A Columbia County Circuit Court Judge sets the amount of security release (bail) on behalf of the defendant on various counts listed on the case. At any time, the court may increase or decrease the amount of security release required.
- Security release can be posted at the
Sheriff’s Office or the Trial Court Administrator’s Office.
- Payment must be in the form of cash or credit/debit card only.
- Please note that security release paid by credit card may be subject to fees charged by your bank, which are nonrefundable. Please contact your bank before considering posting bail with this payment method.
Things to consider before posting security release for yourself or another person
- The court will automatically keep 15% of the security release posted (not less than $5.00 and not more than $750.00).
- The court will, unless otherwise ordered, apply the security release deposit to any financial obligations on the case to which it was posted, and any other financial obligations the defendant owes within the State of Oregon, including child support arrears.
- If the defendant fails to appear at the next scheduled court hearing, the court may order forfeiture of the entire security release posted, as well as a security judgment for the full amount of the ordered security release. Example: Judge orders $10,000 security release, 10% posted is $1,000 for defendant’s release. If a security judgment is imposed, the payee will be responsible for the full amount of the $10,000.
- Refunds are disbursed to the person posting the bail once the case is closed or exonerated and will be mailed to the address listed on the bail receipt. If a change of address is needed, a written request must be submitted to the court by the person posting the bail.
- If bail funds are deposited in the Inmates Trust Account by anyone other than the defendant, and the defendant self-bails, a refund will be issued to the defendant – not the person depositing the funds in the account.