Jack Jones Juvenile Justice Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Jefferson County bail and bond: working through the Pine Bluff system
Adults arrested in Jefferson County are held in Pine Bluff at the Jefferson County Detention Center, the county's adult jail on East 2nd Avenue. The sheriff's office runs it, and the 24-hour line is 870-541-5351. The jail holds 300-plus people, including those picked up by Pine Bluff police. Only a judge fixes the bond, and the jail takes the payment. Begin with Jefferson County Inmate Search.
1. How do I learn whether my person is in the Pine Bluff jail?
Check the roster link, then call the sheriff's 24-hour line, 870-541-5351. The booking desk is 870-541-1921. Busy nights can stretch booking out for many hours, so a missing name early on means little. Ask if another agency has a hold on him.
2. Adult detention center or county jail: which one is it?
Both names point to one place. Locals say Jefferson County Jail; the official term is the sheriff's adult detention center, and it sits on East 2nd Avenue. The sheriff's office at 410 East 2nd Avenue is a different building.
3. Which judge picks the amount?
District judges take misdemeanors and many first appearances, and circuit court takes felonies. The county has more than one district court division, including Division 1 at 870-541-4646 and Division 2 at 870-850-7584. The circuit clerk's office, Suite 104 at 101 West Barraque Street, keeps felony files and answers at 870-541-5306.
4. How soon after arrest does a hearing happen?
The timing comes from Rule 8.1, which bars unnecessary delay before the first hearing. Plan on a day or two, and longer across a weekend. Some warrants already state a bond. Call the booking desk at 870-541-1921 each morning for updates.
5. Who is on duty when I come to pay?
On weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., the jail's administration office is at 870-541-4620. At other times use the 24-hour line, 870-541-5351. Find out who takes the payment, jail or circuit clerk, and which entrance is staffed at that time of day. Have your picture ID and the booking number with you.
6. What payment will they accept?
The jail's listing mentions cash, credit card, and money order. Do not trust that without a call, because fees and limits differ by office. Personal checks are seldom accepted. Ask for a receipt showing the booking number and amount.
7. Why is a bail agent's cut ten percent?
Arkansas fixes the cut at one-tenth of the bond (Ark. Code 17-19-301), rounded up to a multiple of $5, with a $50 floor. On a $10,000 bond that is $1,000 plus roughly $45 in state fees, and none of it comes back. Before signing, write down the agent's state license number and insist on a written contract.
8. Can I leave 10 percent with the court instead?
Only if the judge ordered it. Rule 9.2 counts a tenth-in-cash deposit as one form of money bail. When the case ends, 90 percent returns, less fines and costs. Look for the words "10 percent" on the order.
9. Will a house or land do?
Perhaps. Real estate can back a secured bond when the judge approves it. The court usually wants the deed, an appraisal or assessor's value, and signatures from all owners. Ask the circuit clerk at 870-541-5306 whether the court wants the land in Jefferson County.
10. The listing reads held without bond. What does that mean?
The state constitution permits a no-bail order solely for capital charges backed by strong proof. More often it reflects a hold placed by parole, probation, another county's court or a federal agency. Ask the booking desk, 870-541-1921, which agency wants the hold.
11. Can the sheriff cut the bond?
The sheriff and jail staff only carry out what the judge orders. Through a lawyer, the person can ask the judge to reconsider the amount. Showing a steady job, a Jefferson County address and relatives close by helps.
12. Is there a public defender?
At the first appearance, the person tells the judge he cannot pay a lawyer and fills out a form. The Arkansas Public Defender Commission then names one for the Eleventh West Circuit, which covers Jefferson and Lincoln counties. The office in Pine Bluff is at 870-541-0053.
13. City police in Pine Bluff or White Hall made the arrest. Which jail has him?
City arrests usually end up at the county's adult detention center. Pine Bluff police are at 200 East 8th Avenue, 870-730-2081; White Hall police are at 870-247-1414. Call them for reports and the jail for bond.
14. What if the person is under 18?
Teens are held at the county juvenile justice center, 301 East 2nd Avenue, Pine Bluff; its administration line is 870-541-8502. The juvenile court division sits in the same building, 870-541-5455. Youth records are private, and the adult roster will not list them. Juveniles get a detention hearing instead of a cash bond.
15. Does money on the books free him?
Those deposits never free anyone. Commissary and phone money does not reach the court. Only satisfying the bond order releases someone. Questions go to 870-541-4620.
16. What follows a missed hearing?
A warrant usually follows, along with steps to forfeit the bond. Cash may be kept, and a bondsman will chase the co-signer. Phone the circuit clerk at 870-541-5306 right away and ask if a new date is possible.
17. When is cash returned?
If no hearing was skipped, at the close of the case the payer receives the cash bond minus any fines, costs and restitution. A bondsman keeps his fee whatever happens. Save all receipts.
18. What does a payment scam sound like?
A stranger on the phone wanting wired money, app payments or gift card codes to get the person out tonight. Hang up and dial the jail on 870-541-5351 before paying anyone.
19. Where are the Pine Bluff offices that deal with a Jefferson County bond?
The jail, the sheriff and the juvenile center line up along East 2nd Avenue, a few blocks from the courthouse:
- Sheriff's Office: 410 East 2nd Avenue, Pine Bluff, AR 71601 · 24-hour line 870-541-5351
- Adult Detention Center: East 2nd Avenue, Pine Bluff · booking desk 870-541-1921 · jail administration 870-541-4620
- Circuit Court (felonies, appeals): Jefferson County Courthouse, 101 East Barraque Street, Pine Bluff · circuit clerk, 101 West Barraque Street, Suite 104, Pine Bluff, AR 71601 · 870-541-5306
- District Court, Pine Bluff: Division 1 870-541-4646 · Division 2, 223 East 3rd Avenue · 870-850-7584
- District Court, White Hall department: clerk 870-247-1420
- Juvenile Court and juvenile detention: 301 East 2nd Avenue, Pine Bluff · detention 870-541-8502 · juvenile court 870-541-5455
- Public Defender, 11th West District: Pine Bluff office, 870-541-0053
The circuit clerk's office keeps weekday hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., so felony paperwork after hours waits for the next business day.
20. How does a federal arrest out of Pine Bluff work?
The county jail may hold the person briefly, but a federal magistrate in Little Rock handles release. Cases from this county are heard by the Central Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, located at the federal courthouse in Little Rock, 500 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-604-5351. Typical first steps:
- Charges arrive by complaint or by grand jury indictment.
- The defendant is brought to Little Rock for a first appearance.
- Pretrial services checks the person's history and community ties.
- Prosecutors may ask the magistrate to order detention.
- When release is granted, the order spells out conditions such as travel limits or check-ins.
Federal defendants who stay locked up are under the U.S. Marshals: U.S. Marshals Service, 600 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-324-6256.
21. Can ICE hold someone at the Pine Bluff jail after a bond is posted?
It can make that request. An ICE detainer, issued under 8 CFR 287.7, asks for a heads-up before release and a hold capped at 48 added hours. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays stay on the clock, and Arkansas allows jails to cooperate. The Pine Bluff case continues during any hold.
The ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360 oversees Arkansas. Detainees from the Pine Bluff area are often sent to Louisiana facilities, 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/). The fastest search uses the A-number, though name and birth country work as well.
22. What if the Jefferson County roster doesn't list the person?
A blank search may mean the person bonded out, went to another county, or moved into state or federal custody. Pine Bluff hosts several state prison units, so a sentenced person may already be across town. Check these:
- Jefferson County Detention Center: Jefferson County Inmate Search. Enter the surname and open the booking to read charges and bond.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Pick Arkansas, enter the name, and request a text or phone call if the person's custody status changes.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). Use a register number when you have one. Federal pretrial detainees can be missing from it, 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 by ADC number or last name to find the unit and parole status.
- Teens under 18: they never appear on the adult roster. Call the juvenile center at 870-541-8502.
23. Before driving to Pine Bluff, whom should I call about bond and court dates?
Hours and steps do change, so call before you leave home. The sheriff's 24-hour line, 870-541-5351, confirms custody and how bond is paid. For a misdemeanor date, call district court Division 1 at 870-541-4646 or Division 2 at 870-850-7584. For a felony date, the circuit clerk is at 870-541-5306.
Jefferson County bond contacts
- County jail: Jefferson County Detention Center (adult detention center), East 2nd Avenue, Pine Bluff, AR; 24-hour line 870-541-5351; booking 870-541-1921; administration 870-541-4620
- Bond steps: How bond is posted at the jail
- Sheriff: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 410 East 2nd Avenue, Pine Bluff, AR 71601; 870-541-5351; office hours weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Circuit clerk: Flora Cook-Bishop, 101 West Barraque Street, Suite 104, Pine Bluff, AR 71601; 870-541-5306
- District court: Division 1 870-541-4646; Division 2 870-850-7584
- County judge: 870-541-5360
- City police: Pine Bluff 870-730-2081; White Hall 870-247-1414
- Juvenile detention: Jefferson County juvenile justice center, 301 East 2nd Avenue, Pine Bluff; 870-541-8502; juvenile court division 870-541-5455
- Public defender: Eleventh West office, Pine Bluff; 870-541-0053
- Custody lookup: Search link in the first paragraph above
Pine Bluff hours, fees and phone lines get updated now and then, and a quick check with a clerk or the jail avoids surprises. Use this as background for Jefferson County families; it is not legal advice.
Jack Jones Juvenile Justice Center
Address:
301 East 2nd Avenue
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Phone:
870-541-8502
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Jefferson County
Does Jefferson County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Jefferson County?
Who can set bail in Jefferson County?
When is bail set in Jefferson County Arkansas?
Does Jefferson County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Jefferson County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Jefferson County?
Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jack Jones Juvenile Justice 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, Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Jefferson County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Jefferson County?
Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Jefferson 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 Jack Jones Juvenile Justice Center for more information about posting bail in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.