Lawrence County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lawrence County bail and bond: from Walnut Ridge booking to release
Adults arrested anywhere in Lawrence County go to the Lawrence County Detention Center, 501 West Elm Street, Walnut Ridge. One number, 870-886-2525, rings the Elm Street jail desk and the sheriff's staff alike. A judge sets the bond; the jail collects it. First, look up the person on Lawrence County Inmate Search.
Is he in the Walnut Ridge jail?
Run the name through the roster link, then dial 870-886-2525, and let it ring through to the jail desk. The staff can give a booking number, the charges, and the bond. Fresh arrests sometimes lag behind on the roster by several hours.
Whose desk does the bond come from?
Misdemeanors belong to the district court, whose clerk's office at 111 West Main Street takes calls at 870-886-1140. Felonies go to the Third Judicial Circuit, where the circuit clerk works from Suite 7 of the courthouse, 870-886-1112.
When is the first hearing?
Rule 8.1 calls for a prompt first appearance, and a day or two is typical. Walnut Ridge, Hoxie, and Black Rock each have a district court department, so the date can depend on where the offense happened. Ask the district clerk at 870-886-1140 for the next docket.
Where exactly do I go to pay?
The detention center sits at 501 West Elm Street. Call 870-886-2525 before you leave and ask for the total, the entrance, and whether someone can take payment at that hour. Remember a photo ID.
Which payment types are normal?
Most Walnut Ridge payments are made in bills, by money order or with a bank cashier's check. A card at a kiosk may exist for a fee, but ask first. Avoid personal checks. Leave with a receipt that shows the name and the case.
What will a bondsman keep?
The statute (Ark. Code 17-19-301) sets the bondsman's share at a tenth of the bond, rounded to the next $5, with a $50 minimum, plus roughly $45 in fixed state fees. A dismissal later on won't bring that fee back. The agent may want collateral. Only a company licensed in Arkansas may write bonds.
Could I leave 10 percent with the court?
If the judge ordered that form of bond, yes. Rule 9.2 lets the court hold a tenth of the amount in cash. When the case ends, 90 percent comes back, less fines and costs.
May I use a house or farmland?
Land or a house may stand behind a secured bond if a judge signs off. Owners usually need the recorded deed, an assessor's or appraiser's figure, and signatures from everyone on title. Ask 870-886-1112 whether the judges accept land outside the county.
Why does the listing say no bond?
Common reasons include a parole or probation hold, an outside county's warrant, or a federal detainer. Article 2, Section 8 of the state constitution allows flat denial only in capital cases backed by strong proof. Call 870-886-2525 and ask who requested the hold.
Can the sheriff lower it?
That power rests with the judge; the sheriff's office only carries out the order. Lowering it takes a motion from a lawyer; the judge then weighs work, family ties, where the person lives and how faithfully earlier dates were kept.
Who is the free lawyer?
Someone without money for a lawyer fills out a brief affidavit at the first appearance, and the judge assigns one. Lawrence County belongs to the Third Circuit public defender district; the circuit clerk at 870-886-1112 can say how to reach the assigned lawyer.
What if Walnut Ridge or Hoxie police made the arrest?
They take adults to the county detention center. Walnut Ridge police, 317 NW 4th Street: 870-886-3568. Hoxie police: 870-886-7701. Black Rock police: 870-878-6792. Ask them for reports. Ask the jail about bond.
A teenager from Lawrence County was picked up. Where is he?
Minors are not on the adult roster. Lawrence County sends any teen ordered held to a juvenile center elsewhere, by contract. Call the circuit clerk, 870-886-1112, for the location and hearing date.
Does the commissary account pay a bond?
It can't. Money put on phone, tablet and commissary accounts stays with those accounts and never reaches the court. Bond money belongs at the jail or a court clerk's counter. Check with 870-886-2525 before sending money online.
He skipped a Walnut Ridge court date. What comes next?
The judge issues a warrant and can forfeit the bond. Posted cash may be forfeited, and any bondsman will come after whoever co-signed. Phone a clerk that day: 870-886-1140 or 870-886-1112.
How long until posted cash is refunded?
Refunds go to the payer once the case is over, and the court subtracts fines, costs, or restitution first. Nothing returns from a bondsman's fee. Save every receipt.
Which calls are scams?
Gift cards, wires, and payment apps are red flags. Hang up and call 870-886-2525.
Where are the Walnut Ridge offices that deal with a Lawrence County bond?
Every office for a county bond case sits in Walnut Ridge, and the district court's outlying departments hold their sessions there too:
- Lawrence County Detention Center: 501 West Elm Street, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 · 870-886-2525
- Circuit Court (felonies, juvenile matters, appeals): circuit clerk, 315 West Main Street, Suite 7, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 · 870-886-1112
- District Court clerk's office: 111 West Main Street, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 · 870-886-1140, open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- District Court courtroom: 315 West Main Street, Walnut Ridge
Hoxie, Black Rock and Portia are district court departments on paper, but their cases are called in the Walnut Ridge department, so the single clerk at 870-886-1140 handles all four.
How does a federal charge from Lawrence County work?
Bond in a federal case is a federal judge's call, and a county bondsman has no part in it. Lawrence County belongs to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Northern Division, in Jonesboro at the federal courthouse in Jonesboro, 615 South Main Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401, 870-972-4610. In most cases the first days look like this:
- A charge starts with an agent's sworn complaint or a grand jury indictment.
- At the first court date, a magistrate judge reads out the accusation.
- Pretrial services looks into employment, living situation and prior record.
- Federal prosecutors are allowed to request detention pending trial.
- Anyone released must obey the written terms the judge signs.
People who stay in custody are the U.S. Marshals' responsibility: U.S. Marshals Service, 600 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-324-6256.
What should a family know about an ICE detainer at the Walnut Ridge jail?
Through a detainer under 8 CFR 287.7, ICE asks the Walnut Ridge jail for a heads-up before release plus up to 48 more hours of custody, counting weekends and holidays. Arkansas law lets jails honor that request. The Lawrence County charge keeps moving through state court regardless.
The ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360 covers Arkansas. People picked up from northeast Arkansas jails are commonly moved to Louisiana centers such as:
- LaSalle ICE Processing Center: 830 Pinehill Road, Jena, LA 71342 · 318-992-1600
- Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center: 1133 Hampton Dupre Road, Pine Prairie, LA 70576 · 337-599-2400
The ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/) accepts an A-number; without one, enter the exact name and native country.
Nothing turns up on the Lawrence County roster. Which other lists might show him?
A blank result can mean release on bond, a transfer elsewhere, or custody under state or federal officers. Try these searches:
- Lawrence County Detention Center: Lawrence County Inmate Search. Enter a surname, then click the booking for its charges and bond figure.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Set the state to Arkansas, find the person and register for no-cost custody alerts.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). Search by register number if you have it. Pretrial federal detainees are often missing from it, so phone the Marshals at 501-324-6256.
- Arkansas Division of Correction: Arkansas Division of Correction Inmate Search (https://apps.ark.org/inmate_info/). A surname or ADC number brings up the assigned unit and any parole date.
Who should I phone to check the bond and the next Lawrence County court date before heading out?
Hours and steps can change, so call ahead. Staff at 870-886-2525 will confirm that he is still on Elm Street and what forms of bond they accept. Misdemeanor and traffic dates in every department come from the district court clerk at 870-886-1140. For felony or juvenile settings, ask the circuit clerk, 870-886-1112.
Lawrence County bond contacts
- County jail: Lawrence County Detention Center, 501 West Elm Street, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476; 870-886-2525
- Bond steps: How the Walnut Ridge jail takes bond
- Sheriff: Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, 501 West Elm; 870-886-2525
- Circuit clerk: Circuit clerk's office, Suite 7, 315 West Main Street, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476; 870-886-1112
- District court: District court clerk's office, 111 West Main Street, Walnut Ridge; 870-886-1140
- Courthouse: 315 West Main Street; county judge 870-886-1110
- City police: Walnut Ridge 870-886-3568; Hoxie 870-886-7701; Black Rock 870-878-6792
- Juvenile cases: Circuit clerk, 870-886-1112
- Public defender: Third Circuit public defender; ask the circuit clerk, 870-886-1112
- Custody lookup: Use the inmate search near the top of this page
Fees, office hours and numbers do change; on a given case, the jail and clerks have the last word. Treat this as plain-language help for Lawrence County families, not legal advice.
Lawrence County Detention Center
Address:
501 West Elm Street
Walnut Ridge, AR 72476
Phone:
870-886-2525
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lawrence County
Does Lawrence County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence County?
Who can set bail in Lawrence County?
When is bail set in Lawrence County Arkansas?
Does Lawrence County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Lawrence County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence County?
Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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, Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Lawrence County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence County?
Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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.