Shelby County Court of Common Pleas Bail Bonds & Bond Information

After arraignment at Shelby County Court of Common Pleas

In Shelby County, the initial arraignment and first bond determination for most arrestees take place in the Sidney Municipal Court, which serves all of Shelby County and handles misdemeanor and traffic matters. At arraignment the judge advises the defendant of the charges and rights, accepts a plea, and sets bond; certain charges (e.g., domestic violence, assault, menacing by stalking, violating a protection order) require a mandatory in-person appearance. For felonies, the defendant first has an initial appearance and bond setting in Sidney Municipal Court. The case then proceeds through a preliminary hearing and/or presentation to a grand jury. If the grand jury returns an indictment, the felony is bound over to the Shelby County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, at the Shelby County Courthouse, 100 E. Court Street, Sidney. The Common Pleas judge then handles arraignment on the indictment and can review or modify bond, considering factors such as the seriousness of the offense, flight risk, and public safety. Common Pleas has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases where the penalty may exceed six months of imprisonment.