Baxter County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds

Last updated by Mark Miclette

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Baxter County

Arkansas • Baxter County • Bail & bond help

Baxter County bail and bond: Mountain Home, step by step

Anyone the police or deputies arrest in Baxter County, from Mountain Home to Cotter, Gassville, Lakeview, or Norfork, ends up at the Baxter County Detention Center, 904 Highway 62 West, Mountain Home. The sheriff's 24-hour non-emergency line, 870-425-7000, is the one to call about a booking or a bond. The jail only holds people. A judge picks the figure. Paperwork for the case lives with the circuit clerk. To see who is in custody now, use Baxter County Inmate Search.

What are the first things to do after the call about an arrest?

Write down the person's legal name and birth date, who arrested them, and the charges. Then ring 870-425-7000 and ask if an amount is already listed. If so, ask where it can be paid and by what hour. If not, ask when the person will see a judge. Write down the booking number, since every office will ask for it.

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The roster shows nothing under the name. Why?

New bookings sometimes need a few hours before they appear, so check back. If the roster stays blank, call 870-425-7000 and ask whether the person is at a hospital, being held on another county's warrant, or already out.

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Do I deal with the district court or the circuit court?

Misdemeanors belong to Baxter County District Court, which sits at 301 East Sixth Street, Suite 130, Mountain Home, 870-425-3140. Felonies go to the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, shared with Boone, Marion, and Newton counties; its clerk's file is at 1 East Seventh Street, Suite 103, 870-425-3475. Find out which court owns the case before you hire a lawyer.

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How soon is the first hearing?

Under Arkansas Rule 8.1, an arrest made without any warrant calls for a speedy first hearing. Around Mountain Home that usually happens in two or three days. A weekend arrest often waits until Monday. At that hearing the judge sets or confirms the amount and asks about a lawyer. The district court, 870-425-3140, can give you the date.

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Who accepts a cash payment in Mountain Home?

The jail asks families to call before bringing money, since a bond may be taken at the detention center, at the sheriff's office, or by the court clerk, depending on the case. Sheriff's office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For a night or weekend release, call 870-425-7000 and ask exactly who can accept payment then.

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Can the lobby kiosk take a bond?

It is not built for that. The lobby kiosk runs day and night but feeds the person's commissary account, and it was reported not to accept credit or debit cards. A deposit there buys snacks and supplies and releases no one. Do not enter a bond amount into it.

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What is the premium for a bondsman in Baxter County?

State law, Ark. Code 17-19-101 and following, fixes the premium at 10 percent. On a $3,000 bond that is $300, gone for good even if the charge is dropped. The agent must hold a state license and may want collateral or a co-signer. Sign nothing until you have the terms in writing, and keep a copy.

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What is release on recognizance?

The person signs a pledge to return and walks out without paying. It tends to go to people with minor charges and a clean record. The jail itself is reported to approve these rarely, so the realistic place to ask is the judge at first appearance, through the defense lawyer.

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Will the detention center accept a house or land as security?

Seldom at the jail, though a judge can approve one in court. The real estate has to be in Arkansas, with enough equity to cover the bond, and every owner on the deed signs. Ask the circuit clerk, 870-425-3475, whether the judge on your case will take a property bond before you pay for a title search.

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Bond is paid, so why are they still locked up?

The state constitution, in Article 2, Section 8, permits holding someone with no bail just when a capital charge rests on strong proof. Ark. Rule 9.6 also lets a judge keep someone who picks up a fresh felony while already on felony release. Holds placed by parole, probation or another county's warrant will stop a release too. Ask the jail which applies.

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Can a lawyer get the amount reduced?

Yes, through the judge only. Defense counsel asks in a written motion. The judge then weighs Rule 9.2 points like steady work, local relatives and a record of showing up. The sheriff and the jail staff cannot lower it. Bring the lawyer recent paychecks, a rental agreement and a list of people willing to speak up for the person.

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We can't afford a defense lawyer. What now?

At the first appearance, tell the judge the person needs a public defender. Baxter cases are covered from the district's Harrison office, which serves Baxter County at 870-743-3900. The judge decides who qualifies based on income.

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My person was arrested by Mountain Home or Lakeview police. Does that change anything?

Only who to call about the arrest report: Mountain Home Police, 870-425-6336, or Lakeview Police, 870-431-8744. The person is still booked into the county detention center. City misdemeanors go to the Baxter County District Court, which also serves Briarcliff, Cotter, Gassville, Norfork, and Salesville.

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The arrested person is 17. What is different?

Anyone under 18 is handled by circuit court's juvenile division, where cash bonds aren't used. Baxter County has a juvenile services office at 312 Bomber Boulevard, Mountain Home. Which locked facility the county uses for detained youth is a question for the circuit clerk, 870-425-3475. Arkansas has about 14 county-run detention centers, separate from the state youth-services agency. Juvenile files are closed to the public.

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What follows a missed court date in Baxter County?

A warrant goes out, and the judge may forfeit the bond. Cash may be lost. With a bondsman, the company has a short period to bring the person back before it owes the court, then turns to the co-signer. Call the clerk right away at 870-425-3475, or the district court at 870-425-3140. From there, defense counsel can seek a fresh hearing date.

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When does cash get refunded?

Perfect attendance means the money is returned at the finish, less any fines, costs or restitution owed. Ask the clerk whether any fee is kept from a deposit in your court. The receipt carries the case number, so file it somewhere safe. The premium you pay a bondsman is not returned.

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Which Baxter County court has the file, and where is it?

Mountain Home holds both main courts, a short walk apart near the square. Which one you need depends on how serious the charge is:

  • Baxter County Circuit Court (felonies, juvenile cases): 1 East Seventh Street, Suite 103, Mountain Home, AR 72653 · circuit clerk 870-425-3475
  • Baxter County District Court, Mountain Home Department (misdemeanors, traffic, first felony hearings): 301 East Sixth Street, Suite 130, Mountain Home, AR 72653 · 870-425-3140
  • Smaller district court departments: Briarcliff, Cotter, Gassville, Lakeview, Norfork and Salesville each hear tickets from inside their town limits. The Mountain Home office can say when and where each one meets.

A lake-area arrest by a park ranger or game warden may still land in Mountain Home. Ask the jail which court the paperwork names.

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What if the arrest was made by federal officers near the lake or the forest?

Then the case leaves the county system. Baxter County is part of the Harrison Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, and hearings meet at the federal building in Harrison, 402 North Walnut Street, Harrison, AR 72601, 833-853-0345. Here is what to expect:

  • The FBI, DEA, ATF, the Corps of Engineers rangers on the lake, or the Forest Service can file a federal charge.
  • A magistrate judge sees the person first, sometimes in Fayetteville or Fort Smith instead of Harrison.
  • Pretrial Services interviews the person about job, home and past arrests.
  • The prosecutor may move for detention. A hearing on that is set within a few days.
  • Release, if granted, comes with federal terms such as reporting in, a bond paper and staying in the district.

The U.S. Marshals choose the jail for anyone held before trial, and it might be far from Mountain Home. Call them at U.S. Marshals Service, 30 South 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, 479-289-7470 or 479-424-5000 (call either).

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Could ICE keep someone in the Baxter County jail after bond is posted?

It could. A detainer under 8 CFR 287.7 asks the jail to give ICE notice and hold the person up to 48 hours more, counting weekends and holidays. No Arkansas law stops the jail from honoring it.

Posting bond still protects the local case, because the Mountain Home court date does not go away. Arkansas is handled by the ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360. People held by ICE from the Ozarks are often driven a long way south, to places such as:

  • 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

Find a person in ICE custody with the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/). Use the A-number and birth country, or the complete name plus country.

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Which lookups track a Baxter County prisoner after a transfer?

Run these lookups. After sentencing or a federal charge, the person may no longer be on Highway 62:

  • Baxter County Detention Center: Baxter County Inmate Search. Search the last name first, then pick the right person. The listing shows the booking date, each charge and the bond.
  • VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Select Arkansas, enter a name, then search. You learn the custody status and the facility, and you can ask for a text or call on any change.
  • Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). Try the register number, or a full name with race, sex and age. Federal pretrial holds often don't show, so ask the Marshals at 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/). Look up an ADC number or last name to see the prison unit, a mug shot and parole dates.

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Who can I phone to check the bond and court date are still current?

Office details shift, and a phone check beats driving to Mountain Home for nothing. Reach the sheriff's office around the clock at 870-425-7000 for the bond and how to pay it. For felony court dates, call the circuit clerk at 870-425-3475. District court answers at 870-425-3140.

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Baxter County bond contacts

Bond figures, hours and rules shift now and then. Before paying, ring the jail or clerk to double-check. Families should read this as a guide, not legal advice.

Baxter County Detention Center

Address:
904 Hwy 62 West
Mountain Home, AR 72653
Phone:
870-425-7000

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Baxter County

Does Baxter County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Baxter County?

Who can set bail in Baxter County?

When is bail set in Baxter County Arkansas?

 

 

Does Baxter County have bail?

Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Baxter County allows bail.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Baxter County?

Baxter 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 Baxter 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 Baxter 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 Baxter 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 Baxter 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 Baxter 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, Baxter 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 Baxter 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 Baxter County have bail?  

Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Baxter County allows bail.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Baxter County? 

Baxter 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 Baxter 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 Baxter County Arkansas? 

Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.

In Baxter 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 Baxter 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 Baxter County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.

What options are there to pay bail in Baxter 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 Baxter County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Baxter 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 Baxter 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 Baxter 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Baxter County

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.