What to Expect in the First 24 Hours After Someone Is Booked at Laurel County Corrections

Right after intake at Laurel County Corrections, the person being booked gets two free phone calls. Each one is five minutes. Be ready to answer and keep the conversation focused: where they are, their full name and booking details if you need them, and what they want you to do next.

After those two free intake calls, any additional phone time has to happen one of two ways: as a collect call or through the inmate's Telmate account. If you miss the first calls, don't assume they're "not allowed" to call again. The next calls just depend on collect calling or their account being set up.

Within the first 24 hours after intake, the inmate will see pretrial services. This is one of the key "first day" milestones because it's part of what moves the case toward a bond decision.

At Laurel County Corrections, the pretrial officer contacts the judge, and bond is set based on the inmate's criminal history and security risk. Once bond is set, the inmate stays in custody until that bond is posted or until their arraignment court date (if bond isn't posted first).

Arraignment court dates at the facility are Monday at 11:00 AM, Wednesday at 9:00 AM, and Friday at 9:30 AM. If your person is still in custody, these are the main court checkpoints to watch for in the first few days.

Even after an in-custody arraignment, release isn't always immediate. Laurel County Corrections requires a docket to come back from the clerk's office verifying the person's bond or sentence before they can be released. That extra verification step can add waiting time. Don't assume "court is over" means "they walk out right now."

What Families Can Do

• ✓ Keep your phone close right after booking. They get two free five-minute calls upon intake, and missing those can slow down communication.
• ✓ If you miss the first calls, wait for another attempt. After intake, calls have to be collect or through the inmate’s Telmate account.
• ✓ Don’t call the jail expecting staff to relay a message. Officers cannot pass phone calls or phone messages to inmates, so the inmate has to contact you.
• ✓ Watch the first 24 hours for movement on pretrial services. The inmate should see pretrial services within 24 hours of intake.
• ✓ Be ready for bond to be set through the pretrial process. The pretrial officer contacts the judge, and bond is set based on criminal history and security risk.
• ✓ If bond is set, understand the custody reality. They remain in custody until bond is posted or until their arraignment court date.
• ✓ If they attend arraignment in custody, plan for a possible delay before release. They must wait for a docket from the clerk’s office verifying bond or sentence before they can be released.