Ashley County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Ashley County bail and bond: how families post bond at the Hamburg jail
Whether your relative was picked up in Crossett, in Hamburg, or on a back road in between, the destination is the same: the Ashley County Detention Center, 842 Ashley Road 12 West, just outside Hamburg. The sheriff and the jail answer at one number, 870-853-2040. Court files are held by the circuit clerk at 205 East Jefferson Street in Hamburg, 870-853-2030. Begin with the Ashley County Inmate Search to see whether the booking is done.
Did they take my relative to Hamburg?
Almost certainly. The county has a single jail, and each police department here books into it. Search the name using the link above, then ring 870-853-2040 for whatever the roster leaves out. The ride from Crossett takes around 20 minutes, so give a fresh booking about an hour. Still nothing after that? ask whether the person went to a hospital first or was picked up on another county's warrant.
My relative was arrested in Crossett. Is there a city lockup there?
Only a short holding area. Crossett Police, 870-364-4131, and Hamburg Police, 870-853-8600, keep people at the station only while paperwork is finished, then transport them to the detention center. Ordinance violations and misdemeanors go to Ashley County District Court. It sits in Crossett, 870-364-7620, and in Hamburg, 870-853-8326.
What should I ask the jail on the first call?
Four things: each charge, whether an amount is set for it, the dollar figure, and whether another agency has placed a hold. Keep the legal name and birth date handy. Note which staffer you talked to. Staff at 870-853-2040 can read out the booking sheet, but they cannot guess what a judge will do.
Which judge sets the amount here?
The district judge handles misdemeanors. Felonies belong to the Tenth Judicial Circuit, which spans Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, and Drew counties, and Division One's chambers are in the courthouse annex at 215 East Jefferson Street, 870-853-2032. For everyday charges, the jail works from a schedule the local judges have approved, so a figure may be written on the booking sheet before anyone sees a judge.
When will a dollar figure exist?
Scheduled charges get one at booking. Anything else waits for a first appearance, which Arkansas Rule 8.1 says must happen without unnecessary delay, normally in two to three days. After a late-week arrest the wait can stretch to the next court day, so ask the jail when new arrestees next see the judge.
Where does the bond money actually get paid?
Usually at the detention center on Ashley Road 12 West, or through the sheriff's office. Staff forward it to whichever clerk has the file. For some felonies, staff may send you to the circuit clerk, 870-853-2030, during courthouse hours. Phone before you drive and ask which applies, and whether anyone takes payment after dark. Bring photo ID, and expect to sign as the person responsible for the bond.
Will they take plastic or my own checks?
Cash works. So does a money order or cashier's check written to Ashley County. Personal checks are turned away. Card payments and their fees vary, so ask first at 870-853-2040. The stamped receipt is your proof when refund time comes, so keep it.
Is a bondsman cheaper up front?
Yes. A licensed Arkansas bondsman charges the 10 percent premium set by state law, so a $5,000 bond means $500 out of your pocket. You lose that fee for good. Cash posted at the jail is returned at the end. Expect the company to ask for collateral and a co-signer who owes the bond if the person flees. The Professional Bail Bond Company and Professional Bail Bondsman Licensing Board issues licenses, so ask to see one before you pay.
We own timberland. Will the court take it?
Arkansas law lets a judge accept real estate as security. Land or a house in Ashley County is easiest, since the court can check the deed and tax value fast. Bring the deed, the latest assessment, and every co-owner, because all of them sign. Acreage in another Arkansas county may be allowed; Louisiana land usually is not. The circuit clerk at 870-853-2030 can tell you what the judge accepts and what filing fee applies.
The roster shows no amount. What does that mean?
The Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, Section 8, allows bail to be denied only for a capital offense when the proof is evident. Under Arkansas Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.6, a judge may also keep in jail a person charged with a new felony while already out on felony bond. Usually, though, it points to a hold from parole, probation or some other county, and Hamburg judges can't lift those. Ask the clerk which one it is.
How can an amount that is too high come down?
A judge has to reduce it, usually when the defense files a motion asking. The sheriff and the jail staff cannot touch the number. A judge weighs the factors in Rule 9.2: the charge, the record, work, family nearby, and past court attendance. Hand the lawyer pay stubs and proof of a local home, since judges weigh those most.
Our family is broke. Who defends the case?
The person tells the judge at the first appearance and fills out a short financial form. The Tenth Judicial District Public Defender serves Ashley County from Monticello at 870-460-6280, and once appointed can ask for a lower bond. If the judge refuses to appoint one, the clerk can explain how to apply again with better proof of income.
Does Hamburg lock up teenagers?
Probably not the Hamburg jail, which houses adults. Arkansas has about 14 county-run juvenile detention centers, and the circuit clerk's juvenile division, 870-853-2030, or the Tenth Circuit judge's office, 870-853-2032, can tell you which one took the child and when the detention hearing is. Juveniles get no cash bond. A circuit judge in the juvenile division decides release, usually within 72 hours. Those records are closed, so the adult roster shows nothing.
Will money on their books count toward release?
That money stays separate. Deposits made online or at the lobby kiosk pay for phone time, messages, and snacks. None of it can be moved to a bond. If a website offers to process your bail by card, stop and call 870-853-2040. The jail does not take bond money through outside sites.
What if the person skips court after I pay?
The judge signs a failure-to-appear warrant and orders the bond forfeited. Cash can be taken entirely. A bondsman gets time to bring the person back before the company owes the court, and then it collects from the co-signer. Call the circuit clerk at 870-853-2030 or the district court that same day. Turning up fast, with a lawyer, is the best shot at setting a forfeiture aside.
What is the timeline for getting cash back?
If every hearing was attended, the clerk sends the refund to the name on the receipt once the case ends, keeping back fines, costs or restitution. Give it several weeks. If the payer has moved, send the clerk the new address in writing. A bondsman's premium is never returned, however the case ends.
Where are the Ashley County courthouses, and which one has my relative's case?
The paper trail splits by charge. Felony files sit in Hamburg with the circuit clerk. Smaller charges stay with district court, which keeps one office in each of the county's two main towns:
- Ashley County Circuit Court: 205 East Jefferson Street, Suite 6, Hamburg, AR 71646 · circuit clerk 870-853-2030
- Circuit Court, Division One chambers: 215 East Jefferson Street, Hamburg, AR 71646 · 870-853-2032
- District Court, Hamburg Department: 305 East Adams Street, Hamburg, AR 71646 · 870-853-8326
- District Court, Crossett Department: 705 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, Crossett, AR 71635 · 870-364-7620. Mail for this office goes to P.O. Box 459.
A Crossett arrest for shoplifting or DWI will usually stay in Crossett. A felony from the same street gets sent up to Hamburg once charges are filed.
How does a federal arrest in Ashley County work?
Local bond rules stop applying the moment a federal charge is filed. Ashley County belongs to the El Dorado Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. A typical federal case moves like this:
- An agency such as the FBI, DEA, ATF or the U.S. Forest Service brings the charge.
- A magistrate judge holds the opening hearing. That court meets at the federal courthouse in El Dorado, 101 South Jackson Avenue, El Dorado, AR 71730, 833-853-0345, though some hearings move to other cities in the district.
- A Pretrial Services officer gathers facts about the person's job, home and record.
- Prosecutors can ask that the person stay locked up until trial. A detention hearing then follows within a few days.
- If the judge allows release, the terms may include a signed bond, check-ins and travel limits.
The U.S. Marshals pick where a federal prisoner is held before trial, and it may not be Hamburg. Their district office is U.S. Marshals Service, 30 South 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, 479-289-7470 or 479-424-5000 (call either).
What happens if ICE puts a hold on someone at the Hamburg jail?
Paying the county bond may not bring the person home. Under 8 CFR 287.7, ICE can request that Hamburg hold a person as long as 48 hours beyond the normal release time (weekends and holidays count), so its officers have time to arrive. Arkansas law does not bar the jail from going along with it.
The county charge stays open even after a handoff, so the court date still counts. Arkansas is covered by the ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360. Detainees from the southern part of the state often end up just across the line in Louisiana, at sites like:
- LaSalle ICE Processing Center: 830 Pinehill Road, Jena, LA 71342 · 318-992-1600
- Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center: 1133 Hampton Dupre Road, Pine Prairie, LA 70576 · 337-599-2400
Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/) once the person is in ICE hands. An A-number plus country of birth gives the best match, though a full name with country can work too.
Which searches show where an Ashley County prisoner is now?
Check each of these, since a person can leave the detention center for a state unit or federal custody:
- Ashley County jail: Ashley County Inmate Search. Enter the last name and first name, then open the record that fits. You should see booking time, charges and any bond set.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Pick Arkansas as the state, type the name and search. The result shows if they are still locked up and names the building. Sign up there for a phone or text alert if they move.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). Type the register number if you have it. If not, enter the full name with age, race or sex. Pretrial federal prisoners are often missing, so for them call 479-289-7470 or 479-424-5000 (call either).
- Arkansas Division of Correction: Arkansas Division of Correction Inmate Search (https://apps.ark.org/inmate_info/). Search with the ADC number or a last name. The record lists the unit, a photo and key release dates.
Who should I phone to confirm the bond and court details before I go?
Figures and office hours can change, so confirm by phone first. The detention center at 870-853-2040 can tell you the current bond and how it can be paid. The circuit clerk at 870-853-2030 handles felony dates. For misdemeanors, call district court in Hamburg at 870-853-8326 or in Crossett at 870-364-7620.
Ashley County bond contacts
- County jail: Ashley County Detention Center, 842 Ashley Road 12 West, Hamburg, AR 71646; 870-853-2040
- Bond guide: Hamburg jail bond steps
- Sheriff's office: Same address and number as the jail
- Circuit clerk: 205 East Jefferson Street, Suite 6, Hamburg, AR 71646; 870-853-2030
- Circuit judge: Tenth Judicial Circuit, Division One chambers, 215 East Jefferson Street, Hamburg; 870-853-2032
- District court: Crossett 870-364-7620; Hamburg 870-853-8326
- City police: Crossett 870-364-4131; Hamburg 870-853-8600
- Public defender: Tenth Judicial District, Monticello; 870-460-6280
- Juvenile: Circuit clerk 870-853-2030; circuit judge's office 870-853-2032
Costs and hours shift over time, so ask the jail or clerk about your case before you pay. Treat this as a guide for families, not as legal advice.
Ashley County Detention Center
Address:
842 Ashley 12 West
Hamburg, AR 71646
Phone:
870-853-2040
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Ashley County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Ashley County?
Who can set bail in Ashley County?
When is bail set in Ashley County Arkansas?
Does Ashley County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Ashley County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Ashley County?
Ashley County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. The judge in Arkansas considers one of the following bonds:
1. An unsecured bond in an amount set by the judicial officer.
2. An unsecured bond with 10% cash or securities valued at 10% of the bail amount. 90% of the 10% will be returned at the end of the proceedings as long as the conditions have been met.
3. Secured bond by cash or property from the defendant family or a qualified bond agent.
Who can set bail in Ashley County?
A sheriff or police officer is authorized to set bail during the time of the arrest. If held in a city jail, a police officer can accept bail and a sheriff can accept bail in a county jail. In the higher courts, the judge sets bail at the initial appearance.
It is the law in Arkansas that the judicial officer can only set money bail if it is determined that no other conditions will guarantee that the defendant will appear in court.
Who can set bail in Ashley County?
Bail can be sent by the arresting officer at the time of booking and if the offence was a misdemeanor the bail is immediately paid, the date for the initial appearance before a judge will be made.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Ashley County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Ashley County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Ashley County Detention Center until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different.
The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions.
Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Ashley County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Ashley County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid. Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid. Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Ashley County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Ashley County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Ashley County?
Ashley County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. The judge in Arkansas considers one of the following bonds:
1. An unsecured bond in an amount set by the judicial officer.
2. An unsecured bond with 10% cash or securities valued at 10% of the bail amount. 90% of the 10% will be returned at the end of the proceedings as long as the conditions have been met.
3. Secured bond by cash or property from the defendant family or a qualified bond agent.
Who can set bail in Ashley County?
A sheriff or police officer is authorized to set bail during the time of the arrest. If held in a city jail, a police officer can accept bail and a sheriff can accept bail in a county jail. In the higher courts, the judge sets bail at the initial appearance.
It is the law in Arkansas that the judicial officer can only set money bail if it is determined that no other conditions will guarantee that the defendant will appear in court.
When is bail set in Arkansas?
Bail can be sent by the arresting officer at the time of booking and if the offence was a misdemeanor the bail is immediately paid, the date for the initial appearance before a judge will be made.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Ashley County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Ashley County Arkansas, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Arkansas could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Ashley County Arkansas?
Almost all counties in Arkansas accept online payments or payment by phone with an associated fee. It is important that you pay the correct officer or Ashley County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Ashley County Arkansas?
Cash is accepted in some counties and not others and it is dependent on the amount. Most all jails and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted.
Go to the Ashley County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Ashley County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Arkansas?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished.
There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount including an $80 minimal fee imposed by the court.
If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Ashley County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Arkansas?
All professional bond companies must collect a 10% fee before the defendant is released from jail and there non-refundable are court fees in addition. The court can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies in Ashley County.
If you have an attorney, it is a good idea to ask which has the best reputation or you can read reviews by others who have used them. It would be advisable to find out exactly how much they would charge, including extra costs.
You can call several bond companies and negotiate the best rate and conditions for you, although not all bond companies are obligated to execute a bond for you.