When someone is arrested, it may be possible for them to be released from jail by posting bond as a guarantee that they will appear in Court on a later date. If bond is posted, the defendant will be released and given a court date to appear before the Judge. In addition, there is a mandatory $25.00 State fee assessed for every bond posted.

Types of Bonds

Cash Bond: The entire amount of bond set by the Judge must be posted for a cash bond. Once the case is completely disposed of, the person posting the bond can get their money back. Both cash and credit cards (MasterCard and Visa) are accepted for Cash Bonds.

Cash Bond with 10%: You can post 10% of the cash bond set by the Judge to be released. If you fail to appear, you are responsible for the entire bond amount, not just the 10% posted.

Surety Bond: A surety bond may be posted by a professional bonding company (bail bondsman) to guarantee that the defendant will appear in court.

O.R. Bond (Own Recognizance Bond): The Judge may release a defendant on their own recognizance, which involves no bond money, but requires the defendant to guarantee that they will return for future court appearances.

Where to Post Bond

At Mason Municipal Court during regular business hours.

At the Warren County Jail, 822 Memorial Drive, Lebanon, Ohio 45036. There is a kiosk in the lobby where bond payments can be made.

Payment Methods

Bond payments can be made with Cash when posted with the Clerk's Office at Mason Municipal Court.

Bond payments can be made with Cash or Credit Card when posted at the Warren County Jail.

Refund of Bond

If you post a bond for yourself or another person, you will be given a bond receipt and a bail notice form. Hold onto these documents as you may need it to get your money back once the case is disposed of, which means a decision or finding has been given, such as "guilty" or "not guilty”. The person who posts the bond can choose to either receive a refund of their money or apply the bond to the defendant's fines and costs in the case. To apply the bond to fines and costs, the poster must initial the appropriate section on the bail notice form. In the alternative, the poster can send a motion to the Court along with a copy of their photo identification requesting the bond to be applied to the case. Otherwise, the Court will mail a refund check, minus fees, to the poster.

Forfeiting Bond

If a defendant fails to appear in Court, it is possible that the Judge may choose to forfeit any posted bond. If a surety posted the bond on the Defendant’s behalf, the case will be set for a Bond Forfeiture Hearing. If you fail to appear, or fail to produce the defendant to the Court, your bond may be forfeited.