Understanding Bonding at Dawson County: Fees, How to Pay, and Avoiding Scams

At Dawson County, the bond total isn't just the bail amount you hear first. Several statutory fees get added on top, calculated as percentages with specific caps. Here's how they break down: - Peace Officers and Prosecutors Training Act fee: 10% of the original bail, capped at $100 - Indigent Defense Fund fee: 10% of the original bail, capped at $100 - Jail Construction and Staffing Fund fee: 10% of the original bail, with no cap On top of those, each bond instrument written requires a separate, non-refundable $20 cash bond fee. If more than one bond instrument is written, you'll pay that $20 fee multiple times. Quick example: Say the original bail is $1,000. The Training Act fee would be $100 (10% capped at $100), the Indigent Defense fee would be $100 (10% capped at $100), and the jail fund fee would be $100 (10%, no cap). Add the $20 cash bond fee. Your total comes to the original $1,000 plus all those added fees.

1. Go to the Detention Center to post bond - one way to post an inmate’s bond is by paying a cash bond in person.
2. Bring enough cash for the full amount - a cash bond requires 100% of the bond amount plus the required statutory fees to be paid in cash funds to the Detention Center.
3. Get your receipt and confirm next steps - keep your paperwork in case you need it later while the release process moves forward.
4. Know there are other bond options - cash is only one method; if you’re using a bonding company, follow the Sheriff’s Office rules on in-person transactions.

Planning to use a bonding company? Dawson County's Sheriff's Office is clear: bonding transactions must happen in person at the Sheriff's Office, and only with an approved company. If someone tries to handle things remotely, pressures you to skip the in-person step, or claims the Sheriff's Office process doesn't apply - stop. That's a red flag. Take time to verify before moving forward.

Dawson County publishes a list of approved bonding companies with names, addresses, and phone numbers. For example: 24/7 Fly Free, PO Box 1906, Cumming, GA 30028, 706-265-1377. Check the published list to confirm you're dealing with an approved company before sharing personal information or making any payment.

• ✓ Keep bonding transactions in person at the Sheriff’s Office, using an approved bonding company.
• ✓ Check the Dawson County approved bonding company list and match the name and contact details.
• ✓ Never give payment information by phone, email, or any other electronic form.
• ✓ If you’re unsure, use the Sheriff’s Office published detention contacts to verify before you pay (for example, the site lists Chief Jailer Captain Anthony Davis at (706) 344-3535, Ext. 20091, and other detention staff contacts).

1. Stop if someone asks for payment info electronically - Dawson County warns that scammers may try to get payment information over the phone or through electronic means, and approved bonding companies won’t do that.
2. Fall back on the in-person rule - bonding transactions must take place in person at the Sheriff’s Office with an approved bonding company.
3. Verify using official sources before paying - look up the bonding company on the county’s approved list and use the published contact details; if you still have doubts, call the Sheriff’s Office using the published detention contact numbers/extensions to confirm the process.
4. Report suspicious approaches to the Sheriff’s Office - if something feels off, don’t send money or information; verify and report it instead.