Union County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Union County bail and bond: what El Dorado families should know
Deputies and El Dorado officers alike bring prisoners to the Union County Detention Center, 250 American Road, El Dorado, the same address as the district court. The sheriff's office answers 870-864-1970 around the clock. A bond is handled at the jail, either with cash or with help from a bonding company the state licenses. Suite 201 of the courthouse at 101 North Washington holds the circuit clerk's felony records. See whether the person is listed on Union County Inmate Search first.
The roster does not list the name. What now?
Give booking some time, since a new arrest may not appear right away. Then call 870-864-1970 and have the legal name and birthday handy. A deputy can tell you if the person was taken to a hospital, is being held for some other county, or already made bond. A state inmate who was sentenced leaves for the Division of Correction, so a name that was there last month may be gone.
In El Dorado, where does cash bond get paid?
Go to 250 American Road, where the jail and the sheriff's office share an address. If a judge ordered the money paid to the court instead, the deputy will tell you, and either the circuit clerk, 870-864-1940, or the district court clerk, 870-864-1950, handles it in business hours. Phone first, so you go to the right counter.
What should I carry with me?
Carry a photo ID for yourself, know the person's full name, and have the exact bond figure. Paying in cash, by money order or by cashier's check avoids surprises. Ask on the phone whether a card is allowed and what fee comes with it. You sign as the person who put up the money, so write your address clearly, because the refund goes to that name and address.
Can a bond be posted after 5 p.m.?
The detention center is open 24 hours. Call 870-864-1970 to find out if night bonds are accepted and how soon the person walks out. A condition such as a signed no-contact order can push release to the next business day, when a judge or clerk is in.
Who sets the dollar amount in Union County?
A judge. A warrant arrest often comes with a bond the signing judge already wrote down. Otherwise the person sees a district judge at a first appearance, which Rule 8.1 of the state criminal rules says must happen without unnecessary delay. Rule 9.2 has the judge look at the charge, any past failures to show up, a job, family nearby and criminal history. Rule 9.3 lets the judge add terms, like staying away from a victim. Go by the figure printed on the booking sheet.
Can an El Dorado bondsman discount the fee?
Bondsmen can't cut the price. Under Arkansas Code 17-19-301, a bondsman charges 10 percent of the bond (rounded up in $5 steps, $50 at minimum), due before release. A $7,500 bond means a $750 premium. None of it comes back. An agent who offers a lower rate is a warning sign. Only collateral and co-signer terms on bigger bonds are open to bargaining.
Will the court take land in place of cash?
Sometimes, with the judge's approval, and not at the jail window alone. Land with a clean title, worth more than the bond after any loans, can be pledged, and the court records a lien on it. All owners need to come, along with the deed and a current tax assessment. Arkansas courts generally want the land in the state, and some judges may prefer Union County property. Before paying for an appraisal, ask the circuit clerk, 870-864-1940.
I sent money to the inmate account. Does that money count toward bond?
It did not. Deposits through the jail's commissary vendor pay for snacks, hygiene items and phone time. They cannot be turned into a bond. The balance goes back to the inmate at release. The bond must be paid on its own.
Why does the record say "hold" and not a number?
There are a few reasons. Article 2, section 8 of the Arkansas Constitution denies bail only in capital cases when the proof is evident. Rule 9.6 allows a judge to undo a release if a fresh felony charge looks well founded while the first case is open. A parolee can be held by the Division of Community Correction with no bond. A detainer from another Arkansas county, Louisiana, or a federal agency keeps the person in even after the Union County bond is paid. Ask the deputy to read every hold aloud.
Which Union County court will hear it?
Misdemeanors, city ordinance cases, and traffic go to Union County District Court, 250 American Road, Suite A, where the clerk answers 870-864-1950. Felonies are heard in Union County Circuit Court. The 13th Judicial Circuit, which covers five more counties, supplies its judges. The circuit clerk is in Suite 201 of the courthouse, 870-864-1940.
Who gets a free lawyer in Union County, and how?
A person who is broke should speak up about it at the first hearing and sign the income form the court provides. The judge then names a public defender. A family call does not start it. The circuit clerk, 870-864-1940, can say how to reach the public defender office. Once appointed, the lawyer can ask to lower the bond. The prosecutor works for the state, not the accused.
El Dorado or Smackover police made the arrest. Does it matter?
City officers deliver prisoners to the county detention center, so bond is still posted at 250 American Road. The arresting department can confirm charges and when the person was taken to the jail. City misdemeanors are heard in district court.
My teenager was arrested in El Dorado. Where is the teenager?
Not in the adult jail. An intake officer decides whether the minor goes home or to a regional juvenile detention center. A juvenile-division judge holds a detention hearing fast, most often by the next workday. Arkansas has no cash bail for juveniles. The circuit clerk, 870-864-1940, can transfer you to the juvenile division.
Is there a way to get the bond reduced early?
A judge has to approve any cut, either on a lawyer's motion or when the person asks at the first hearing. Jail staff have no power to change the figure. What helps is proof of a job, a lease or home here, family who will take responsibility, and a record of showing up. Take those papers to the lawyer, not to the jail.
What does a missed El Dorado court date cost?
Missing court brings an arrest warrant, and the judge can take the bond. For district court cases, Arkansas Code 16-84-201 gives the bondsman notice and roughly 120 days before the bond is lost. Cash a relative posted is lost to the county. A bonding company owes the court the full amount and will pursue the defendant and any co-signer. Phone the bondsman and the court that day: district 870-864-1950, circuit 870-864-1940.
Who receives the Union County refund?
The name on the bond receipt, after the case ends. The clerk may first deduct fines, costs, and restitution, which in a misdemeanor can take most of the deposit. Refunds come by mail, so tell the clerk if you move. A bondsman's premium is gone for good once paid.
Where are Union County's jail and court offices, and what numbers reach them?
Every office below is in El Dorado, the county seat:
- Union County Detention Center and Sheriff's Office: 250 American Road, El Dorado, AR 71730 · 870-864-1970
- Circuit Court and Circuit Clerk: 101 N. Washington, Suite 201, El Dorado, AR 71730 · 870-864-1940
- Union County District Court: 250 American Road, Suite A, El Dorado, AR 71730 · 870-864-1950
The detention center is open 24 hours, and the district court sits in the same complex on American Road. Start with the https://cc.southernsoftware.com/index/index.php?AgencyID=UnionCoAR roster to see if the person is listed. Our Union County inmates page explains holds, release and housing in more depth, and our money guide and visiting page help once you know where the person is.
My relative from Union County was charged in federal court. What happens next?
Bond at the American Road jail does not cover a federal charge. For federal court, Union County is assigned to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, El Dorado Division, at the federal courthouse in El Dorado, 101 South Jackson Avenue, El Dorado, AR 71730, 833-853-0345. The steps usually go like this:
- The case opens with an agent's sworn complaint or a grand jury indictment.
- The defendant first sees a magistrate judge.
- Pretrial services looks into the person's home life, work and record.
- Prosecutors tell the court if they want the person kept in jail.
- If released, the person must follow the written conditions.
People kept in custody on federal charges are 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).
Can ICE ask the El Dorado jail to keep someone after bond is posted?
It can ask. A detainer under 8 CFR 287.7 asks the jail for up to 48 extra hours of custody after the person would leave, and weekends and holidays count. Each Arkansas sheriff decides whether to honor one, and the Union County case keeps moving.
The ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360 covers Arkansas. South Arkansas detainees often end up in Louisiana, for example:
- LaSalle ICE Processing Center: 830 Pinehill Road, Jena, LA 71342 · 318-992-1600
- Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center: 1133 Hampton Dupre Road, Pine Prairie, LA 70576 · 337-599-2400
An A-number is the best way to search the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/). Without one, use the full legal name plus birth country.
My person doesn't show up on the Union County roster. What other searches are there?
A blank result can mean release, unfinished booking, or custody somewhere else. Try these:
- Union County Detention Center: Union County Inmate Search. Shows charges, booking date and bond for each listing.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Choose Arkansas for a statewide search and alerts by text or email.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). Covers sentenced federal prisoners. People awaiting a federal trial may not appear; call 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 prisoners by name or ADC number.
Who in El Dorado can tell me the bond and the next court date?
Calling first saves a wasted trip. The detention center at 870-864-1970 can confirm custody and give the bond amount. District court, 870-864-1950, keeps traffic and misdemeanor dates. Ask the circuit clerk, 870-864-1940, for felony and juvenile hearings.
A caller says my relative needs bail money right now. Is that real?
Almost certainly not. Jail staff don't call relatives asking for money. Real bondsmen don't want gift cards, wired cash or app payments. Hang up and dial 870-864-1970 yourself to ask if your relative is in custody. Tell the deputy who answers about the call.
Union County bond contacts
- County jail: Union County Detention Center, 250 American Road, El Dorado, AR 71730; sheriff and jail 870-864-1970, open 24 hours
- Bond guide: Our El Dorado jail bond steps
- Sheriff: 250 American Road, El Dorado, AR 71730; 870-864-1970
- Circuit clerk: 101 North Washington, Suite 201, El Dorado, AR 71730; 870-864-1940
- District court: Union County District Court clerk, 870-864-1950
- Juvenile cases: Circuit clerk juvenile division 870-864-1940
Rules and numbers shift over time; call the jail or a clerk before any money changes hands. Read it as general help, not legal advice.
Union County Detention Center
Address:
250 American Road
El Dorado, AR 71730
Phone:
870-864-1987
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Union County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Union County?
Who can set bail in Union County?
When is bail set in Union County Arkansas?
Does Union County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Union County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Union County?
Union 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 Union 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 Union 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 Union 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 Union 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 Union 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, Union 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 Union 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 Union County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Union County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Union County?
Union 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 Union 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 Union County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Union 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 Union 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 Union County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Union 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 Union County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Union 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 Union 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 Union 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.