Morton County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Morton County Bail: Elkhart, Kansas
Release on bond from the Morton County Jail happens at the Morton County Law Enforcement Center, 1025 Richard St., Elkhart, KS 67950, staffed around the clock at 620-697-4313. Bond orders come from the 26th Judicial District court in Elkhart (620-697-2563).
Where do I go?
The Morton County Jail sits inside the Law Enforcement Center at 1025 Richard St., Elkhart, KS 67950, which also houses Elkhart police and county 911 dispatch. Phone 620-697-4313, 24 hours; fax 620-697-2832; mail P.O. Box 1115, Elkhart, KS 67950-1115.
↑ Back to the question listFinding the amount
Staff at 620-697-4313 can give the amount and accepted forms of payment. Morton posts no online roster; VINELink confirms custody. More on our inmate page.
↑ Back to the question listWhich court?
The 26th Judicial District, a six-county southwest Kansas district based largely in Liberal. A judge must see the arrested person without unnecessary delay (K.S.A. 22-2901).
↑ Back to the question listBond types
A judge may release on the defendant's own promise, or require cash, a bondsman's guarantee or a property pledge, adding conditions (K.S.A. 22-2802).
↑ Back to the question listUsing a bondsman
Only agents on the 26th District's approved list may post bonds in Elkhart. Their fee, by statute no less than 10%, stays with them (K.S.A. 22-2809b). Agents often travel from Liberal, so ask about timing.
↑ Back to the question listSteps
- Phone the Law Enforcement Center at 620-697-4313.
- Bring ID and payment, or meet your agent, at 1025 Richard St.
- Save the bond form; it carries the Elkhart court date.
Conditions
Appear at every Elkhart setting. Person-crime cases bring a no-contact rule of at least 72 hours unless the judge sets another term.
↑ Back to the question listLower bond
Defense counsel can ask the Elkhart judge for a reduction. Ask the judge for appointed counsel if needed; the Board of Indigents' Defense Services (785-296-6631) pays.
↑ Back to the question listRefund
Cash bail goes back after disposition when every date was kept, minus permitted costs; a nonappearance forfeits it (K.S.A. 22-2807).
↑ Back to the question listDistrict court
Morton County District Court, 1025 Morton St., P.O. Box 825, Elkhart, KS 67950; 620-697-2563, fax 620-697-4289. See our court page.
↑ Back to the question listNearby jails
Confirm with Elkhart first at 620-697-4313. Closest county jails: - Stevens County Jail, 505 S. Monroe, Hugoton, KS 67951, 620-544-4386 - Stanton County Jail, 208 N. Chestnut, Johnson, KS 67855, 620-492-6866
↑ Back to the question listFederal holds
County bail does not touch a federal detainer.
- U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, Wichita clerk, 401 N. Market, Room 204, Wichita, KS 67202; 316-315-4200.
- U.S. Marshals Service, Wichita: 316-765-6339.
ICE
Posting bail leaves an I-247A in place; custody can run "up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released" (8 CFR 287.7(d)). ICE Chicago Field Office: 872-351-3990; ICE detainee locator. For inmate funds see our money page and commissary page.
↑ Back to the question listMorton County Jail
Address:
1025 Richards Street
Elkhart, KS 67950-1115
Phone:
620-697-4313
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Morton County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Morton County?
Who can set bail in Morton County?
When is bail set in Morton County Kansas?
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Morton County?
In Morton County, who can pay bail for me?
Can bail be paid online in Morton County?
What options are there to pay bail in Morton County?
Does Morton County have bail?
Yes, Morton County recognized most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Morton 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 Morton County?
Bail is set by a magistrate judge in the county where the defendant is being charged.
When is bail set in Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton County Jail for more information about the jails in Morton County.
What options are there to pay bail in Morton 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 Morton County Jail for more information about the jails in Morton County.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton 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, Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton County Kansas have bail?
Yes, Morton County recognized most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton County Jail for more information about the jails in Morton County.
What options are there to pay bail in Morton 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 Morton County Jail for more information about the jails in Morton 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 Morton 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 Morton 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.