Belmont County Court of Common Pleas Bail Bonds & Bond Information

After arraignment at Belmont County Court of Common Pleas

After arrest, the accused is brought before a judge or magistrate for an initial appearance and arraignment, where charges are read, a plea is entered, and bond conditions are set. Misdemeanor cases and initial appearances are handled by the three Belmont County Court divisions (Northern in Martins Ferry, Eastern in Bellaire, Western in Barnesville). For felonies, after the initial appearance there is a preliminary hearing; the case then proceeds to a grand jury, and if an indictment is returned the case is bound over to the Belmont County Court of Common Pleas. The Court of Common Pleas is the court of general jurisdiction handling criminal cases where imprisonment may exceed six months. A Common Pleas judge sets or reviews bond, which may take the form of a personal recognizance bond, cash or surety bond, or a 10% bond, considering factors such as the seriousness of the charge, flight risk, and danger to the community. Bond amounts and conditions can be modified at later hearings. Contact the court at 740-695-2121 for case-specific arraignment and bond information.