Van Buren County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Van Buren County bail and bond: help for Clinton families
Anyone arrested in Van Buren County is held at the Van Buren County Detention Center, 184 Detention Drive, Clinton. One number serves both the jail and the sheriff, 501-745-2112. The county lists that sheriff's office line as answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask that line for the amount before you gather money, because the judge's figure is the one that counts. How a bond gets paid is covered below. To see who is inside, use Van Buren County Inmate Search.
Is the person in the Clinton jail right now?
Look at the roster linked above, and next dial 501-745-2112. If your name search is empty, ask the desk whether the person was just brought in or held somewhere else.
How do I learn the amount at the Clinton jail?
Have the legal name, the birthday and any booking number ready when you call the jail. For a felony, the circuit clerk's office, 501-745-4140, can read the court's order during office hours. A brand-new booking may show no figure because no judge has set one yet. Call again the next morning.
Where in Clinton do I bring the money?
Depending on the county, Arkansas bonds get paid at a jail window, a sheriff's desk or a clerk's office. Call 501-745-2112 and ask which counter handles bond money today. The detention center is at 184 Detention Drive, and the circuit clerk is at 273 Main Street, Suite 2.
What kind of payment works best in Clinton?
Cash usually works, though a money order or cashier's check is wiser for a big amount. Many Arkansas jails turn down personal checks. If cards are accepted, expect a fee. Call ahead and bring ID. Keep the receipt, which should show your name and the case number.
When will a judge first see my relative?
Rule 8.1 says a person in jail must reach a judge promptly. For a felony, that often means the next court session. Van Buren County is in the 20th Judicial Circuit, whose judges also serve Faulkner and Searcy counties. Weekends and holidays add time. At the first appearance the judge reviews bond under Rule 9.2 and may add conditions under Rule 9.3.
Does Van Buren County post a bond list?
Ask the jail, since local judges may adopt standard amounts for common misdemeanors, and a desk deputy might quote one for a low-level charge. For serious charges the judge decides case by case. Treat any number you hear second-hand as a guess until the jail confirms it.
What does a Van Buren County bondsman cost?
Arkansas Code 17-19-301 sets the bondsman's charge at 10 percent of the bond, rounded up in $5 steps with a $50 floor, all paid up front. A $3,000 bond costs $300. The premium is not refunded. Insist on a licensed agent, a receipt, and a copy of everything you sign.
Must I produce the full bond in cash?
Only if you pick a cash bond. The other routes are a bondsman at 10 percent, a property bond, or release on a signed promise. The judge's order decides which choices you have, and the clerk can explain them at 501-745-4140 before you choose.
Could my farm or house back a bond?
Possibly. A judge can accept land or a home if its value, after loans, comfortably exceeds the bond. Plan to bring the deed, a tax assessment, and every owner's signature, and expect a lien to be recorded. Whether property outside Van Buren County counts is the judge's call. Ask the circuit clerk about approval and the county clerk, 501-745-6995, about recording.
When does Van Buren County refuse release?
Arkansas's constitution (Article 2, section 8) permits no-bail holds only in capital cases where proof is evident. Rule 9.6 adds that a release can be withdrawn when there is good reason to think the person picked up a new felony while the case was pending. A parole or probation hold, another county's warrant, or a federal detainer can each keep someone jailed after bond. Ask the desk to list every hold on the booking record.
Which Clinton court is handling this?
Misdemeanors start in Van Buren County District Court, 234 Moss Street, Clinton, where the clerk answers 501-745-8894. Felonies are filed with the circuit clerk at 273 Main Street, Suite 2, 501-745-4140.
Is the District 20 public defender free to us?
If the person cannot pay, the judge appoints a public defender. The circuit clerk, 501-745-4140, knows how to get in touch with the public defender office. The person must ask the judge for the appointment, and the lawyer can then request a lower bond.
Does it matter that Clinton Police made the arrest?
Only for where the first call goes. Clinton officers take prisoners to the county detention center, and the bond is paid there like any other. The arresting officers' department can confirm charges and the arrest time. City cases are heard in district court.
My Van Buren County teenager is in custody. What now?
Minors are not housed with adults. A judge in the juvenile division decides when a minor goes home, and cash bail plays no part. The circuit clerk, 501-745-4140, can connect you with the juvenile division. Youth case files stay sealed.
What if my person cannot make a Clinton court date?
Tell the lawyer and the clerk before the date, not after. An unexcused absence brings a warrant. In district court, Arkansas Code 16-84-201 lets the judge call the bondsman in and gives about 120 days after notice before forfeiture. Family cash may be forfeited, and a bonding company will chase the defendant and every co-signer for the whole amount. A quick call to 501-745-4140 can sometimes get a new date.
Will Van Buren County return the money?
When the case closes, cash bond is returned to whoever is named on the receipt, minus fines, court costs and any restitution. Premiums stay with the bondsman, even when charges are dismissed. Keep every receipt.
How do I reach Van Buren County's jail and its two courts?
All three offices are in Clinton, the county seat:
- Van Buren County Detention Center and Sheriff's Office: 184 Detention Drive, Clinton, AR 72031 · 501-745-2112
- Circuit Court and Circuit Clerk: 273 Main Street, Suite 2, Clinton, AR 72031 · 501-745-4140
- Van Buren County District Court: 234 Moss Street, Clinton, AR 72031 · 501-745-8894
The sheriff's line is staffed 24/7 by the county's listing. The circuit clerk is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Look the person up on the https://vbcso.com/inmate-roster/ roster before you call. Our Van Buren County inmates page goes further into holds, release and where people are housed. After bond is sorted out, our Clinton jail phone guide and letter-writing page can help you stay in touch.
A family member from Van Buren County faces a federal charge. What should we expect?
Federal bond is set in federal court, never at the Clinton jail. Van Buren County falls under the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Central Division, at the federal courthouse in Little Rock, 500 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-604-5351. Most cases follow these steps:
- A sworn complaint or a grand jury indictment starts the case.
- The person goes before a magistrate judge for a first hearing.
- An officer from pretrial services gathers facts on home, work and record.
- The U.S. Attorney decides whether to ask for detention.
- Anyone released gets a written list of conditions.
Federal detainees from Van Buren County are kept by the U.S. Marshals: U.S. Marshals Service, 600 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-324-6256.
Could ICE ask the Clinton jail to hold my relative?
It could, by filing a detainer under 8 CFR 287.7. That paper asks the jail to keep someone no more than 48 hours beyond the normal release time, weekends and holidays included. Each sheriff in Arkansas chooses whether to honor it, and the Van Buren County case goes on regardless.
The ICE New Orleans Field Office, 181 James Drive W, St. Rose, LA 70087, 504-318-2360 handles Arkansas. People ICE picks up in north-central Arkansas are commonly moved to Louisiana, to places 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
The ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/) finds people fastest by A-number. Lacking that, a full name and native country can work.
The Van Buren County roster has no listing for my person. What now?
The person might be out already, still being booked, or in another agency's custody. Check these as well:
- Van Buren County Detention Center: Van Buren County Inmate Search. Each listing gives charges and bond.
- VINE: VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/). Picking Arkansas covers all 75 counties, and you can sign up for notices.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons: Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/). Look up sentenced federal inmates. Pretrial federal detainees often don't show; the Marshals can help at 501-324-6256.
- Arkansas Division of Correction: Arkansas Division of Correction Inmate Search (https://apps.ark.org/inmate_info/). Search for state inmates by name or number.
What Clinton numbers give bond amounts and hearing dates?
A phone call can save a trip to Clinton. The sheriff's office at 501-745-2112 confirms custody and reads the bond. District court, 501-745-8894, schedules tickets and misdemeanors. For felony or juvenile hearings, call the circuit clerk at 501-745-4140.
Is a Van Buren County bail call honest?
Real jail staff never want store cards or wired cash, so hang up on that kind of caller. Jail staff do not phone families to collect bond. Hang up and dial the detention center yourself at 501-745-2112 to learn whether your relative is really there.
Van Buren County bond contacts
- County jail: Van Buren County Detention Center, 184 Detention Drive, Clinton, AR 72031; 501-745-2112; mail: P.O. Box 451, Clinton, AR 72031
- Bond guide: Bond steps for the Clinton jail
- Sheriff: 184 Detention Drive, Clinton; 501-745-2112, 24 hours
- Circuit clerk: 273 Main Street, Suite 2, Clinton, AR 72031; 501-745-4140
- District court: 234 Moss Street, Clinton, AR 72031; 501-745-8894
- County clerk: 1414 Highway 65 South, Suite 128, Clinton; 501-745-6995
- Juvenile cases: Circuit clerk juvenile division, 501-745-4140
Numbers and rules get updated now and then, so check with the jail or clerk first. Use this page for general help; it is not legal advice.
Van Buren County Detention Center
Address:
184 Detention Drive
Clinton, AR 72031
Phone:
501-745-2112
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Van Buren County
Does Van Buren County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Van Buren County?
Who can set bail in Van Buren County?
When is bail set in Van Buren County Arkansas?
Does Van Buren County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Van Buren County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Van Buren County?
Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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, Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren County have bail?
Yes, Arkansas is a bail state and Van Buren County allows bail.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Van Buren County?
Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren County Arkansas?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction if a judge already set the initial bail.
In Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren County Clerk of Court and not pay a scammer.
What options are there to pay bail in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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.