Desha County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Desha County bail and bond: the county jail is closed, so start with Dumas or McGehee
Desha County does not run a county jail right now. According to the state sheriffs' association, Desha relies on the Dumas and McGehee city lockups, since the county runs no jail of its own. In practice, the jail that serves this county turns out to be a pair of small police lockups: the Dumas Police Department at 149 East Waterman Street, 870-382-5511, and the McGehee Criminal Justice Facility at 2412 Highway 65 North, 870-222-3636. The sheriff's office in Arkansas City, 870-877-2580, knows which one has your person. Felony cases are filed with the circuit clerk, also in Arkansas City, 870-222-0930. For a custody check, use Desha County Inmate Search.
Which building is my relative actually in?
Ask the arresting agency first. Dumas officers book people at their own station on East Waterman Street, 870-382-5511. McGehee officers use the Criminal Justice Facility on Highway 65 North, 870-222-3636. For an arrest by a sheriff's deputy or trooper, the person could be at either lockup, so call the sheriff at 870-877-2580. Give staff the legal name and birth date. Someone booked within the past hour might not be listed anywhere yet.
Why does the county jail show up as closed?
It is closed. On the sheriffs' association roster, Desha appears as "No Jail," with Dumas and McGehee doing the holding. A website that still shows visiting hours or a bonding window for a "Desha County Jail" in Arkansas City is out of date. Treat the two city lockups as the working jails, and ask the sheriff's office if your person was sent to a jail in some other county.
Who tells me the bond amount?
The lockup holding the person can read you the figure once a judge sets it. Warrant arrests usually come with the bond figure printed on the warrant. For a misdemeanor, Desha County District Court sets it: the Dumas department answers at 870-382-6972 and the McGehee department at 870-222-3859. For a felony, the circuit judge decides and the circuit clerk at 870-222-0930 keeps the order. Write the number down along with who gave it to you.
How fast does a Desha County judge set bond?
The wording of Rule 8.1 is "without unnecessary delay," and no fixed hour count appears in it. Desha County sets hearings by court session, so ask the lockup what day the judge will see your person. Under Rule 9.2, a money bond is a last resort, used only when lesser terms won't ensure a return, and the judge looks at work, family, residence, past record and the offense. A morning call to the lockup will tell you whether the hearing has taken place.
Which window or desk takes the bond money?
Usually at the lockup where the person is held, to the jailer or dispatcher on duty. Dumas is at 149 East Waterman Street; McGehee is at 2412 Highway 65 North. If the case has already been filed in court, you may be sent to the district court clerk in that town or to the circuit clerk in Arkansas City instead. Call first to avoid a wasted trip between towns: Dumas 870-382-5511, McGehee 870-222-3636. Carry photo ID and leave with a receipt printed with the booking or case number.
What kinds of payment will they take?
Neither lockup has published what it accepts, so ask before you go. Cash in the exact amount is the safest thing to carry. Whether a cashier's check, money order, or card works is something only the lockup or the clerk can say. If anyone tells you to pay a bond through a phone app or a prepaid card, stop and call the sheriff at 870-877-2580 to check.
What does a bail bondsman cost in Desha County?
The price is set by statute. Under Arkansas Code 17-19-301 the premium is 10 percent of the bond, raised to the next five-dollar mark, with a $10 state fee and a $15 processing charge added per bond. On a $5,000 bond that comes to about $525, money that stays gone even when charges are dismissed. Any agent you hire needs a state bail bond board license and should be able to show it. Ask to see it, and get any collateral terms in writing.
Can I pledge land instead of paying cash?
A private person who owns visible property in Arkansas can act as surety under Code 16-84-103, and the officer must file a statement of the property and its value. The judge has to approve it. Whether the land must sit inside Desha County is the judge's call, so ask the circuit clerk at 870-222-0930 what to bring.
Does Desha County post a price list for bonds?
Desha County does not post a bond schedule. What the state does spell out is the menu a judge chooses from under Rule 9.2: release on a promise, a 10 percent cash deposit, full cash, or a surety or property bond. Because no county list is posted, the only figure that counts is the one on the booking sheet or warrant.
Can a Desha County judge deny bail outright?
Rarely. The state constitution, at Article 2, Section 8, makes bail a right in all cases but capital ones with evident proof or a great presumption. Everything else gets a bond, though it can be high and Rule 9.3 lets the judge attach terms, for example staying away from the alleged victim. A "no bond" listing more often signals a hold, such as a parole or probation issue, an outside county's warrant, or a fresh felony committed while on bond. Ask the circuit clerk which hold is on the record.
Who handles a Dumas or McGehee city ticket?
City ordinance and misdemeanor cases from both towns go to Desha County District Court, which sits in each city. The Dumas department is at 149 East Waterman Street, 870-382-6972. The McGehee department is inside the Criminal Justice Facility at 2412 Highway 65 North, 870-222-3859. Cases from Arkansas City, Tillar and rural Desha land in one of those two departments as well. The Dumas city office at 870-382-2121 can route you if you are unsure.
How does someone get a free lawyer here?
Desha County is in the Tenth Judicial District, whose public defender office is in Monticello, 870-460-6280. At the first appearance the person tells the judge a lawyer is needed and fills out a short money form. The appointed lawyer may then ask the court to lower the bond. Jailers have no power to change the amount.
Where is a minor held after being picked up?
A youth under 18 belongs to the juvenile division of circuit court, not to the Dumas or McGehee adult lockups. A detained Desha County youth may be sent to a detention center outside the county. Call the circuit clerk at 870-222-0930, ask who handles juvenile intake, and ask where the child is and when the detention hearing is. Cash bail is not used in juvenile cases.
What happens to the money if someone skips court?
After a missed date, the judge can sign a warrant and start bond forfeiture (Code 16-84-201 in district court, 16-84-207 in circuit court). The statute gives the bondsman 120 days in district court and 75 in circuit court to bring the person in. Cash you posted can be kept by the court. Don't wait; call the clerk right away about rescheduling.
Will the cash come back to me?
At the close of the case, the clerk refunds a cash bond after pulling out whatever fines, costs or restitution were ordered. A judge can instead allow a 10 percent deposit under Rule 9.2, with 90 percent of that deposit coming back if the person never defaults. The refund goes to the depositor named on the receipt, so ask that your name be the one written there.
Which Desha County courts handle criminal cases, and where are they?
Felony files go to the circuit clerk in Arkansas City, the county seat. District court sits in both Dumas and McGehee, inside the same buildings that hold the city lockups:
- Desha County Circuit Court (felonies, juvenile division, district court appeals): Desha County Courthouse, Arkansas City, AR 71630 (mail: P.O. Box 309) · circuit clerk 870-222-0930
- District Court, Dumas Department: 149 East Waterman Street, Dumas, AR 71639 · 870-382-6972
- District Court, McGehee Department: McGehee Criminal Justice Facility, 2412 Highway 65 North, McGehee, AR 71654 · 870-222-3859
Tickets from Arkansas City, Tillar and the countryside go to one of these two departments. Desha's felony judges also serve Ashley, Bradley, Chicot and Drew in the Tenth Judicial Circuit.
How is a federal charge from Desha County handled differently?
With no county jail, people arrested here sit in Dumas or McGehee, but a federal defendant soon leaves both, and a bondsman can't post federal bail. Desha falls in the Delta Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, whose court is the federal courthouse in Helena, 617 Walnut Street, Helena, AR 72342 (clerk questions go to Little Rock), 501-604-5351. In most cases:
- Federal investigators file a complaint, or a grand jury issues an indictment.
- A U.S. magistrate judge, often in Little Rock, holds the opening hearing.
- A Pretrial Services officer looks into the person's job, family and history.
- If the government opposes release, the judge sets a detention hearing a few days out.
- Release, if granted, comes with federal conditions such as reporting and travel limits.
The U.S. Marshals assign a jail to each federal detainee. Call them at U.S. Marshals Service, 600 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-324-6256.
Can ICE take custody after bond is paid at the Dumas or McGehee lockup?
It's possible. With a detainer under 8 CFR 287.7, ICE asks the lockup to tell it before letting the person go and to hold them as long as 48 more hours, counting weekends and holidays. Arkansas law leaves local jails free to honor the request.
The Desha County charge doesn't vanish when ICE steps in, so the person still owes the court an appearance. Arkansas is handled by the ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360, and people it detains from the Delta are often moved to Louisiana centers 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
Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/) after the transfer. The A-number and birth country work best, though a name search with birth country can find people too.
Where else could a Desha County prisoner be held, and how do I search?
Desha sends people to the two city lockups. Over time a prisoner may move to another county's jail, an ADC unit or a federal hold, and these tools follow them:
- Desha County custody: Desha County Inmate Search. Enter the name and open the result for charges and bond, then call the lockup that has the person.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Choose Arkansas, then search by name. VINE reports custody status and the facility, which clears up whether it's Dumas, McGehee or somewhere else, and it offers free release alerts.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). Type a register number, or else the name plus age, race and sex. People awaiting a federal trial often aren't listed, so check with the Marshals at 501-324-6256.
- Arkansas Division of Correction: Arkansas Division of Correction Inmate Search (https://apps.ark.org/inmate_info/). Search an ADC number or surname for the unit, a photo and parole eligibility.
Before heading to Dumas or McGehee, who can verify the bond and the hearing date?
Which lockup holds someone, and how bond is paid, can change, so call first. The sheriff's office at 870-877-2580 can say where the person is. The Dumas lockup answers at 870-382-5511 and McGehee's at 870-222-3636. The circuit clerk at 870-222-0930 has felony settings. Misdemeanor dates come from district court in Dumas (870-382-6972) or McGehee (870-222-3859).
Someone called asking for gift cards. Is that real?
It's almost surely fraud. In Desha County, the lockups, courts and licensed bondsmen never collect bail by gift card, wire transfer or phone app. Hang up and dial these numbers yourself: sheriff 870-877-2580, Dumas 870-382-5511, McGehee 870-222-3636.
Desha County bond contacts
- Dumas lockup: Dumas Police Department, 149 East Waterman Street, Dumas, AR 71639; 870-382-5511
- McGehee lockup: McGehee Criminal Justice Facility, 2412 Highway 65 North, McGehee, AR 71654; 870-222-3636
- Sheriff: Desha County Sheriff's Office, 604 President Street, Arkansas City, AR 71630; 870-877-2580; second line 870-877-2327
- Bond guide: County jail and bond information
- Circuit clerk: P.O. Box 309, Arkansas City, AR 71630; 870-222-0930
- District court: Dumas department 870-382-6972; McGehee department 870-222-3859
- Public defender: Tenth Judicial District, Monticello; 870-460-6280
- Juvenile: Circuit clerk, juvenile intake, 870-222-0930
- Custody lookup: Use the inmate search link at the top of this page, then confirm by phone with the lockup
Neither lockup posts payment rules online, so a call to Dumas or McGehee is the only reliable way to learn their hours and accepted forms of payment. Read these answers as general help; they aren't legal advice.
Desha County Jail
Address:
Desha County Jail
Arkansas City, AR
Phone:
870-877-2327
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Desha County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Desha County?
Who can set bail in Desha County?
When is bail set in Desha County Arkansas?
Does Desha County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Desha County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Desha County?
Desha 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 Desha 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 Desha 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 Desha 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 Desha 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 Desha County Jail 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, Desha 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 Desha 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 Desha County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Desha County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Desha County?
Desha 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 Desha 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 Desha County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Desha 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 Desha 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 Desha County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Desha 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 Desha County Jail for more information about posting bail in Desha 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 Desha 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 Desha 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.