Wayne County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Wayne County Bail and Bond, Corydon, Iowa
Bail at the Wayne County Jail in Corydon, which also holds Lucas County prisoners, is what leads to release.
Ask 641-872-1566 for the bond. Wayne County lies along the Missouri border in south-central Iowa, with about 6,738 people in Corydon, Seymour, Humeston, Allerton, Lineville, Promise City, Clio and the farm country between them. The sheriff runs the county jail at 207 N. Lafayette Street, Corydon, IA 50060, a few doors from the courthouse.
For bond and inmate questions, call 641-872-1566. The administrative office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
1. What is the bond in Corydon?
Phone 641-872-1566 and give the person's full name and birthdate. Staff can confirm the booking, list the charges and give any bond already set. If bond depends on a judge, ask when the first appearance is expected.
↑ Back to the question list2. Is there a fixed amount for each charge?
For many offenses, yes, until a judge acts. Iowa's uniform bond schedule lists $300 for a simple misdemeanor, $1,000 serious, $2,000 aggravated, $5,000 for a class D felony, $10,000 class C and $25,000 class B. It applies only while court is closed.
↑ Back to the question list3. Which arrests are excluded from the schedule?
The schedule does not apply to forcible felonies or to domestic abuse, no-contact order and protective order arrests. It also excludes stalking, sexual abuse (degrees one, two and three), the manufacture or delivery of meth and possession to deliver, dangerous-weapon intimidation, and possession of a firearm by a felon. A judge must set release in those cases.
↑ Back to the question list4. How can bond be posted in Corydon?
- Cash bond: the whole amount, refunded after the case if all court dates are kept.
- Surety bond: written by an insurance company licensed in Iowa; its fee stays with the company.
Call the jail before you come to confirm what forms of payment it takes.
↑ Back to the question list5. How does the judge decide on release?
Iowa Code 811.2 tells the judge to look at the charge, the person's record and finances, family and job ties, and how long they have lived locally. The judge can set conditions such as no contact, no alcohol or regular check-ins with pretrial services.
↑ Back to the question list6. What changed in July 2026?
Senate File 2399 became law on July 1, 2026. It limits release on a person's own promise to nonviolent, non-drug misdemeanors at the simple or serious level. Judges who set bail below the schedule figure must now justify that choice in writing. A schedule update for inflation is due by July 1, 2027.
↑ Back to the question list7. Where is the clerk of court?
In the Wayne County Courthouse at 100 North Lafayette Street, Corydon, IA 50060. The Judicial Branch lists the clerk's phone as 641-632-2040 and the email as countyclerk.wayne@iowacourts.gov.
↑ Back to the question list8. What if a hearing is missed?
Expect a warrant and a forfeiture order against the bond. Under section 811.6, 30 days pass after notice before the forfeiture becomes a judgment. A deliberate failure to appear brings a separate charge.
↑ Back to the question list9. How is cash bond refunded?
The clerk mails it to the depositor when the case ends, after subtracting any fines or costs the court assigns. To send money for jail purchases instead, see our money guide.
↑ Back to the question list10. What about federal holds and ICE?
Federal charges are handled by the Southern District of Iowa, 111 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, 515-284-6248, and the county court cannot release on them. A person with an ICE detainer may be kept for immigration officers even after posting state bail. The ICE locator or the inmate search page help follow them.
↑ Back to the question list11. Are minors held at the Corydon jail?
No. Corydon-area juveniles who are ordered held stay at the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, 2317 Rick Collins Way, Eldora, IA 50627, 641-858-3852, with a hearing required within 1 working day.
↑ Back to the question listHow to bail out an offender in the Wayne County Jail
Wayne County Jail uses jailpayments.com as a third party company for friends and families of inmates to send them money for commissary, phone calls and bail.
The cost to add money to the accounts of inmates ranges from $3.95 to send $20.00 to $12.95 to send up to $200.00.
Wayne County Jail
Address:
207 N. Lafayette Street
Corydon, IA 50060
Phone:
641-872-1566
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County Jail 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, Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County have bail?
Yes, Wayne County recognizes most types of bonds. Bail is a Constitutional right. This means most defendants can qualify for pre-trial release on their own recognizance, cash bail, or a surety bond.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wayne County?
Iowa recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Defendants can qualify for pre-trial release on their own recognizance, cash bail, or a surety bond.
Who can set bail in Wayne County?
Bail for less serious, nonviolent crimes are set according to a predetermined bail schedule and can range from $300-$25,000. For more serious & violent crimes, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, bail must be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Iowa?
For less serious, nonviolent crimes bail is set according to a predetermined bail schedule and this information will be available during processing. For crimes requiring a judge to set bail the defendant will usually be within 24 hours of arrest.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Wayne County Iowa?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Wayne County Iowa, 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 Iowa could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Wayne County Iowa?
Yes, Iowa does offer online bail payment. Please contact the county clerk or jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Wayne County Jail for more information about the jails in Wayne County.
What options are there to pay bail in Wayne County Iowa?
Cash, debit card, credit card or surety. Payments may be made in person, online, or via a registered bail bond agent. In person payments may be made at the clerk of court office in the county where the defendant is being held.
A more immediate answer can be obtained by contacting the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Wayne County Jail for more information about posting bail in Wayne County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Iowa?
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. 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 Wayne 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.
You may also post collateral via a registered bail bond agent.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Iowa?
The Wayne County Jail or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.