Lafayette County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lafayette County bail and bond: what to expect at the Lewisville jail
Anyone jailed after an arrest in Lafayette County goes to the Lafayette County Jail in Lewisville. The jail is listed at 110 East 4th Street, phone 870-921-4258, while the sheriff's office is at 5 Courthouse Square, 870-921-4252. It is a small jail, so a phone call usually gets a direct answer. A judge sets the bond. To check custody, use Lafayette County Inmate Search.
Is my son sitting in the Lewisville jail?
Start with the roster link, then call the jail at 870-921-4258 or the sheriff's office at 870-921-4252. The roster may trail the booking desk. Ask whether another agency, such as one in Texas or a neighboring county, also wants him.
Which Lafayette County court sets bail?
A judge does. Lafayette County District Court covers misdemeanors, with clerks in Lewisville (870-921-5555) and Bradley (870-894-3377) under one district judge. Felonies belong to the Eighth South Judicial Circuit, whose clerk's office answers at 870-921-4878. The jail just carries out the order.
Is the jail on the courthouse square or not?
The sheriff's office is at 5 Courthouse Square, 870-921-4252. The jail itself is listed at 110 East 4th Street, with its own line, 870-921-4258. Because the two numbers differ, ask which office will really take your payment before you drive.
How quickly does a first appearance come?
Rule 8.1 asks for it without unnecessary delay. Here, plan on a day or two, longer after a weekend arrest. The circuit clerk at 870-921-4878 knows the next felony date, and a district clerk knows misdemeanor dates.
Can I pay at 2 a.m.?
The jail line is described as answering around the clock, but that does not promise a deputy can take money at that hour. Call 870-921-4258, ask for the total, and ask who will accept it. Bring photo ID and the booking number.
Which kinds of payment are safest?
Bring paper money, a money order or a bank-issued cashier's check. The jail may also take a card, usually with a fee, so confirm by phone. Skip personal checks. The receipt should list the name, amount, and case.
What can a bondsman charge in this state?
The legal fee for a bondsman equals one-tenth of the bond amount, rounded up to a $5 step, and at least $50 (Ark. Code 17-19-301), plus about $45 in state fees. A $1,500 bond works out to $150 plus fees, and it never returns. The bondsman may require a co-signer. Check the license with the state board.
Is a 10 percent court deposit possible?
If the judge orders it. Rule 9.2 permits an unsecured bond with a 10 percent cash deposit, and 90 percent is returned after the case, minus fines and costs. Look for that wording on the bond order.
Can I pledge land in Lafayette County?
Property can secure a bond only with the judge's approval. Bring the deed, a value from the assessor or an appraiser, and the signatures of every owner. Ask the circuit clerk, 870-921-4878, if land outside the county or out of state can be used.
What does a no-bond hold mean?
Arkansas's constitution reserves a no-bail order for capital charges where the proof is strong. Usually the hold traces to probation, parole, an outside warrant or a federal detainer instead. Call 870-921-4258 to learn who placed it.
Could the sheriff lower it?
A judge's order is beyond the sheriff's reach. Counsel can request a bond hearing. The judge weighs work, family, home, past appearances, and the charge, so line up documents.
We have no money for a lawyer. Now what?
At the first appearance, say so to the judge and fill out the form. The Arkansas Public Defender Commission then assigns a lawyer for the Eighth South Circuit. The office in Texarkana, which also covers Miller County, is at 870-773-6025.
What about Lewisville, Stamps, or Bradley police?
Their officers may do the first paperwork, but longer stays are at the county jail. Lewisville police are at 330 West 1st Street, 870-921-4971; Stamps police are at 207 East Antigo Street, 870-533-4951. County jail bond questions still go to 870-921-4258.
Where would a minor be held?
Not on the adult roster and not in the adult jail. The state's Lewisville Juvenile Treatment Center, off Lafayette 16, is a long-stay program run by the Division of Youth Services, not a county lockup, so a court has to order a teen there. Placement of a detained teen is up to the circuit court's juvenile division. Call 870-921-4878 for the location and hearing date.
Does inmate account money help?
It doesn't. Deposits to the commissary or phone accounts never reach the court. Pay bond at the jail window or through a clerk, nowhere else. Check with 870-921-4258.
A court date was missed. How bad is it?
A warrant issues and the bond may be forfeited. Cash can be lost, and a bondsman will seek the co-signer. Phone the clerk before the day ends: 870-921-4878 for circuit cases, or the district clerk for misdemeanors.
How soon is cash bond repaid?
The court refunds cash bond to whoever is named on the receipt once the case is over, after it takes out fines, costs and restitution. Money paid to a bondsman is never refunded. Hold on to every receipt.
How do bail scams usually sound?
Gift cards, payment apps, and wires are red flags. Hang up and dial 870-921-4258 yourself.
Which Lewisville offices handle a Lafayette County bond?
Lewisville's offices cluster around the courthouse square, and the district court keeps clerks in two other towns:
- Lafayette County Jail: 110 East 4th Street, Lewisville, AR 71845 · 870-921-4258
- Sheriff's Office: 5 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845 · 870-921-4252
- Circuit Court (felonies, juvenile cases, appeals): circuit clerk, 3 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845 · 870-921-4878
- District Court, Lewisville department: 116 East 3rd Street, Lewisville · 870-921-5555
- District Court, Stamps department: 207 East Antigo Street, Stamps · 870-533-4771
- District Court, Bradley department: 870-894-3377
- Public Defender, 8th South District: Texarkana office, 870-773-6025
Lafayette and Miller counties share one prosecutor and one district judge, so a Lewisville hearing date may depend on the Texarkana calendar.
How is a federal arrest in Lafayette County handled?
Release is decided in federal court, so a Lewisville bondsman cannot post it. Cases from here go to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Texarkana Division, which sits at the federal courthouse in Texarkana, 500 North State Line Avenue, Texarkana, AR 71854, 833-853-0345. The opening steps often go like this:
- The case begins with a criminal complaint or an indictment.
- The defendant sees a magistrate judge for an initial appearance.
- A pretrial officer collects facts about work, family and record.
- The prosecutor may move to detain the defendant.
- A released defendant must follow the judge's written conditions.
Those not released are kept by the U.S. Marshals: U.S. Marshals Service, 30 South 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, 479-289-7470 or 479-424-5000 (call either).
What does an ICE detainer mean for someone in the Lewisville jail?
Under 8 CFR 287.7, ICE can file a detainer asking the jail for advance notice of release and for a hold lasting at most 48 more hours. That window runs through weekends and holidays. Arkansas permits jails to go along, and the local case still runs on its own track.
Arkansas is covered by the ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360. Being right on the Louisiana line, Lafayette County detainees are often taken to 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
Check the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/) with an A-number. If you lack one, use the full name and the birth country.
The Lafayette County search shows nothing. What now?
Perhaps the person was released, sent to another county's jail, or taken by state or federal officers. These searches cover the main options:
- Lafayette County Jail: Lafayette County Inmate Search. Search the surname and open the record for charges and any bond.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Choose Arkansas, find the name, and enroll for a free call or text about custody changes.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). A register number works best. A person awaiting federal trial might not be listed, and the Marshals answer at 479-289-7470 or 479-424-5000 (call either).
- Arkansas Division of Correction: Arkansas Division of Correction Inmate Search (https://apps.ark.org/inmate_info/). An ADC number or surname reveals the unit and parole details.
Before making the drive, whose number confirms bond terms and the next Lafayette County hearing?
Routines in small offices shift, so phone first. The jail at 870-921-4258 confirms custody and the way bond is paid. A misdemeanor or traffic date comes from the department holding the case (Lewisville 870-921-5555, Stamps 870-533-4771, Bradley 870-894-3377). A felony or juvenile date comes from the circuit clerk at 870-921-4878.
Lafayette County bond contacts
- County jail: Lafayette County Jail, 110 East 4th Street, Lewisville, AR 71845; 870-921-4258
- Bond steps: Bond steps at the Lewisville jail
- Sheriff: Lafayette County Sheriff's Office, 5 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845; 870-921-4252
- Circuit clerk: Circuit clerk's office, 3 Courthouse Square, Lewisville, AR 71845; 870-921-4878
- District court: Lewisville clerk, 116 East 3rd Street, 870-921-5555; Bradley clerk, 870-894-3377
- County judge: 870-921-4858
- City police: Lewisville 870-921-4971; Stamps 870-533-4951
- Juvenile cases: Circuit clerk, 870-921-4878
- Public defender: Eighth South office, Texarkana; 870-773-6025
- Custody lookup: Inmate search link shown at the top
Small offices can change how they work with little warning; before handing over money, have a clerk or jailer confirm the amount, place and time. None of this is legal advice; it is general help for Lafayette County families.
Lafayette County Jail
Address:
110 East 4th Street
Lewisville, AR 71845
Phone:
870-921-4258
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lafayette County
Does Lafayette County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lafayette County?
Who can set bail in Lafayette County?
When is bail set in Lafayette County Arkansas?
Does Lafayette County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Lafayette County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lafayette County?
Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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, Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Lafayette County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lafayette County?
Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Lafayette 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 Lafayette County Jail for more information about posting bail in Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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.