“Bond” or “bail” is usually an amount of money that a defendant must post to be released from jail in an effort to assure the defendant’s appearance in court. Although most offenses have a predetermined bond amount established, in some instances bond is not set until the defendant has had their first appearance before a Judge (violent misdemeanors and felony charges). There are several types of bond as well. The Judge can also impose conditions of bond, such as restricting contact with victims or witnesses.
Bonds may be posted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for a person who has been arrested and jailed at the following locations:
| 8:00 am-5:00 pm Monday-Thursday & 8:00 am-noon on Friday, excluding Holidays | After Hours, Weekends & Holidays |
|---|---|
| Bowling Green Municipal Court 711 S. Dunbridge Rd Bowling Green, OH 43402 (419) 352-5263 |
Bowling Green Police Department 175 W. Wooster St. Bowling Green, OH 43402 (419) 352-2571 |
Types of Bond
| Cash Bond (100%) | The full amount of the bond set by the Court must be paid by cash, a certified check, VISA or MasterCard. The certified check must be made payable to "Bowling Green Municipal Court." At the completion of the case, the full amount of the bond posted will be refunded in full (by check) to the person who is named as the bailor. If you are posting bond for someone, you must decide whose name the receipt will reflect. As a bailor, you will be asked for your complete name, address, and phone number. |
| Appearance Bond (10%) | The amount of bond required to be posted is 10% of the total bond. (If bond is set at $3,000, the required cash deposit would be $300.) At the completion of the case the amount refunded is 10% less than the amount posted. (If the amount posted was $300, the court will keep $30 and the refund check will be $270). |
| Own Recognizance | An O.R. Bond requires the defendant to sign a form indicating that they will appear in court at each subsequent court appearance until the case is concluded. Failure to appear after signing a recognizance bond is punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or 6 months in jail, regardless of the outcome of the original charge. |
| Surety Bond | The amount of bond is posted for the defendant by a licensed, professional bonding company for a fee. Bail bondsmen are listed in the yellow pages of the phone book. |
*ALL BONDS ARE SUBJECT TO ORDERS AND CONDITIONS OF THE COURT AND MAY BE REVOKED OR AMENDED BY THE COURT.
