Address:
4001 N. Boyer Rd.
Sandpoint, ID 83864-8066
Phone:
208 263-8417
What kind of bonds are accepted in Bonner County?
Who can set bail in Bonner County?
When is bail set in Bonner County Idaho?
Yes, Bonner County recognizes most types of bonds.
Unless the defendant is deemed a flight risk, accused of a capital crime, or had previously failed to appear, bail is considered a right.
Idaho will consider a bail bond, property bail bond or cash deposit which also includes check or money order. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Idaho uses a Bail Bond Schedule which lists the predetermined bail for most nonviolent crimes. For those crimes not listed on the schedule, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, bail must be set by a judge.
For most nonviolent crimes bail is set automatically in accordance with a Bail Bond Schedule. For those crimes not listed on the schedule, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, a hearing called first appearance will be scheduled on the first available court date. Bail will be determined at this hearing.
A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid and usually happens at the same time as an initial appearance or arraignment. During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. A judge or court officer in the {county extended} or magistrate court sets bail.
Judges in Idaho rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.
Bail is what the arrested in Bonner 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.
If a judge in Bonner County 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 Bonner County Detention 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.
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, Bonner 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
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.)
Yes, Bonner County recognizes most types of bonds.
Unless the defendant is deemed a flight risk, accused of a capital crime, or had previously failed to appear, bail is considered a right.
Idaho will consider a bail bond, property bail bond or cash deposit which also includes check or money order. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Idaho uses a Bail Bond Schedule which lists the predetermined bail for most nonviolent crimes. For those crimes not listed on the schedule, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, bail must be set by a judge.
For most nonviolent crimes bail is set automatically in accordance with a Bail Bond Schedule. For those crimes not listed on the schedule, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, a hearing called first appearance will be scheduled on the first available court date. Bail will be determined at this hearing.
A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid and usually happens at the same time as an initial appearance or arraignment. During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. A judge or court officer in the {county extended} or magistrate court sets bail.
Judges in Idaho rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.
Yes, a judge may reduce or increase bail upon a showing of good cause. Your attorney or public defender can request a hearing for this purpose.
The defendant can post cash bail or 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 Idaho could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Yes, Idaho does offer online payment of bail. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Bonner County Detention Facility for more information about the jails in Bonner County.
A cash deposit can be made as well as checks or money order. Each area varies with regards to accepting credit cards. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Bonner County Detention Facility for more information about posting bail in Bonner County.
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.
Cash bond requires a minimum amount of money be paid prior to the defendant’s release. Even if you use a bail bond agent the state requires a down payment of 15%.
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.
The Bonner County Detention 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 by the state and cannot be negotiated.
Detailed information regarding bail and bond procedures in Idaho.
Bail bond procedures can vary by jurisdiction, so it’s best to call Bonner County Detention Facility at 208 263-8417 or contact the court in the jurisdiction where the defendant was charged to confirm the latest guidelines.
When speaking with Bonner County Detention Facility or the Bonner County Court Clerk, be sure to ask the following questions:
If you feel the bail is too high, contact a lawyer or public defender to discuss the possibility of a bail reduction. Starting the process quickly may help secure the defendant’s release sooner.
Hiring a criminal attorney or bail agent can streamline the process and make it easier for you.
Option 1 - How to Post Cash Bail for a Defendant at Bonner County Detention Facility
One option is to pay the full bail amount in cash, cashier’s check, or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.
Bail amounts can vary, ranging from $100 to $75,000 or more, depending on the crime.
To post the bond, visit Bonner County Detention Facility or the court where the bail hearing was held. Going directly to the jail may expedite the release process, as paperwork from the court must be transferred there.
Cashier’s checks and money orders should be made payable to Bonner County Detention Facility, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, or the Bonner County Court.
Money orders can be purchased from Western Union, Moneygram, or any Post Office.
Option 2 - How to Post a Surety Bond at Bonner County Detention Facility
If you don’t have the full bond amount, you can use a surety bond. A bail agent posts the bail, and you pay a premium, which is usually 10-15% of the total bail amount.
For example, if bail is set at $5,000, the premium will range from $500 to $750.
The bail agent may require collateral, such as property or valuables, to ensure payment if the defendant fails to appear in court.
By signing an agreement with a bail agent, you assume responsibility for the full bail amount if the defendant does not show up in court.
Option 3 - How to Post a Property Bond for a Defendant at Bonner County Detention Facility
If you own property in Bonner County, you may be able to post a property bond. All owners of the property must be present to sign the bond.
For property located outside Bonner County, contact a local bail agent or attorney for advice.
Click here for additional information on posting bail at Bonner County Detention Facility.
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 Idaho state licensed Bail Bond firm.
Juveniles may only be bailed or bonded out of custody by a parent or legal guardian.
