Little River Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Little River County bail and bond: the Ashdown jail, the two courts, and who picks up the phone
Anyone arrested in Little River County goes to the Little River County Detention Center, 2115 North Constitution Avenue, on U.S. 71 at the north edge of Ashdown. Deputies of the county sheriff operate it, and the main line is 870-898-5115. The jail moved out of downtown Ashdown, so old directions can send you to the wrong door. District court now meets in the courtroom building at the same address. Felony paperwork stays at the courthouse, 351 North Second Street. A judge sets the bond. Confirm custody first with Little River County Inmate Search.
Was he booked in Ashdown at all?
Search the roster, then phone the jail at 870-898-5115. Staff can confirm the booking, read the charges, and give the inmate number that everything else depends on. The county once paid other jails to hold its overflow, so if the name is missing, ask whether another county has him.
Who tells me the bond figure?
Jail staff can read it to you; once a judge acts, the figure goes onto the booking entry. For a misdemeanor the number usually comes from the district court, reached through the district clerk at 870-898-7230. For a felony, the circuit clerk at 870-898-7212 holds the order.
Whose hands receive the money?
Most payments go to the sheriff's staff at 2115 North Constitution Avenue, the same building where district court fines are paid. Certain bonds are payable only to the clerk for whichever court ordered them. Call 870-898-5115 with the inmate number and ask which desk takes it. Bring photo ID and keep the receipt.
Which payments will the county take?
The county's district court page lists cash, cashier's checks, business checks, and money orders at the sheriff's office, and the circuit clerk takes cash, bank checks and money orders. Expect a personal check to be turned away. The online portal is built for tickets and fines, not bonds. Money loaded onto a commissary account is not bond and opens no door.
It is 2 a.m. Can the jail take a cash bond?
Deputies work the jail day and night; its front office, though, keeps hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, the same as the courthouse. Whether a jailer accepts cash at night depends on staffing and on whether a judge has set an amount. Call first. A bondsman can often finish the paperwork when the county desk cannot.
Cash or bondsman: which costs less?
A bondsman costs less today. Arkansas fixes the premium at 10 percent, and licensed companies may not discount it or add mileage, phone, or photo charges. It is never refunded, even if the case is dismissed. Full cash costs more up front but returns if every court date is kept. The judge may also allow a 10 percent deposit paid to the court, with 90 percent of it returned. Ask the jail which choices the judge allowed.
Could land stand in for cash?
Arkansas rules let a secured bond rest on real estate, but the court decides. Expect to show a deed, a current tax assessment, and proof that the equity covers the bond, and all titleholders have to sign. Judges commonly expect Arkansas land. Ask the circuit clerk at 870-898-7212 whether property outside Little River County qualifies, and allow several business days.
What does Arkansas promise about bail in general?
The state constitution, Article 2, Section 8, makes every offense bailable except a capital charge where the proof is evident. Rule 9.2 says money bail is a last resort, used when no lesser condition would secure a return to court, and lists what the judge weighs: time lived here, work, family, past court behavior, and the charge. Under Rule 9.3 a judge can also attach terms, say, a ban on contacting the complaining witness.
When can a judge refuse bail?
Capital murder is the main case. Picking up another felony charge while on felony bond may trigger a hold under Arkansas Rule of Criminal Procedure 9.6. Paying the local bond won't free someone who also has a hold from a different county, a parole or probation officer, or a federal agency. Ask the jail to read every hold on the record before you pay.
Felony or misdemeanor: does the court change?
Yes. Misdemeanors, traffic cases, and most first appearances belong to Little River County District Court, with departments for Ashdown, Foreman, and Winthrop. The Ashdown and Foreman clerk is at 870-898-7230, and Winthrop's clerk is at 870-381-7864. Felonies move to the Ninth Judicial Circuit, West, where the circuit clerk keeps the files, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Ashdown or Foreman officers arrested him. Does it matter?
Not for where he sleeps. The cities use the county detention center, so booking and bond happen there. It matters for paperwork: the officer's report is at the police station. Ashdown City Hall is 870-898-2622, and the police number on file is 870-898-5640. If the arrest happened near Foreman or Winthrop, the jail can tell you which department brought him in.
Who speaks for a person who cannot afford counsel?
The judge appoints a public defender at the first appearance after the person signs an affidavit of need. The Ninth West public defender district covers Little River, Howard, Pike, and Sevier counties; the circuit clerk at 870-898-7212 knows which appointed attorney picked up the file. A public defender can file the motion to lower a bond.
A teenager was arrested. Where is he or she?
Minors never go into the Constitution Avenue adult jail, so the adult roster won't list them. A juvenile case belongs to circuit court's juvenile division, while intake runs through the district court office, 870-898-7230, handles juvenile intake here. A minor who must be held is taken to a youth detention center outside the county. Intake staff can name the facility and the hearing date.
A Little River County court date slipped by. What happens?
Expect a failure-to-appear warrant, and the bond will be put on the path to forfeiture. The court can keep cash, and a bondsman will look for the person and whoever signed the contract. Call the same day, 870-898-7230 or 870-898-7212, and bring a lawyer if you can. Moving fast is the best chance to undo the forfeiture.
Will I see the cash again?
After the final ruling, the clerk refunds court-held cash to whoever is on the receipt, less any fines, costs or restitution. Hang on to that receipt; the clerk explains the refund request. A 10 percent deposit returns at 90 percent. A bondsman's premium does not return.
A caller says pay now or he stays locked up. Real or fake?
A real jailer, clerk, or bondsman here will never phone you demanding a gift card code, a wire transfer, or money through a payment app. Hang up, then ring the jail directly at 870-898-5115. A real agent shows an Arkansas license and gives a written receipt. The state bail bond licensing board can confirm a license.
Where in Ashdown are the offices for a Little River County bond?
The jail and the district court share one site on the north side of Ashdown, and felony files stay downtown at the courthouse:
- Little River County Detention Center: 2115 North Constitution Avenue, Ashdown, AR 71822 · 870-898-5115
- District Court clerk (Ashdown and Foreman cases): Little River County Courtroom Building, 2115 North Constitution Avenue, Ashdown, AR 71822 · 870-898-7230
- District Court, Winthrop department: 870-381-7864
- Circuit Court (felonies, juvenile cases, appeals): circuit clerk, 351 North Second Street, Suite 5, Ashdown, AR 71822 · 870-898-7212
Because the jail and district court sit side by side on Constitution Avenue, a misdemeanor bond can often be sorted out with one stop. A felony still means a trip to the courthouse on Second Street.
What should I expect if the Little River County charge is federal?
Federal judges decide whether a federal defendant goes home, and an Ashdown bondsman has no role. Little River County is in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Texarkana Division, at the federal courthouse in Texarkana, 500 North State Line Avenue, Texarkana, AR 71854, 833-853-0345. The early stages tend to go in this order:
- An agent's complaint or a grand jury indictment brings the charge.
- The defendant is brought before a magistrate judge.
- Pretrial services interviews the defendant and checks records.
- Prosecutors decide whether to argue for detention.
- If released, the defendant signs and follows the court's conditions.
A federal defendant who is not released is held 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).
How does an ICE detainer work at the Ashdown jail?
ICE uses a detainer under 8 CFR 287.7 to request a warning before release and a hold of up to 48 more hours, with weekends and holidays counted. Arkansas lets its jails agree. The Little River County charge goes forward in state court no matter what ICE does.
Arkansas belongs to the ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360. Since Ashdown is close to the Louisiana line, detainees are often moved to centers like:
- 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
Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/) with an A-number; failing that, try the person's legal name plus birth nation.
He isn't on the Little River County roster. What other searches help?
He may have bonded out, gone to another jail, or been taken by state or federal officers. Ashdown sits near Texas and Oklahoma, so an out-of-state hold is possible too. Try these:
- Little River County Detention Center: Little River County Inmate Search. Enter the last name and open any record to see charges and bond.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). After choosing Arkansas, locate him and enroll in no-cost custody notifications.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). The register number is the best search key. People who have not been sentenced may not appear; the Marshals take calls 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/). Look up an ADC number or last name to find the state unit and parole information.
Before the trip to Ashdown, whom do I call about the bond and the coming hearing?
Office hours and desks have shifted here in recent years, so call first. The jail at 870-898-5115 confirms custody and how bond is paid. Ashdown and Foreman misdemeanor dates come from the district clerk at 870-898-7230, and Winthrop dates from 870-381-7864. The circuit clerk, 870-898-7212, sets out felony and juvenile hearing dates.
Little River County bond contacts
- County jail: Little River County Detention Center, 2115 North Constitution Avenue, Ashdown, AR 71822; 870-898-5115; office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
- Paying at the Ashdown jail: Jail bail and bond instructions
- Sheriff: Little River County Sheriff's Office, 2115 North Constitution Avenue, Ashdown; 870-898-5115
- Circuit clerk: Circuit clerk's office, 351 North Second Street, Suite 5, Ashdown, AR 71822; 870-898-7212
- District court: District court clerk, Courtroom Building, 2115 North Constitution Avenue, Ashdown; 870-898-7230; Winthrop department 870-381-7864
- County main line: 351 North Second Street, Ashdown; 870-898-7202
- City of Ashdown: City Hall 870-898-2622; police 870-898-5640
- Juvenile intake: Through district court, 870-898-7230
- Public defender: Ninth West public defender; ask the circuit clerk, 870-898-7212
- Bondsman licenses: Arkansas bail bond licensing board
The county rebuilt its jail and moved its courts in recent years, so confirm any hour, desk, or number with the jail or a clerk before moving money. It is meant as general help for Little River County families and is not legal advice.
Little River Detention Center
Address:
2115 N. Constitution Avenue
Ashdown, AR 71822
Phone:
870-898-5115
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Little River County
Does Little River County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Little River County?
Who can set bail in Little River County?
When is bail set in Little River County Arkansas?
Does Little River County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Little River County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Little River County?
Little River 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 Little River 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 Little River 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 Little River 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 Little River 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 Little River 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, Little River 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 Little River 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 Little River County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Little River County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Little River County?
Little River 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 Little River 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 Little River County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Little River 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 Little River 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 Little River County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Little River 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 Little River Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Little River 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 Little River 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 Little River 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.