Columbiana County Court of Common Pleas Bail Bonds & Bond Information

After arraignment at Columbiana County Court of Common Pleas

In Columbiana County, the initial arraignment and first bond decision for most cases occur in a municipal court (Columbiana County Municipal Court in Lisbon, or East Liverpool Municipal Court), which handles misdemeanor arraignments and the initial appearance on felonies. The Common Pleas Court's Criminal Division handles all indictments returned by the grand jury and manages arraignments, bail bonds, and judge assignments for felony cases. For a felony, the defendant typically has an initial appearance and may have a preliminary hearing in municipal court; if the grand jury returns an indictment (or probable cause is found), the case is bound over to the Court of Common Pleas, where a judge conducts arraignment on the indictment and may set or modify bond. Under Ohio Criminal Rule 46, the judge sets bond considering the seriousness of the offense, prior record, ties to the community, and risk of flight, choosing among recognizance, unsecured appearance bond, or secured (cash/surety/property) bond. Court hours are 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday (excluding holidays). Confirm bond and procedures with the Clerk of Courts.