Drew County Jail and Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Drew County bail and bond: one block in Monticello holds the jail, sheriff, and clerk
Adults arrested in Drew County are held at the Drew County Jail and Detention Center, 210 South Main Street, Monticello. The jail phone is 870-460-6215. The sheriff's office answers 870-367-6211. Bond amounts come from a judge, and the circuit clerk down the hall holds the case file, 870-460-6250, keeps the court papers. To check who is in custody, use Drew County Inmate Search.
Is my relative on the Monticello jail roster?
Run the inmate search linked above first, then confirm with the jail desk at 870-460-6215. A jail is staffed day and night, so someone should pick up. New bookings can lag on the roster for a few hours. When nothing comes up, ask whether Monticello police or a state trooper brought the person in, and whether another county has a hold.
What is the jail and where is it?
The Drew County Jail and Detention Center is at 210 South Main Street in Monticello, in the same complex as the sheriff and the courthouse. It has 42 beds, according to the Arkansas Sheriffs' Association. It is a sheriff's office jail with an administrator in charge of day-to-day work. Call 870-460-6215 for the jail or 870-367-6211 for the sheriff's office.
Who picks the dollar figure?
A judge, guided by Rule 9.2. Misdemeanors begin in district court, where the same district judge also covers Bradley County, and felonies belong to circuit court. An arrest warrant often has the amount printed on it. The jail desk can read you the current figure but has no power to change it.
Which door do I use to post bond?
Go to the jail on South Main, or to the circuit clerk in the same complex if the case is already filed. Both sit at one address, so you should not be sent across town. Even so, phone 870-460-6215 before leaving, since the desk can say which door applies at that hour. Take photo ID and the name used at booking.
Which kinds of payment does the jail accept?
Cash in the exact amount is the surest thing to carry. The county hasn't published which of cashier's checks, money orders or cards it accepts, or any card fee, so ask the desk. Wait to buy a money order until the jail or the clerk at 870-460-6250 confirms it will be accepted.
When is the circuit clerk open?
The clerk works from the courthouse at 210 South Main Street, 870-460-6250. Weekday office hours are not posted online, so confirm them by phone. After hours and on weekends, the jail desk is the place to ask what it can take.
Which days does the Monticello court meet?
The 28th District Court's own plan says Monticello hears criminal cases on the first, second, and third Tuesdays and on the first and third Thursdays each month, with first appearances as needed. The court office is at 107 East Jackson Street, 870-367-4420. Call the court office to confirm the days for the current month.
What does a Monticello bondsman collect?
Under Code 17-19-301 the premium is 10 percent of the bond, bumped up to the next $5, with a $10 state fee and a $15 paperwork charge stacked on each bond. A $2,000 bond works out to about $225 that you will not get back. Deal only with a state-licensed agent and keep copies of everything you sign.
Will a judge take my land as the bond?
Possibly, if the judge agrees. Code 16-84-103 requires an Arkansas resident surety whose property is worth more than what the law protects, and under 16-84-105 an officer files a sworn listing of the property and its value. The circuit clerk can tell you whether mobile homes, mortgaged land, or land outside Drew County will be considered.
Can the sheriff's office cut a bond?
That power belongs to the court. Deputies only carry out the judge's order. Only a judge can reduce a bond, usually after a lawyer asks for a new hearing. The sheriff's office at 870-367-6211 can only tell you which court has the case.
How does a person who is broke get a defender?
The Tenth Judicial District public defender office is in Monticello, 870-460-6280. The person has to request a lawyer when first before the judge and show a low income. Ask about the bond at that same hearing.
Why would the roster list "no bond"?
Often the judge has not yet seen the person, or another agency holds the person for probation or a warrant elsewhere. Only a capital charge backed by strong proof can be denied bail outright (Article 2, Section 8, Arkansas Constitution). Phone the jail next morning and ask which reason applies. For someone still waiting on a judge, ask when first appearances are next held.
What if Monticello police made the arrest?
Monticello Police are at 101 North Church Street, 870-367-3411; ask the jail desk where a person they arrested is being held. City ordinance and misdemeanor cases go to the Monticello department of district court. Smaller towns such as Tillar, Wilmar, and Jerome call on the sheriff, 870-367-6211.
A minor in my family was arrested. Who do I call?
A minor's case is handled in circuit court's juvenile division, apart from the adult jail. Call the circuit clerk at 870-460-6250, ask for juvenile intake, and ask where a detained youth is being kept. The clerk can say which youth detention center is holding the child. Cash bail does not apply to juvenile cases.
Someone failed to appear. What are the consequences?
Expect a warrant and the first steps toward losing the bond. The statutes give the surety 120 days after notice in district court (16-84-201) or 75 days in circuit court (16-84-207) to deliver the person. Call the clerk that day and ask about a new date.
Is cash bond returned to me?
When the case is over, the payer gets the cash back minus fines, costs and restitution. What a bondsman charges stays with the bondsman. The refund follows the name on the receipt, so if you are fronting someone else's money, tell the clerk that when you pay and make sure the receipt says so.
Is a text about bail money legitimate?
Nobody legitimate collects a bond in crypto, gift cards or app payments. If a stranger texts or calls with a payment demand, hang up and phone the jail at 870-460-6215 yourself.
Where are the Drew County courts, and which one is handling the case?
The courthouse that holds the jail also holds circuit court. District court is a short walk away on Jackson Street:
- Drew County Circuit Court (felonies, juvenile docket, district court appeals): Drew County Courthouse, 210 South Main Street, Monticello, AR 71655 · circuit clerk 870-460-6250
- Drew County District Court, Monticello Department (misdemeanors, traffic, first appearances, felony bond hearings): 107 East Jackson Street, Monticello, AR 71655 · 870-367-4420
A felony begins with a bond and probable-cause hearing in district court before it moves up to circuit court. Circuit judges here also serve Ashley, Bradley, Chicot and Desha in the 10th Judicial Circuit.
My relative was arrested in Drew County on a federal charge. What's different?
The Monticello jail desk can't take bond on a federal case, and a bail bondsman can't post it. Drew shares a state circuit with southeast counties, yet for federal cases it is placed in the Central Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, at the federal courthouse in Little Rock, 500 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-604-5351. The case typically goes this way:
- It starts with a criminal complaint from agents or an indictment from a grand jury.
- A U.S. magistrate judge in Little Rock presides over the initial appearance.
- Pretrial Services interviews the person and reports on their background to the court.
- If prosecutors argue for jail until trial, a detention hearing follows within days.
- A person who is released must obey federal supervision terms.
The U.S. Marshals decide where people facing federal charges are jailed. Reach the office at U.S. Marshals Service, 600 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-324-6256.
Will ICE be able to hold someone after bond is posted in Monticello?
Yes, it can. An ICE detainer under 8 CFR 287.7 asks the jail to give notice before release and to keep the person for up to 48 additional hours, weekends and holidays included. Arkansas law doesn't prevent jails from complying.
The Drew County case remains open after ICE takes custody, and its court dates still apply. Arkansas belongs to the ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360. People detained from southeast Arkansas are frequently taken to Louisiana, for example:
- 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
Look the person up in the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/) after the transfer. Searching by A-number and country of birth is most accurate; name plus country of birth is the fallback.
What can I search if a Drew County inmate has been moved?
The Monticello jail has 42 beds, so some prisoners end up elsewhere. A person may be in another county's jail, a state prison or federal custody. Try these:
- Drew County jail: Drew County Inmate Search. Search by surname and first name, then pick the booking that matches to see charges and bond.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Pick Arkansas and look up the name. You'll learn custody status and the facility name, which matters a lot when someone has left Monticello. Release alerts are free.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). Search with the register number, or name together with age, race and sex. Those still awaiting federal trial may not be listed, so call 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 pulls up the person's unit, photo and parole timing.
Which offices confirm bond and court dates before a trip to Monticello?
Housing and bond steps can change, so check first. Call the jail at 870-460-6215 to find out where the person is housed and how bond gets paid, and the sheriff's office answers 870-367-6211. Felony dates are with the circuit clerk at 870-460-6250. District court at 870-367-4420 has misdemeanor and traffic dates.
Drew County bond contacts
- Jail: Drew County Jail and Detention Center, 210 South Main Street, Monticello, AR 71655; 870-460-6215
- Bond guide: Bail steps for this jail
- Sheriff: Drew County Sheriff's Office, 210 South Main Street; 870-367-6211
- Circuit clerk: Circuit clerk's office, 210 South Main Street; 870-460-6250
- District court: Monticello department, 107 East Jackson Street; 870-367-4420
- City police: Monticello Police, 101 North Church Street; 870-367-3411
- Public defender: Tenth Judicial District, Monticello; 870-460-6280
- Juvenile: Circuit clerk, juvenile intake; 870-460-6250
No Drew County office has posted its payment hours online, which makes the jail desk the first call before any trip with cash. None of this is legal advice; it's general help for families.
Drew County Jail and Detention Center
Address:
210 South Main Street
Monticello, AR 71655
Phone:
870-460-6215
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Drew County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Drew County?
Who can set bail in Drew County?
When is bail set in Drew County Arkansas?
Does Drew County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Drew County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Drew County?
Drew 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 Drew 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 Drew 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 Drew 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 Drew 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 Drew County Jail and 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, Drew 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 Drew 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 Drew County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Drew County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Drew County?
Drew 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 Drew 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 Drew County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Drew 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 Drew 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 Drew County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Drew 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 Drew County Jail and Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Drew 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 Drew 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 Drew 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.