How Can I Find Out if Someone Has Posted Bond?

Finding out whether someone posted bond can be done quickly.

Posting bond is a process where someone arrested on criminal charges provides money to the court so he can be released from jail until his court date. If he misses his court date, the money given to the court is forfeited. The bond can come from several sources. If the suspect can't raise funds himself, his family or friends can post the bond or a bondsman can be retained. You can easily find out whether a bond has been posted for someone.

Things You'll Need

• Telephone
• Computer with Internet access

Instructions

1. Call the jail or the sheriff's office in the county the person was arrested. You can find the appropriate phone numbers online, in the phone book or by calling Information.

2. Provide the person's name, arrest date and what the charges are.

3. Inquire whether the person is still imprisoned or a bond has been posted. While the details of the case are confidential, you can be told whether the person is still in jail.

4. Check the website for either the sheriff's office or a victim's advocacy site, such as VINELink, and enter the name, birth date and offender ID number (if available). Their records are regularly updated and you can find out what jail the person is held in or whether he has been released.

References

• Article Alley: How to perform a County Jail Inmate Search - Online
• Bannock County: Bailing Someone Out of Jail
• Ada County Sheriff's Office: Frequently Asked Questions about Bonding Out

Resources

• VINELink