St. Mary Parish Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in St. Mary Parish

Louisiana • St. Mary Parish • Bail & bond help

St. Mary Parish bail and bond: Centerville, Morgan City, Patterson, and Franklin

Adults arrested by St. Mary Parish deputies go to the sheriff's St. Mary Parish jail in Centerville, off the Highway 90 frontage road. Its information line is 337-836-9509, and Sheriff Blaise Smith's office is at 337-828-1960. Run St. Mary Parish Inmate Search to learn whether the person is held and what bond is shown. Two cities also keep their own cells, and the court papers are in Franklin, so keep reading before you drive anywhere.

Which building holds people arrested in St. Mary Parish?

The sheriff's jail stands at 9311 Highway 90 West South Frontage Road in Centerville. A 2024 transparency report says it was built for 320 inmates, is run by Warden Maj. Nick Rogers, and takes state prisoners plus people from local city and tribal police. The sheriff's offices sit in Franklin and Morgan City, not at the jail.

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Why do I see three different names for the same jail?

The sheriff calls it the Law Enforcement Center. The Louisiana Department of Corrections lists a St. Mary Parish Correctional Center. Directory sites often shorten it to "St. Mary Parish Jail." All of them mean the Centerville site, so match the street address, not the title.

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How do I check whether a loved one is in a St. Mary Parish cell?

Enter the name in St. Mary Parish Inmate Search. If the person was taken by city police, the sheriff's roster may stay blank for a while. Use the Morgan City or Patterson numbers below to ask about those cells. For anything the search leaves out, call 337-836-9509.

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What phone numbers matter at the jail and sheriff's office?

The sheriff's FAQ says the jail information line is 337-836-9509. The state directory lists the correctional center at 337-828-6945 and the sheriff at 337-828-1960. Administrative offices are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, at 500 Main Street, fourth floor, in Franklin, and at 1455 Railroad Avenue in Morgan City. Those hours are for the offices, not bonding.

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Does Morgan City hold people in its own jail?

Yes. The Morgan City Police Department is at 723 Myrtle Street and posts its own roster of current and recently released inmates. Its 24-hour non-emergency line is 985-384-2310, and the administration line is 985-380-4605. Ask there before you assume a Morgan City arrest moved to Centerville.

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What about arrests made by Patterson police?

The state directory lists the Patterson City Jail at 1314 Main Street, 985-395-6161. Call it to find out whether the person is still in town or was handed to the sheriff.

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Where do I pay a bond for someone in the Centerville jail?

The sheriff's site gives no bonding window address or hours. Call 337-836-9509 and ask who accepts payment for the charge and until what time. The clerk of court works from the courthouse at 500 Main Street in Franklin, 337-828-4100, and can say if it handles any payment.

Bring a photo ID and the full legal name of the person held.

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What kind of payment does a Louisiana cash bail deposit allow?

The law accepts cash, a certified or cashier's check from a state or national bank, a bank or postal money order, and certain government bonds, up to the exact amount of bail. Ask the jail before you count on a card.

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How much does a bondsman keep on a St. Mary Parish bond?

The state premium is 12 percent of the bond, with a $120 floor. A $15,000 bond costs $1,800. Agents hold a Louisiana bail bond license, and the Department of Insurance can verify one. Ask for a receipt that shows the premium.

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Can I use land or a house in St. Mary Parish as security?

With a judge's approval, yes. An owner mortgages Louisiana real estate and the mortgage is recorded where the land sits. The property has to be worth more than all debts on it. Recorded mortgages lapse after ten years if not renewed.

The clerk at 337-828-4100 can tell you which papers the office wants.

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Is there a set bail list for the 16th Judicial District?

Louisiana lets a district court adopt one, but the court's site for Iberia, St. Martin, and St. Mary posts no per-charge amounts. The booking sheet shows the amount for your person, and a judge may change it.

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How fast must a judge see someone arrested in St. Mary Parish?

The limit is 72 hours, leaving out weekends and legal holidays. The judge assigns a lawyer and can set or review bail. For a warrantless arrest a separate probable-cause check is due in 48 hours. If either deadline is missed, the person goes free on a signature.

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What if I think a warrant exists for me or a relative?

The sheriff's Warrants Division takes calls at 337-907-0407 or 337-907-0408. Learning about a warrant first lets you arrange a lawyer and a bondsman before an arrest.

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In which St. Mary cases can bail be refused?

A capital charge may be held without bail. Certain violent or drug charges can be refused after a hearing. A domestic abuse arrest can bring a hold of 48 to 72 hours. State law also lists charges for which a judge cannot release a person on a signature alone.

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Can a judge cut bail after it is set?

Yes, for good cause, on a request from the defense or the prosecutor. Being arrested again while on bond is a reason to raise it. Work and family ties matter, along with the charge and the strength of the proof. A court of appeal can review an outright bail refusal.

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Who provides a free lawyer in St. Mary Parish?

The public defender office is at 107 Wilson Street in Franklin, 337-828-3628, open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court appoints counsel at the first appearance if the person qualifies.

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Where is a teenager held after a St. Mary Parish arrest?

Since July 2020, seventeen-year-olds are treated as juveniles. News reports say the nine-parish Acadiana region has had no detention center of its own, and the Morgan City police page does not say where its juveniles are taken. Call the sheriff at 337-828-1960 for the current placement. A child kept in detention gets a custody hearing within three days.

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Does the federal court handle any St. Mary cases?

When the charge is federal, the case belongs to the federal court for the Western District of Louisiana, where a judge sets release terms. A parish bond will not free a federal detainee.

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St. Mary Parish contacts for bond questions

Parish jail
Sheriff's jail, 9311 Highway 90 West South Frontage Road, Centerville, LA 70522; info line 337-836-9509; state line 337-828-6945
Bond guide
Parish bail and bond guide
Custody lookup
St. Mary Parish Inmate Search
Sheriff
Blaise Smith, P.O. Box 571, Franklin, LA 70538; 337-828-1960; warrants 337-907-0407
Clerk of court
Cliff Dressel, 500 Main Street, Franklin; P.O. Drawer 1231; 337-828-4100
City jails
Morgan City Police, 723 Myrtle Street; 985-384-2310. Patterson City Jail, 1314 Main Street; 985-395-6161
Public defender
107 Wilson Street, Franklin; 337-828-3628
Federal court
U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana

Everything above came from public sources on the dates we checked and may be out of date by the time you read it. Judges differ case to case. Verify each amount, hour, and address with the office named, and talk with a Louisiana attorney about the specific arrest.

St. Mary Parish Jail

Address:
9311 Frontage Road
Centerville, LA 70522
Phone:
337-836-9509

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in St. Mary Parish


Does St. Mary Parish have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Mary Parish?

Who can set bail in St. Mary Parish?

When is bail set in St. Mary Parish Louisiana?

 

 

Does St. Mary Parish have bail?

Yes, St. Mary Parish recognizes most types of bail bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Mary Parish?

St. Mary Parish recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. There are several types of bail available including release on own recognizance, cash bail, property bond and surety bond.

 

 

Who can set bail in St. Mary Parish?

In some cases, the bail is predetermined based on the charges. If this is the case the amount of bail will be provided during the booking process. In cases where the bail is not predetermined, or the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, the bail will be determined by a magistrate at the first appearance.

 

 

When is bail set in St. Mary Parish Louisiana?

A magistrate will set bail during a first appearance, which is usually scheduled within 72 hours of arrest.

What is Bail?

Bail is what the arrested in St. Mary Parish 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 bail commissioner in St. Mary Parish 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 magistrate 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 St. Mary Parish 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, St. Mary Parish 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 St. Mary Parish?

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 St. Mary Parish have bail?

Yes, St. Mary Parish recognizes most types of bail bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Mary Parish? 

St. Mary Parish recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. There are several types of bail available including release on own recognizance, cash bail, property bond and surety bond.

Who can set bail in St. Mary Parish?  

In some cases, the bail is predetermined based on the charges. If this is the case the amount of bail will be provided during the booking process. In cases where the bail is not predetermined, or the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, the bail will be determined by a magistrate at the first appearance.

When is bail set in St. Mary Parish?

A magistrate will set bail during a first appearance, which is usually scheduled within 72 hours of arrest.

Can I get the bail or bond reduced in St. Mary Parish Louisiana? 

Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the magistrate know.  Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.

In St. Mary Parish Louisiana, 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 Louisiana could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.

Can bail be paid online in St. Mary Parish Louisiana?  

No, Louisiana counties do not currently offer online payment of bail. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: go to the for more information about the jails in St. Mary Parish.

What options are there to pay bail in St. Mary Parish Louisiana? 

Payment may be made with cash, money order, property bond, or surety bond. Some accept a credit card with fees. 

Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the St. Mary Parish Jail for more information about posting bail in St. Mary Parish.  

An alternative would be to contact the Clerk of Court.

Will I get all my bond money back in Louisiana?

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 St. Mary Parish?

The magistrate 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 Louisiana?  

The St. Mary Parish 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in St. Mary Parish

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.