Ouachita County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Ouachita County bail and bond: one detention center on Goodgame Street and five district courts to sort out
Nearly every adult arrested in Ouachita County is held at the Ouachita County Detention Center, 109 Goodgame Street, Camden. The sheriff's office runs it, and the number is 870-231-5300. Misdemeanors are heard by one of five district courts, and felonies by the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. A judge sets the bond, not a deputy. To check custody, use Ouachita County Inmate Search.
The roster does not show my person yet. What should I do?
New names can lag. Phone 870-231-5300 with a full name and birth date, then ask whether the person is held for another agency or was sent to a different county's jail because of crowding.
Who can read me the dollar figure?
The jail reads it off the booking sheet at the same number. The signed order sits with a clerk: the circuit clerk for felonies, 870-837-2230, or a district court for misdemeanors. When the jail and clerk disagree, the signed order wins, so have the clerk read it aloud.
Is anyone at the Goodgame Street building overnight?
The sheriff's court page says traffic tickets can be paid at the sheriff's department at any hour. Bonds may follow different rules, so phone 870-231-5300, and find out if late-night bonds are taken and where to walk in.
What forms of payment are safe to bring?
Exact-amount cash is the surest choice. Ask about a cashier's check or money order before you go, and be wary of a personal check. Insist on a receipt listing the inmate, the case, and the dollars paid.
What does a bondsman cost on a $3,000 bond?
About $325. Arkansas Code 17-19-301 sets the premium at 10 percent, rounded up to the next five dollars, and state fees of $10 and $15 are added. None of it comes back. Check any company's license with the state bail bond board before signing.
Does the sheriff post a bond schedule?
Amounts come from judges, not a printed chart, and a felony may wait for a judge's review. Rule 9.2 lists what matters: years in Ouachita County, a job, relatives, past no-shows, and the charge. Get the real number from 870-231-5300.
May a Camden property owner pledge real estate?
Rule 9.2 lets a court accept property, but the judge decides how much is enough. Ask the circuit clerk about equity, mobile homes, and land outside the county at 870-837-2230. Plan on a deed, the latest tax valuation, and every co-owner signing.
Is a promise-to-appear release possible?
For some people. Rule 9.2 treats cash bail as a fallback, and many people walk out after signing a pledge to return. A judge may also allow a 10 percent deposit with 90 percent returned after the case. Ask Camden District Court, 870-836-0331, whether that fits a misdemeanor.
Camden, Bearden, Chidester, East Camden, or Stephens: which court has the case?
Camden 870-836-0331, at 109A Goodgame Street beside the jail. Bearden 870-687-2204. Chidester 870-685-2906. East Camden 870-574-2900. Stephens 870-786-5818. One district judge covers all five. The ticket or the arresting town points to the right one.
Does Camden Police keep a lockup?
Camden police bring adults to the county detention center. Bearden, Chidester, East Camden, and Stephens have their own courts, so ask the arresting agency, then check the county jail.
Can the sheriff drop the bond amount?
That is up to a judge. The sheriff's office collects the money and releases the person, while only a judge changes the figure, normally after a lawyer files a motion. Pay stubs, a lease, and names of nearby relatives help the lawyer argue.
Why does the screen say no bond?
Article 2, Section 8 of the state constitution allows a denial only for capital offenses when the proof is evident or the presumption great. Usually the cause is a parole, probation, or prison hold, or another county's warrant. Ask who placed it, because the hold must be lifted before any payment works.
Who is the public defender for Ouachita County?
The Thirteenth District public defender office is in El Dorado. It also covers Calhoun, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, and Union counties. Appointment comes after an income form at the first hearing, and the lawyer may then push for lower bail.
Where do Ouachita County teenagers go?
Teen cases go to the Thirteenth Circuit's juvenile judge. A detained youth is placed in a county-run juvenile center elsewhere. The circuit clerk, 870-837-2230, or the sheriff, 870-231-5300, can say which one and when the hearing is. Juvenile court does not use cash bond.
Will loading the jail account help?
It won't. Video visits and commissary money are separate accounts, and neither counts toward a bond. A caller promising release for a gift card or deposit is a fraud. Hang up and call the jail yourself.
A date was missed. How bad is that?
Camden judges can issue a bench warrant and forfeit what was paid. Phone the circuit clerk, 870-837-2230, or the district court holding the case right away, and get a lawyer on the phone before nightfall. A bondsman's company may send someone after the person, and the co-signer is still liable.
How long does a refund take?
At the end of the case, fines, costs, and restitution come out first, then the rest of the cash bail is refunded. Expect weeks, because the clerk issues a county check. A bondsman's premium never comes back. Give the clerk your current mailing address.
What are the addresses for the Camden jail and the Ouachita County courts?
Goodgame Street holds both the detention center and the Camden district court; felony files sit at the courthouse on Jefferson Street:
- Ouachita County Detention Center: 109 Goodgame Street, Camden, AR 71701 · 870-231-5300
- Circuit Clerk, Ouachita County Courthouse: 145 Jefferson Street SW, Camden, AR 71701 · 870-837-2230
- District Court, Camden Department: 109A Goodgame Street, Camden, AR 71701 · 870-836-0331
- District Court, East Camden Department: 870-574-2900
- District Court, Stephens Department: 870-786-5818
- District Court, Bearden Department: 870-687-2204
- District Court, Chidester Department: 870-685-2906
The four smaller departments take mail at post office boxes in their towns, so call before driving to one.
How is a federal charge from Ouachita County handled?
County bail does not apply, and only a federal judge can set release terms. Ouachita County is part of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas's El Dorado Division, which meets at the federal courthouse in El Dorado, 101 South Jackson Avenue, El Dorado, AR 71730, 833-853-0345. Most cases move through these stages:
- A criminal complaint or a grand jury indictment starts the case.
- A magistrate judge runs the first hearing.
- Pretrial services reports on the person's job, home and record.
- The government may seek to keep the person jailed until trial.
- Conditions of any release are written into a court order.
Custody of federal defendants rests with the Marshals: U.S. Marshals Service, 30 South 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, 479-289-7470 or 479-424-5000 (call either).
Is it possible for ICE to keep my person at the Goodgame Street center after bond?
Yes. A detainer issued under 8 CFR 287.7 tells the jail that ICE wants notice before release and may hold the person as long as 48 hours more, counting weekends and holidays. Arkansas lets local jails honor these. The county case is a separate matter.
Arkansas is part of the ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360's territory. Because Camden sits so close to Louisiana, detainees from here are often sent 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
For the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/), an A-number gives the best match; without one, enter the full name and birth country.
The person isn't on the Ouachita County roster. Where else can I search?
Release, a slow booking entry, or another agency's custody could explain it. Highway 79 and the Camden-area plants also bring state and federal officers. Search here:
- Ouachita County Detention Center: Ouachita County Inmate Search. Type a surname and click the entry to read charges and bail.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Pick Arkansas to search all counties and get free alerts about custody changes.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). Use a register number if you have it. Someone with a pending federal case may not show; ring the Marshals 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/). Search state prison records with a name or ADC number.
Who can confirm the bail amount and next court date before I head to Camden?
Make three quick calls. The detention center at 870-231-5300 can confirm custody and bond. The district court department that issued the ticket, such as Camden at 870-836-0331, has misdemeanor dates. The circuit clerk at 870-837-2230 handles felony and juvenile dates.
Ouachita County bond contacts
- County jail: Ouachita County Detention Center, 109 Goodgame Street, Camden, AR 71701; 870-231-5300
- Bond steps: Posting bond at the Goodgame Street center
- Sheriff: Ouachita County Sheriff's Office, same address and number
- Circuit clerk: 145 Jefferson Street SW, Camden, AR 71701; 870-837-2230
- Courthouse: 145 Jefferson Street SW, Camden; 870-837-2210
- District courts: Camden, 109A Goodgame Street, 870-836-0331; Bearden 870-687-2204; Chidester 870-685-2906; East Camden 870-574-2900; Stephens 870-786-5818
- Public defender: Thirteenth District office in El Dorado; the circuit clerk can name the appointed lawyer
- Juvenile: Circuit clerk, 870-837-2230
- Licensed bondsmen: Verify through the state board that licenses bail companies
Camden offices adjust hours and fees from time to time, so check your case with the jail or a clerk first. Use this as plain guidance for families rather than legal advice.
Ouachita County Detention Center
Address:
109 Goodgame Street
Camden, AR 71701
Phone:
870-231-5300
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Ouachita County
Does Ouachita County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Ouachita County?
Who can set bail in Ouachita County?
When is bail set in Ouachita County Arkansas?
Does Ouachita County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Ouachita County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Ouachita County?
Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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, Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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 Ouachita County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Ouachita County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Ouachita County?
Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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 Ouachita County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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 Ouachita County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Ouachita 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 Ouachita County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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.