A bond can be made at any time, day or night, to release an inmate from the Dawson County Detention Center. If an inmate is charged with a bondable offense, they have the right to seek a bond for their release from the facility. Bonding requires that some type of surety be posted as a good faith promise that the inmate will appear for their court date.

Note: If you are released on bond and fail to appear for court, you will normally be rearrested on a bench warrant which has no bond. The bondsman or person posting the security is held accountable for the full amount of the bond. Posting a bond can be accomplished in several ways. The following paragraphs briefly explain how each type of bond is made. In some cases, boding methods are restricted, and some types may not be allowed.

Cash bonds are generally made for traffic offenses of a minor nature, misdemeanor violations, and civil cases. In some cases, the cash bond may be accepted as a fine, and substituted for a court appearance. However, it is your responsibility to make arrangements with the court.

A property bond can be posted by persons owning tangible real estate with Dawson County. This does not apply to mobile homes, automobiles, travel trailers, industrial equipment, boats or similar property. It must be deeded property usually with some type of dwelling or structure (Residential home). Undeveloped property may be accepted if it can be determined that the existing equity , NOT THE MARKET VALUE, is sufficient to meet the bonding standards. A homeowner desiring to post his/her property for someone’s bond must meet certain criteria:

- Show proof of identity (Driver's License).

- Produce a current tax receipt stamped "Paid".

- Completed Property Bond Application (Issued by Detention Center).

- Completed Application of Surety Criminal Bail Bond (Issued by Detention Center).

- Certified Copy of Warranty Deed issued within the last week. (Available at the Clerk's Office weekdays). On weekends, copies of the deed are accepted along with a $2.50 fee for the first page and .25 each additional page for the actual certified copy that we will have to obtain the following business day.

- Payment of bond fee- $13.00, and a filing fee for the property lien. The charge for filing the lien is $10.00 for the bond application and $2.00 each additional page. (Example- Bond App.- $10.00 and Warranty Deed Filing (1 Page)- $2.00 = $12.00 filing fee that must be collected.  

Note: Please remember to come back and release the lien on your property after the court date has been met or the case has been closed. Property owner must submit a copy of the Judgement/Court Document to the Sheriff's Office. We will at that time begin the process of releasing the lien.  

Professional bonding companies, licensed as businesses in Dawson County, and registered with the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, are available for hire. These companies provide bonding services in return for a paid fee. The fee for hiring their services is not refundable. Criteria for selecting customers seeking a professional bondsman varies from one company to another. All companies are available 24 hours a day, and are located within the immediate vicinity. Lists of all approved bonding companies, and their telephone numbers are located in each housing area and in the lobby of the detention center. Choosing a bonding company is the inmate’s and their family’s responsibility; employees of the Dawson County Detention Center are restricted by law, and cannot recommend any particular bondsman.

A bond made from another facility to release an inmate from Dawson County Detention Center is called an “Approved Bond”. Procedure for this type of bond is similar to Dawson County Detention Center property bond procedures. The type of bond criteria required for an approved bond is determined by the county issuing the bond. Specific instructions, or restrictions imposed by other facilities must be followed.