Address:
401 W. Sample Street
South Bend, IN 46601
Phone:
574-245-6500
Register with them online or call them at 877-392-2455 for assistance.
To make a payment, you will need the following:
Please call the jail at 574-245-6500 for the type of bond and any information that is required for a particular individual at St. Joseph County Jail.
A bond is set according to a court-approved schedule.
The purpose of the bond is to assure the offender's appearance in court.
Instructions on how to post Bail or Bond in St. Joseph County
Because St. Joseph County and Indiana can change their bail bond procedures, it is always best to call either the St. Joseph County Jail at 574-245-6500, or the court in the jurisdiction (i.e. Municipal Court, District Court, etc.) where the offender was charged, right after an arrestee has been booked.
Ask the staff at the St. Joseph County Jail or the St. Joseph County Court Clerk these specific questions:
If you feel the bail is too high and you wish to get it reduced, contact a lawyer or the defendant's public defender and get them to look into what they can do to get a bail reduction. The sooner you get working on this the quicker you will get your loved one released.
This entire process will go smoother and faster with a criminal attorney or bail agent handling it for you.
Option 1 - How to Post Bail using Cash for a Defendant at St. Joseph County Jail
The first option, a cash bond, is to pay the full bail amount in cash, cashier's check, or money order. Personal Checks are not accepted.
Depending on the crime, this amount could be anywhere from $100 to $75,000 or more.
To pay a cash bond, go to St. Joseph County Jail or to the court where the bail hearing occurred. Going directly to the jail will quicken the release of the defendant as any bail paperwork processed at the court will have to be transferred to the jail.
Cashier's Checks and Money Orders may be made out to St. Joseph County Jail where the defendant is being held, but usually to the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office or to the St. Joseph County Court.
To purchase money orders visit any Western Union, Moneygram or Post Office.
Option 2 - How to Post a Private or Surety Bond for a Defendant at St. Joseph County Jail
In the event that someone does not have the full bond amount available to him or her, there is what is called a private bond or surety bond.
This is an agreement made with a bail agent or bondsman who will post the full bail amount. In return, the defendant and/or cosigner will pay a premium to the bail agent. This premium will be 10-15% of the full bail amount.
For example, if bail is posted at $5,000, then the premium will cost approximately $500-$750.
A bail agent will often require some form of collateral, for example, a lien on a house, a car or jewelry. This is to ensure that if the defendant skips bail, or does not appear in court, the bail agent has some sort of compensation for the full bail amount being paid.
Remember, by making an agreement with a bail agent the signatory takes responsibility for paying the full bail amount if the defendant does not appear in court.
Option 3 - How to Post a Property Bond for a Defendant at St. Joseph County Jail
If you are a landowner in St. Joseph County you may be able to post a property bond. Property within St. Joseph County may be used as collateral to bail someone out. All owners of the property must be present to sign the bond in order for this to happen.
To find if property located outside of St. Joseph County can be used as collateral, call a local bail or bond agent or contact a defense lawyer.
Click here for additional information on how to post bail at St. Joseph County Jail.
Who can post Bail or Bond for a Defendant at St. Joseph County Jail?
Anyone over the age of 18 who can produce a valid government-issued photo ID can post bail. Accepted forms of ID include a Photo Driver's License, Passport, or Motor Vehicle issued ID.
In many circumstances, if the defendant has the resources, they can post their own cash bail from jail.
Surety Bonds are arranged by a third party, typically a Indiana state licensed Bail Bond firm.
Juveniles may only be bailed or bonded out of custody by a parent or legal guardian.
When will the Cash Bail or Collateral be returned to me?
Money or collateral will not be returned until the defendant's court case is finished, so realistically it could take several months to years, depending on the severity of the charges. If a defendant posts his or her own bail, St. Joseph County Court may retain whatever amount of fines or fees have accumulated throughout the trial.
What happens to my Bail or Collateral if the Defendant misses Court?
The St. Joseph County Judge may order a failure to appear warrant for the person's arrest or the Judge may order a Bail Commissioner's Letter be issued that will be sent to the person with a new court date.
If cash bail was paid, the entire amount may be forfeited.
St. Joseph County Jail uses a service called allpaid (also known as GovPay Now) for paying an inmate's Bail Bond online for an inmate.
Register with them online or call them at 877-392-2455 for assistance.
For full information on paying an inmate's bond and getting them released after they have been arrested in St. Joseph County, check out our Inmate Bail Page.
If you want to deposit money online for an inmate in St. Joseph County you may also be able to use allpaid.
Register with them online or call them at 888-604-7888 for depositing inmate commissary money assistance 24 hours a day.
For full information about depositing money for an inmate, deposit limits and helpful instructions, visit our Send Money to an Inmate page for St. Joseph County.
Inmates are allowed to have an account at the facility in order to purchase commissary items such as snacks, hygeine products, phone cards and stationary. These are the instructions on how to deposit money with them, pick up money they had with them when they were arrested, and how much money they need.
For complete information on inmate money and commissary issues, check out our Inmate Money page.
For inmates receiving mail in the St. Joseph County Jail there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.
All mail is to be shipped to the St. Joseph County Jail:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
St. Joseph County Jail
401 W. Sample Street
South Bend, IN 46601
For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.
Follow these instructions to schedule and then visit an inmate using GTL.
For all the information you need to know regarding scheduling, cost, rules, tips and guidelines of inmate visits at the St. Joseph County Jail, check out our Visit Inmate Page.
Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)
For full instructions on the St. Joseph County Jail Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our Inmate Phones Page.
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in St. Joseph County Jail follow these steps:
For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in St. Joseph County Jail check out our Commissary Instructions Page for St. Joseph County.
Can I pay a St. Joseph County Jail inmate's bond online?
Yes, you can pay a St. Joseph County Jail inmate's bond online using a third-party service called 'allpaid'. The instructions are easy... From their website, look up St. Joseph County Jail or St. Joseph County, input the inmate's name, and then use your credit or debit card to deposit the bond amount. As soon as the payment is processed and the information is sent to the St. Joseph County Jail, the jail will begin the release process. You do not have to be present for all of this to take place. Learn more about how to bail or bond out an inmate in the St. Joseph County Jail, call allpaid directly at 877-392-2455, or call the jail at 574-245-6500.