A probation violation arrest is different from a new charge, and the first thing families want to know is whether bond is even possible yet. Harvey Handler Bail Bonds writes probation violation bonds in Licking County once a judge has set an amount, and this page explains how to tell where your person stands. For the full list of charges we bond, start with Types of Bail Bonds We Write.
Why a violation arrest moves differently
Someone on probation, which Ohio law calls community control for most sentences, already has a case that ended in a conviction. A violation arrest reopens that case instead of starting a new one. Under R.C. 2951.08, a probation officer can arrest a person on community control without a warrant, and a police officer can do the same with a written order from the chief probation officer or when there is reason to believe a listed condition was broken. The person is then brought before the judge or magistrate who handled the original case.
That last point shapes everything that follows. The judge who sentenced the person decides what happens on the violation, including whether release is allowed before the violation hearing and on what terms. There is no schedule a family can look up and pay at the window, the way there can be for a fresh misdemeanor.
Reading a violation entry on the Licking County listing
The sheriff's Active Inmate Listing shows each booking with a docket number, the charge and a disposition line. Violation entries use a handful of short codes. The county does not publish a key for them, so the meanings below are how the entries appear to read. To confirm one, phone the jail at (740) 670-5501.
| What the listing shows | What it appears to mean for the family |
|---|---|
| PV HOLDER | The person is held on a probation violation. If no bond amount follows, there is nothing to post yet |
| TEMP-PV HOLDER | A short-term hold placed while probation decides whether to pursue a violation |
| PV WARRANT | The person was picked up on a warrant issued for the violation |
| 2ND STAGE PV HRG TBS | The final violation hearing is still to be scheduled |
| BOND $ amount / CASH/SURETY | A judge has set a bond on the violation, and a surety bond can be written for it |
| BOND TERMINATED | An earlier bond on that case has ended, often because the violation replaced it |
Our inmate list guide explains the rest of an entry, such as booking number, housing and the In Date. The bond codes themselves, including CASH/SURETY and the 10% option, are explained on our bond types page.
A hold versus a bond: the difference that matters
A holder with no dollar figure next to it means the court has not authorized release. Nobody, including a bail agent, can post a bond that does not exist. In that situation the useful steps are to find out when the person will see the judge and to make sure the defense attorney knows about the arrest.
Once the listing shows an amount, the situation changes. A violation bond works like any other surety bond: we post the full amount with the court, and the person must keep appearing until the violation is resolved. The judge can still attach conditions, such as reporting to probation, drug testing or staying away from a person or place.
Some people carry both a violation hold and a new charge from the same arrest. Posting bond on the new charge does not lift the violation hold, so the person can stay in the Justice Center until the judge rules on both. Read every line of the entry before you call anyone about money.
Which court handles the violation
The court that sentenced the person handles the violation, and the docket number on the listing usually tells you which one that is.
- Licking County Municipal Court. Misdemeanor probation, including probation from OVI and other criminal traffic cases, belongs to the municipal court in Newark. Those dockets usually carry CRB or TRC in the number. The court's Probation Department is reached at (740) 670-7825, and its director, Kevin Saad, at (740) 670-7837. The department's page on newarkohio.gov lists its forms. Our municipal court case search guide shows how to pull up the original case and its bond history.
- Licking County Court of Common Pleas. Felony community control belongs to Common Pleas at 1 Courthouse Square, and those dockets usually carry CR. Violation hearings there appear to run in two stages, which would explain why a listing can sit at "2ND STAGE PV HRG TBS" for a while. Our page on felony arraignment and bond covers how bond is reviewed and changed in that court.
What the family can do right now
- Read the full entry. Note every docket listed, the booking number, and the disposition text printed beside each docket.
- Look for a dollar figure. No amount means no bond yet. An amount with CASH/SURETY means we can talk about posting it.
- Call the right probation office. For a municipal case, the Probation Department numbers above can tell you whether a hearing date is set. For a felony case, call the Common Pleas clerk at (740) 670-5791 and ask about the docket.
- Tell the defense lawyer. Whether release is granted before the violation hearing is a legal question for the attorney and the judge. We handle the bond once there is one.
- Check for other holds. A warrant from another county or a parole hold from the state is separate from the local violation and can keep the person in custody.
What posting a violation bond involves
When a judge has set a bond, the paperwork is close to any other surety bond: the bond itself, an indemnity agreement signed by the person backing it, and a receipt. Our paperwork guide lists each document in order. On cost, we charge the premium that is on file for us with the Ohio Department of Insurance and disclose any expense fee before you sign, as R.C. 3905.93 requires. The fees page compares that premium with paying the court in cash.
A violation bond carries more weight than a first bond on the same case, because the court already has a record of a broken condition. Anyone who signs should expect us to ask about the original case, the reporting schedule and how the person will get to every hearing.
Questions families ask
Can you get a bond on a probation violation in Licking County?
Sometimes. The judge who handled the original case decides whether to allow release before the violation hearing. If the jail listing shows a bond amount on the violation line, a surety bond can be posted for it. If it shows only PV HOLDER with no amount, there is nothing to post until the judge acts.
What does PV HOLDER mean on the Licking County inmate list?
It appears to mean the person is being held because of a probation violation rather than a new charge. Because the county publishes no key for these codes, call the jail at (740) 670-5501 to confirm. Look to the right of the code for a bond amount.
Who can arrest someone for a probation violation in Ohio?
Under R.C. 2951.08, a probation officer can arrest a person on community control without a warrant. A police officer can make the arrest with a written order from the chief probation officer or when there are reasonable grounds to believe a listed condition was broken. The person is then taken before the judge on the original case.
Does bond on a new charge also clear a probation hold?
No. A violation hold and a new criminal charge are tracked separately on the listing. Posting bond on the new charge leaves the violation hold in place until the sentencing judge rules on it, so the person may stay at the Justice Center.
How do I find out when the violation hearing is?
For a misdemeanor case, call the Licking County Municipal Court Probation Department at (740) 670-7825 or check the case in the court's online records search. For a felony case, the Common Pleas clerk (740-670-5791) can say where the case stands.
Call about a violation hold
If the Licking County listing shows a probation violation with a bond amount, call Harvey Handler Bail Bonds at (740) 558-8070 and have the docket number ready. If there is no amount yet, we can still explain what the codes on the listing say and what usually comes next. Our office is at 58 S 2nd St, Newark, OH 43055; see the Newark office page for directions and what to bring.