Cheyenne County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Cheyenne County Bail: St. Francis, Kansas
Bail, bonds and release for a Cheyenne County arrest start with the sheriff at 212 E. Washington in St. Francis, 785-332-8880, because people the sheriff arrests are commonly held next door at the Rawlins County Jail in Atwood, where bond is often posted. This page explains the Kansas bond types a 15th Judicial District judge can set, how to pay, release conditions and refunds. The county sits in the far northwest corner of Kansas, against Colorado and Nebraska.
1. An arrest happened in St. Francis or Bird City. Where is the person now?
Usually at the Rawlins County Jail, 607 Main St. #G, Atwood, KS 67730. The Rawlins sheriff's public current inmates list shows prisoners whose arresting agency is the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office, along with the charge and bond. Confirm by calling the Cheyenne sheriff at 785-332-8880 or the Rawlins office at 785-626-3865.
↑ Back to the question list2. Who decides the bond on a Cheyenne County case?
The 15th Judicial District, which takes in seven northwest counties: Thomas, Sherman, Wallace, Logan, Sheridan, Rawlins and Cheyenne. Cheyenne County has its own resident magistrate. Under K.S.A. 22-2901 the person must go before a magistrate without unnecessary delay, and when the warrant came from Cheyenne County, bond is tied to that warrant even if the person sits in Atwood.
↑ Back to the question list3. What kinds of bond might be ordered?
K.S.A. 22-2802 lets the judge choose among:
- Personal recognizance: a written promise, no money.
- Cash: the whole amount.
- Surety: a bail agent or another person backs the full bond.
- Property: land pledged with a sworn value statement.
- 10 percent deposit: possible only on bonds of $2,500 or less and only for certain people and charges.
4. May any bondsman help?
No. A bail agent must be approved by the 15th District's chief judge before writing bonds here, per K.S.A. 22-2809b. Ask the clerk which agents are approved. The agent's fee is kept even when the case ends well, and a defense lawyer can't sign as surety.
↑ Back to the question list5. Where is bond paid when the person is in Atwood?
Call the Cheyenne sheriff, 785-332-8880, to confirm where money is taken. Bond is usually posted where the person is held: the Rawlins County Jail, 607 Main St. #G, Atwood, KS 67730, 785-626-3865. Monday through Friday, the district court clerk at the Cheyenne County Courthouse, 212 E. Washington St., St. Francis, KS 67756, 785-332-8850, can answer bond questions. Commissary and phone deposits are separate; see our money page, commissary guide and phone page.
↑ Back to the question list6. What terms come with release?
The judge may bar contact with an alleged victim of a person crime for at least 72 hours, limit travel, name a supervising adult, or assign a court services officer. Other usual terms include no new crimes and showing up for each court date in St. Francis. Breaking a term can mean arrest and forfeiture.
↑ Back to the question list7. How high might the bond be?
The sheriff at 785-332-8880 can give the amount once a judge sets it. Bonds in Rawlins County's public list run from thousands of dollars on lesser felonies to far more on violent charges. For drug manufacturing, Kansas sets a $50,000 minimum. Ask the sheriff at 785-332-8880 for the amount set in your case.
↑ Back to the question list8. Can a lawyer ask to lower it?
Yes. If the person stays jailed because the bond can't be met, a lawyer may ask the magistrate to revisit it. To ask for appointed counsel, the defendant tells the judge at the first appearance; the state's Board of Indigents' Defense can be reached at 785-296-6631.
↑ Back to the question list9. What happens to cash bond at the end?
It comes back once the case closes if every hearing was attended, minus any restitution, costs, fines and fees the court orders. If the defendant misses court, the bond is forfeited under K.S.A. 22-2807 and a warrant goes out.
↑ Back to the question list10. Which courts handle Cheyenne County cases?
- Cheyenne County District Court, Cheyenne County Courthouse, 212 E. Washington St., P.O. Box 646, St. Francis, KS 67756; 785-332-8850.
- Ordinance tickets from St. Francis or Bird City go to that city's municipal court, if it has one.
11. Can a federal bond be posted locally?
Cheyenne County belongs to the court's Topeka-served division of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas; the clerk's office is at 444 S.E. Quincy, Room 490, Topeka, KS 66683, 785-338-5400. No bond schedule exists for federal charges; after a detention hearing, a federal magistrate judge decides whether the defendant can go home. ICE custody: ICE detainee locator.
↑ Back to the question list12. How does an immigration detainer affect release?
A bond paid on the state charge doesn't cancel an I-247A detainer. The holding jail has up to 48 extra hours, and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays count, for federal officers to arrive. ICE often moves detainees to places such as the Chase County Jail in Cottonwood Falls (620-273-6313). Search the ICE locator and see our inmate search tips.
↑ Back to the question listCheyenne County Jail
Address:
Cheyenne County Jail
Saint Frances, KS
Phone:
785-890-4835
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Cheyenne County
Does Cheyenne County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cheyenne County?
Who can set bail in Cheyenne County?
When is bail set in Cheyenne County Kansas?
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Cheyenne County?
In Cheyenne County, who can pay bail for me?
Can bail be paid online in Cheyenne County?
What options are there to pay bail in Cheyenne County?
Does Cheyenne County have bail?
Yes, Cheyenne County recognized most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cheyenne County?
Three types of bail are available: own recognizance, cash, or professional surety. A professional surety requires the services of an authorized bail bond agent. The court will determine which bond types will be approved.
Who can set bail in Cheyenne County?
Bail is set by a magistrate judge in the county where the defendant is being charged.
When is bail set in Cheyenne County Kansas?
Bail will be set by a judge at the defendant’s first court appearance, also known as arraignment. This will usually occur on the first court day following arrest, except for holidays or weekends.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Cheyenne County?
Yes, the Bail Reform Act allows your attorney to request a bail reduction hearing if the initial bail is excessive or unreasonably high.
In Cheyenne County, 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 Kansas could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Cheyenne County?
No, Kansas counties do not currently offer online payment for bail.
Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Cheyenne County Jail for more information about the jails in Cheyenne County.
What options are there to pay bail in Cheyenne County?
Most all jail 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 Cheyenne County Jail for more information about the jails in Cheyenne County.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Cheyenne 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 Cheyenne 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 Cheyenne 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, Cheyenne 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 Cheyenne 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 Cheyenne County Kansas have bail?
Yes, Cheyenne County recognized most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cheyenne County?
Three types of bail are available: own recognizance, cash, or professional surety. A professional surety requires the services of an authorized bail bond agent. The court will determine which bond types will be approved.
Who can set bail in Cheyenne County?
Bail is set by a magistrate judge in the county where the defendant is being charged.
When is bail set in Kansas? Bail will be set by a judge at the defendant’s first court appearance, also known as arraignment. This will usually occur on the first court day following arrest, except for holidays or weekends.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Cheyenne County Kansas?
Yes, the Bail Reform Act allows your attorney to request a bail reduction hearing if the initial bail is excessive or unreasonably high.
In Cheyenne County Kansas, 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 Kansas could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Cheyenne County Kansas?
No, Kansas counties do not currently offer online payment for bail.
Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Cheyenne County Jail for more information about the jails in Cheyenne County.
What options are there to pay bail in Cheyenne County Kansas?
Most all jail 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 Cheyenne County Jail for more information about the jails in Cheyenne County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Kansas?
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 Cheyenne 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 Kansas?
The Cheyenne 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.