Bail Bonds Ohio

For detailed information about specific Ohio cities:
Bail bonds Cleveland
Bail bonds Cincinnati
Bail bonds Columbus

IMPORTANT: If you need immediate help in the Ohio area (or anywhere else in the country), click here for our free 5 simple steps bail out plan.

In Ohio, the typical bail process starts with the judge or magistrate setting the bail amount at the arraignment. Ohio judges have complete discretion as to the amount and type of bond to be set.

Ohio allows three types of bond a judge or magistrate can choose from. They are: Personal Recognizance, 10% Deposit and Cash/Surety.

A Personal Recognizance bond is just a simple promise to make all court appearances with no monetary commitment between the court and the person out on bond. These are for defendants who have absolutely no risk of skipping out on bond.

A 10% Deposit bond is for non-violent, first time offenders and requires only 10% of the bail amount to be posted to the court. When a defendant skips bail on a 10% Deposit bond, the court keeps the 10% and the remaining 90% of the bond is generally not collected from anyone.

A Cash/Surety bond requires giving the court the full amount of the bond in cash or using a bail bonding company to guarantee the entire amount of the bond to the court. If you give the entire bond in cash to the court, you are entitled to get 100% of the money back from the court provided the defendant makes all the court dates. If you go through a bonding agency, they provide the court with a bond to guarantee the defendant will make all their court dates. If the defendant skips court, the bonding agency will re-apprehend the defendant or pay the court the entire bond.

If you use a bail agent in Ohio, you will usually have to put up 10% of the bail amount and possibly collateral. Agents are licensed by the Ohio Department of Insurance, and I have heard from several readers that Ohio bail bond agents are often flexible and accomodating if you are financially constrained. One reported that one bondsman provided the defendant’s bond without requiring any money down or up front, basically a free bail bond to get the process started. Overall reports of financing and making affordable bail bonds for customers are common.

However, Ohio also has a reputation for bond agents giving cheap quotes verbally over the phone and then demanding more when the contract is ready to be signed. To prevent misunderstandings, we suggest you email a bondsman (they always reply quickly) to get the quote in writing. Whenever emailing with an Ohio bondsman, always ask for the total costs to you, as well as discounts.

IMPORTANT: If you need bail for someone right now, click here first and follow the step-by-step instructions, then return to this page.

Ohio Detention Centers and Jails Information

Nothing stated herein should be construed or interpreted to grant rights or remedies not otherwise granted under federal or state law. This information is provided as a public service and is not intended as a substitute for legal advice or representation by a lawyer or bail bondsman. We recommend you email a bail bondsman for more information about your situation.