Izard County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Izard County bail and bond: getting a person released from the Melbourne jail
Anyone taken into custody in Izard County is held at the Izard County Detention Center, 300 Circle Drive, Melbourne. The jail shares a building with the county 911 center, and fewer than 40 people fit inside. Dial 870-368-4203 to reach the jail and the sheriff. The district courtroom is at the same address. A judge sets the bond, and the clerks keep the court file. Look up the person first through Izard County Inmate Search.
Is he in the Melbourne jail tonight?
Try the roster link above. If his name is missing, call 870-368-4203, which is also the sheriff's line. Fresh bookings can take hours to appear. Ask the dispatcher whether he is held on a charge here, a warrant from elsewhere, or both.
Which judge decides the amount?
Misdemeanors begin in Izard County District Court. Its clerk's office in Melbourne answers at 870-368-4390, and the district judge's office in Batesville answers at 870-793-8819. Felonies go to the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, and the circuit clerk's office takes calls at 870-368-4316. The jail simply carries out the number the judge picks.
When does the district court meet?
The Melbourne courtroom is inside the detention building at 300 Circle Drive, and Horseshoe Bend has its own division. Session days change, and Rule 8.1 still requires a prompt first appearance, so ask the clerk at 870-368-4390 for the next date.
Where do I hand over the bond money?
The jail is staffed around the clock because it shares space with 911. Even so, phone 870-368-4203 first. Ask for the exact total and who will take it at that hour. Bring photo ID. Never give cash to anyone outside the building.
Is cash the only thing they take?
Cash works almost everywhere, and many jails also take a money order or cashier's check. A card may add a fee, and many small jails refuse them. A personal check often gets turned away at the door. Before you leave, make sure the receipt shows the full name, case number, and amount.
How much does a bonding company keep?
Under Ark. Code 17-19-301 a bonding company charges a tenth of the bond, never less than $50, and state fees add about $45. A $2,000 bond therefore costs roughly $245, and none of it returns. Rates cannot be haggled down. Ask to see the agent's state license.
What is the 10 percent cash option?
Some judges pick a bond that needs only a tenth in cash, paid to the court (Rule 9.2). When the case ends, 90 percent of that deposit comes back. Only the judge can choose it. Check the bond order, and if the words are missing, ask the clerk.
Can land in Izard County back a bond?
Yes, if the judge agrees. Plan on the deed, proof of value, and every owner's signature. Judges lean toward land with clear title. Call the circuit clerk at 870-368-4316 to ask whether it must lie inside Izard County and how long review takes.
The booking shows no bond. Does that ever change?
Not always. Capital murder with strong proof is the one charge the state constitution lets a judge hold with no bail. Other times a probation, parole, or outside-agency hold is behind the entry. Call 870-368-4203 and ask who placed it.
Can the sheriff lower it?
A judge's figure stays put until a judge changes it; the sheriff has no say. A defense lawyer asks the court in writing, and the judge weighs job, family, ties to Izard County and any record of missed dates. Collect pay stubs and a lease to bring along.
A lawyer costs too much. Who steps in?
At the first hearing, a person who shows limited income can ask, and the judge names one. Izard County belongs to the Sixteenth Circuit public defender district, whose office in Heber Springs answers at 501-362-4611.
Will Horseshoe Bend or Melbourne police change anything?
The sheriff's office makes arrests across the county. Town officers bring anyone they arrest to the county detention center, the only adult jail here. District court has a Melbourne division and a Horseshoe Bend division; the Horseshoe Bend clerks are at 870-670-5113. If you do not know which agency acted, ask the jailer.
What happens when a minor is arrested?
Minors stay off the adult roster. Izard County has no youth jail, so the circuit court's juvenile division places a detained teen in another county's facility. Call the circuit clerk's office at 870-368-4316 and ask where the teen was placed and when a judge will review the detention.
Does commissary money count?
It doesn't. Inmate account deposits are spent on calls and canteen items, nothing more. The court never sees it. To pay a bond, deal with 870-368-4203 or a clerk.
What if he does not show for court?
Skipping court usually means a warrant, the bond is forfeited, and the bonding company then goes after whoever co-signed. Phone the clerk that day: 870-368-4390 for district cases, 870-368-4316 for circuit cases.
How long until the cash comes back?
Once the last hearing is over and no date was missed, the person named on the cash bond receipt gets the money, less any fines, costs or restitution. The bonding company's fee stays gone. Hold on to every receipt.
Someone phoned asking for bond money. Is it real?
Never send a wire or gift card numbers to someone who phones you. Bond is paid at the jail or a clerk's window, never by phone to a stranger. Pressure to pay fast is a red flag, so hang up and phone 870-368-4203 yourself.
Which Izard County offices take part in a bond, and where are they?
Melbourne is small, and nearly every office a family needs sits within a short drive of the square:
- Detention Center and Sheriff's Office: 300 Circle Drive, Melbourne, AR 72556 · 870-368-4203. The jail, the 911 dispatch room and the district court clerk all share this building.
- District Court, Melbourne (misdemeanors, traffic, early felony bond): 300 Circle Drive, Melbourne · clerk 870-368-4390
- District Court, Horseshoe Bend division: 704 West Commerce Street, Horseshoe Bend · 870-670-5113
- Circuit Court (felonies, juvenile matters, appeals): Izard County Courthouse, 80 East Main Street, Melbourne, AR 72556 · circuit clerk 870-368-4316
- Prosecuting Attorney, 16th District: 368 East Main Street, Batesville · 870-793-8825
- Public Defender, 16th District: Heber Springs office, 501-362-4611
Circuit judges ride a five-county circuit, so a felony hearing in Melbourne may wait for the next week a judge is in town.
What happens when a federal agency makes the arrest in Izard County?
The county jail may hold the person for a night, but bond is set in federal court, not in Melbourne. Izard County cases belong to the Northern Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, which meets in Jonesboro at the federal courthouse in Jonesboro, 615 South Main Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401, 870-972-4610. Expect these early steps:
- A complaint or an indictment starts the case.
- A magistrate judge in Jonesboro sees the person soon after arrest.
- Pretrial services checks work, family ties and record, then writes a report.
- Prosecutors can argue for detention without release.
- If the judge allows release, written conditions replace a cash bond in many cases.
Anyone the judge does not release stays with the U.S. Marshals: U.S. Marshals Service, 600 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-324-6256.
Could ICE keep someone in the Melbourne jail after bond is paid?
Sometimes. ICE uses a form called a detainer, authorized by 8 CFR 287.7. With it, ICE asks for a call before release and for as many as 48 added hours, with weekends and holidays counted. Arkansas jails may honor it, and the state court case keeps going.
Arkansas is handled by the ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360. People taken from north Arkansas often land at Louisiana centers like these:
- 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
To find out where someone went, try the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/). It needs an A-number, or a full name with the country of birth.
The Izard County roster doesn't show the person. What other searches help?
The person may have bonded out, been moved, or been picked up by the state or federal system. Try each of these:
- Izard County Detention Center: Izard County Inmate Search. Type a last name and open the booking to see charges and any bond.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Pick Arkansas, search the name, and register a phone or email for a custody alert.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). A register number gives the surest match. Someone still waiting on a federal trial may not show up yet, so ask 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 to see the prison unit. People sentenced to prison sometimes wait in the Melbourne jail until a state bed opens.
Which Melbourne numbers confirm bond terms and the next hearing date?
Bond rules and office hours can change, so phone ahead. Staff at the jail, 870-368-4203, pick up day and night and will say whether the person is still there and what payment works. The district clerk, 870-368-4390, has misdemeanor and traffic dates. The circuit clerk, 870-368-4316, has felony and juvenile dates.
Izard County bond contacts
- County jail: Izard County Detention Center, 300 Circle Drive, Melbourne, AR 72556; 870-368-4203
- Bond steps: How the jail takes bond
- Sheriff: Izard County Sheriff's Office, P.O. Box 370, Melbourne, AR 72556; 870-368-4203; office hours Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Circuit clerk: Circuit clerk's office, P.O. Box 95, Melbourne, AR 72556 (courthouse at 80 East Main Street); 870-368-4316
- District court: District judge's office, Batesville, 870-793-8819; district clerk, P.O. Box 337, Melbourne; 870-368-4390. Horseshoe Bend division, 704 West Commerce Street; 870-670-5113
- Courthouse: 80 East Main Street, Melbourne; 870-368-4328
- Juvenile cases: Circuit clerk, 870-368-4316
- Public defender: Sixteenth Circuit office, Heber Springs; 501-362-4611
- Custody lookup: Use the inmate search link near the top
Fees, hours and phone lines shift; phoning the jail or a clerk ahead can save a wasted drive. Treat this as general guidance for Izard County families, not as legal advice.
Izard County Detention Center
Address:
300 Circle Drive
Melbourne, AR 72556
Phone:
870-368-4203
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Izard County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Izard County?
Who can set bail in Izard County?
When is bail set in Izard County Arkansas?
Does Izard County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Izard County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Izard County?
Izard 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 Izard 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 Izard 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 Izard 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 Izard 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 Izard 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, Izard 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 Izard 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 Izard County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Izard County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Izard County?
Izard 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 Izard 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 Izard County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Izard 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 Izard 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 Izard County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Izard 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 Izard County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Izard 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 Izard 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 Izard 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.