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • Butler County Prison will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.

For all the information you need to send and receive secure messages in the form of text or email with a Butler County Prison inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, renting your inmate a tablet, how often you can communicate and more, check out our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
NOTE: Your messages will be monitored and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case.


 

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Butler County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Butler County Prison follow these steps:

  • Select Pennsylvania, then select Butler County Prison, and then select the 'Send a Package Order' option.
  • Register and create an account with My Care Pack, also known as Access Securepak, for Butler County.
  • Choose the inmate and the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Butler County at any one time.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Butler County Prison check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Butler County.

Customer Service Contact
Call 800-956-2747 Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. 
Email: [email protected].


 

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