Cleburne County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Cleburne County bail and bond: what the Heber Springs jail will and will not take
Men arrested in Cleburne County are held at the Cleburne County Detention Center, 914 South 9th Street, Heber Springs, 501-362-2596. Women are booked there, but long stays are served at the White County Jail in Searcy, so a woman's family may need a second phone number. The sheriff's office publishes firm rules: no sheriff's bonds, generally no property bonds, and almost no release on a promise alone. District court is next door at 922 South 9th Street, and the circuit clerk works at 301 West Main Street. Confirm custody first with Cleburne County Inmate Search.
Why would my daughter be sitting in Searcy?
Cleburne County sends women who face a longer stay to the White County Jail at 1600 East Booth Road in Searcy, 501-278-8050, under a paid housing contract, about 30 miles away. Her case, judge, and bond stay in Cleburne County. Pay through the Heber Springs jail at 501-362-2596, and ask how long release paperwork takes to reach Searcy and whether you must collect her there.
Which number gives me the dollar amount?
The detention center, 501-362-2596, which answers at all hours. The sheriff's main office, 501-362-8143, keeps weekday hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will transfer you. Callers get faster answers when they can give a full legal name plus date of birth. Ask for the amount on every charge, and whether any charge has none yet because a judge has not seen it.
What won't the sheriff take?
By the sheriff's own published answers: no sheriff's bonds, meaning deputies will not set or lower an amount; generally no property or own-recognizance bonds without a judge's order; and no refunds of a surety fee paid to a bonding company. Deputies also cannot recommend a bondsman, so do not ask them to pick one.
Can the jail let someone go on a signature?
Rarely. Rule 5.2 of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure allows release by citation instead of jail, but the sheriff's office says this is seldom allowed, and for a felony it wants the prosecutor's recommendation first. A judge can still order release without money at the first appearance. If the person has steady work, a local address, and no missed court dates, make sure the lawyer says so.
What is the way to pay cash?
At the front counter of the detention center, 914 South 9th Street. Call 501-362-2596 before you leave and ask whether the day's payment is cash only or also includes a cashier's check or money order, and what the exact total is with any filing fee. The jail's bond instructions also say to call first. Take photo ID. Once the case is in circuit court, the clerk at 501-362-8149 may handle the money instead.
Is a bondsman the cheaper route?
Cheaper today, costlier in the end. A licensed bondsman charges exactly 10 percent, rounded up to the next $5, under Arkansas Code 17-19-301, plus a $10 state fee and a $15 processing charge. It is gone for good. Cash you post yourself returns when the case closes, minus anything the judge orders. If you cannot raise the full amount, the bondsman is the realistic path; check the license with the state board first.
We have land but no cash. Why won't the jail accept it?
State law allows a private surety who lives in Arkansas and owns property worth the bond, with a statement signed by the sheriff. In Cleburne County the sheriff has chosen not to accept property bonds in the ordinary case, and only a circuit judge can order otherwise. If land is the family's only asset, have a lawyer file a motion and carry the deed plus a recent tax bill to the circuit clerk. Expect days.
How soon does a judge step in?
Many common charges carry a preset figure the jail can quote immediately. The rest wait for a first appearance, which Arkansas Rule 8.1 says must come without unnecessary delay, normally within about two days and no later than three over a weekend. The district court office, 501-362-6585, can give the next court date. Felonies then move to the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit.
Which district court department has the misdemeanor?
Four departments serve the county under one district judge: Heber Springs at 922 South 9th Street, 501-362-6585; Greers Ferry at 8739 Edgemont Road, 501-825-7172; Quitman at 501-589-3512; and Concord at 870-668-3315. The department usually matches the town whose officer wrote the charge.
Which police number do I use?
Adults arrested by town officers end up at the South 9th Street jail, since the towns seem to have no holding cells of their own. For an arrest report, call Heber Springs Police, 1001 West Main Street, 501-362-8291; Greers Ferry Police, 501-825-7172; or Quitman Police, 501-589-3512. The judge, not the arresting officer, sets the amount.
What is a body attachment, and can money end it?
It is a judge's order to bring someone to court, often over unpaid fines or a missed civil hearing. The sheriff explains that some name a cash amount that frees the person once paid, while others require holding the person until the issuing judge sees them. Ask the jail which kind you have and which judge signed it.
What blocks release completely?
Under the Arkansas Constitution bail may be refused outright only for a capital offense where the proof is evident. Even with the bond paid, certain holds can stop a release: parole or probation, a warrant from another county, a federal detainer, or a judge's order after someone already out on a felony bond is picked up for another felony. Pay nothing until the jail confirms there is no hold.
Who is the Cleburne County public defender?
The Sixteenth Judicial District office in Heber Springs covers Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, and Stone counties. Call 501-362-4611. The judge appoints it after the person fills out a financial form at the first appearance. Appointed counsel may request a smaller bond and learn whether the prosecutor would agree to release.
Where does a minor go?
Not to the adult jail. Cases involving children are heard in circuit court's juvenile division, and a judge decides at a detention hearing whether the child stays in custody. With no youth lockup inside Cleburne County, a child ordered held is taken to a licensed facility elsewhere. The circuit clerk, 501-362-8149, keeps juvenile files and can say which center and when the hearing is. The public defender at 501-362-4611 can also help.
Does money for commissary or video visits help the bond?
It doesn't. Cash left at the front counter, or a deposit at the lobby kiosk, goes to the commissary account. Video visits and messages run through a separate account. None of it touches the bond. Visits are by video only, seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where does posted cash end up once the case closes?
The money stays with the court while charges are pending. When each hearing was attended, the clerk refunds it to the person on the receipt after subtracting fines, costs, and restitution. A missed date triggers a warrant and a forfeiture hearing, after which the county may keep the cash. Put your own name on the receipt and keep it.
How would I recognize a fake bail call?
Real jail and court staff never want payment by gift card, payment app or wire, and deputies do not recommend bondsmen. If someone claiming to be a deputy or bonding agent presses you to pay by phone, hang up and call 501-362-2596 yourself.
Which Cleburne County court has the case, and where do I reach it?
Felonies and juvenile matters sit in circuit court in Heber Springs. Misdemeanors, traffic and first felony hearings go to district court, which has four departments:
- Cleburne County Circuit Court (felonies, juvenile, appeals): Cleburne County Courthouse, 301 W. Main Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543 · 501-362-8149
- District Court, Heber Springs Department: 922 S. 9th Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543 · 501-362-6585
- District Court, Greers Ferry Department: 8739 Edgemont Road, Greers Ferry
- District Court, Quitman Department: ask the Heber Springs office for the session days
- District Court, Concord Department: ask the Heber Springs office for the session days
The town whose officer made the arrest usually decides the department. Circuit judges ride the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, a five-county loop with Fulton, Independence, Izard and Stone.
How is a federal arrest in Cleburne County handled?
A bail agent in Heber Springs has no say over a federal bond, and the county jail does not set it. Heber Springs arrests go to the Little Rock based Central Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, which meets at the federal courthouse in Little Rock, 500 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-604-5351. The steps usually run like this:
- An agency such as the FBI, DEA, ATF or Homeland Security files a complaint, or a grand jury returns an indictment.
- The defendant first faces a U.S. magistrate judge in Little Rock.
- A Pretrial Services officer gathers facts on job, home and past record.
- Should prosecutors seek to hold the person, a judge rules on that at a hearing a few days later.
- Release, when granted, comes with rules like check-ins and travel limits.
The U.S. Marshals pick the jail where a federal defendant waits for trial, which may be far from Heber Springs. Their office is U.S. Marshals Service, 600 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-324-6256.
Could ICE take someone after the Cleburne County bond is posted?
It could. Under 8 CFR 287.7, ICE may send the Heber Springs jail a detainer requesting a heads-up ahead of release plus up to 48 more hours of custody, and weekends and holidays count. State law in Arkansas does not stop the jail from honoring it.
Being moved to ICE does not end the local charges, and skipping a Cleburne County court date still leads to a warrant. ICE work in Arkansas is run by the ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360. North-central Arkansas detainees frequently end up in Louisiana centers, among them:
- 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/) with the A-number and country of birth, or with full name and country of birth.
What searches show where a Cleburne County inmate is now?
After booking in Heber Springs, a person could be moved to White County, a prison unit run by the state or a federal lockup. Check each of these:
- Cleburne County jail: Cleburne County Inmate Search. Enter the surname and given name, and click the match for charges, booking date and bond amount.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Pick Arkansas and search the name. Results say if the person is locked up and where, and you can sign up for free text or phone alerts at release.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). Search with a register number, or with name, race, sex and age. People still awaiting federal trial may be missing from it; for them, ring the Marshals at 501-324-6256.
- Arkansas Division of Correction: Arkansas Division of Correction Inmate Search (https://apps.ark.org/inmate_info/). An ADC number or surname brings up the assigned unit and parole eligibility date.
Before the trip to Heber Springs, which offices confirm the bond and next hearing?
Payment rules and office hours can shift, so call ahead. The detention center at 501-362-2596 answers day and night and can confirm the person's location and accepted payment types. The circuit clerk at 501-362-8149 has felony dates, and the district court at 501-362-6585 has misdemeanor and traffic dates.
Cleburne County bond contacts
- Jail: Cleburne County Detention Center, 914 South 9th Street, Heber Springs, AR 72543; 501-362-2596
- Women: White County Jail, 1600 East Booth Road, Searcy, AR 72143; 501-278-8050
- Sheriff: 914 South 9th Street; main office 501-362-8143; dispatch 501-362-8291; weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Circuit clerk: Cleburne County Courthouse, 301 West Main Street, Heber Springs; 501-362-8149; weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- District court: 922 South 9th Street, Heber Springs, 501-362-6585; Greers Ferry 501-825-7172; Quitman 501-589-3512; Concord 870-668-3315
- City police: Heber Springs 501-362-8291; Greers Ferry 501-825-7172; Quitman 501-589-3512
- Public defender: 16th Judicial District office, Heber Springs; 501-362-4611
- Juveniles: Circuit clerk, juvenile division records, 501-362-8149
Payment rules, hours, and figures at the jail get updated. Double-check your own case with Heber Springs staff ahead of paying anything. This bond guide is for general reading only.
Cleburne County Detention Center
Address:
914 South 9th Street
Heber Springs, AR 72543
Phone:
501-362-2596
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Cleburne County
Does Cleburne County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cleburne County?
Who can set bail in Cleburne County?
When is bail set in Cleburne County Arkansas?
Does Cleburne County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Cleburne County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cleburne County?
Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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, Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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 Cleburne County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Cleburne County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cleburne County?
Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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 Cleburne County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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 Cleburne County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Cleburne 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 Cleburne County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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 Cleburne 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.