Barry County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Barry County bail and bond: the Hastings jail, the district court, and the bondsperson list
Adults arrested in Barry County are held at the Barry County Jail, 1212 West State Street, Hastings. The jail line is 269-948-4804. Look up your relative on Barry County Inmate Search to see if he is booked and what bond the court set. The 56-B District Court, a few blocks away on Court Street, sets bail and accepts bond during business hours, and the circuit court keeps a list of approved bondspersons.
Is my husband booked into the Barry County Jail on West State Street?
Check Barry County Inmate Search. The record should show the charge and any bond. A new booking can take time to appear. If it does not, call the jail at 269-948-4804 or the Sheriff's Office at 269-948-4801. The county lists those numbers on its sheriff contact page.
Which three Hastings buildings matter for a bond?
The jail and Sheriff's Office are at 1212 West State Street. The 56-B District Court is in the Courts and Law Building, 206 West Court Street, Suite 202. The 5th Circuit Court and county offices are at the Barry County Courthouse, 220 West State Street. Family members often go to the wrong one, so call before you drive.
When can I post bond at the Barry district court?
The 56-B District Court says it can set bail and accept bond. It is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and closes for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30. Its number is 269-945-1404. The county pages do not describe evening or weekend bond. Ask the jail at 269-948-4804 what it takes after the court closes.
What happens at a Barry County arraignment?
The district court holds felony and misdemeanor arraignments, so every adult criminal case starts there. The judge reads the charge, asks whether you have a lawyer, and decides on release. The judge may release him on his promise, set conditions, or order money bail. Michigan requires this hearing without unnecessary delay.
What comes after the arraignment in Hastings?
Under Michigan Court Rule 6.104, a probable cause conference is set about 7 to 14 days after arraignment on a felony. A preliminary examination follows roughly 5 to 7 days later. If bond was not posted, the person waits in the jail. A lawyer can ask the judge to change the bond before then.
Where is the Barry County list of approved bondspersons?
The 5th Circuit Court's web page links a PDF called "2024 Approved Bondspersons." Ask the circuit court at 269-945-1286 for the current list, since the posted one carries a 2024 date. Michigan does not license bondsmen as such, and courts approve agents one by one. Get the fee and collateral in writing.
My son was arrested in Barry County for a case in another county. What now?
Michigan's rule says that when the offense happened in a different county, the court where he is held decides on release, and he signs a promise to appear within 14 days. If he cannot be released, he must be taken to the county of the offense no later than the next regular business day. Ask the jail which county has the warrant.
Can Barry County accept my property for bond?
The state court rule allows real property if the court consents and proof of its value is provided. The sources we read did not say whether land must lie in Barry County. The 56-B court at 269-945-1404 can tell you its practice. Do not pay for an appraisal first.
Why does the record say no bond for someone in Barry County?
It can mean the judge has not set a number or that another hold exists. A person on probation or parole can also be held. Judges may deny bail only for murder, treason, and certain violent felonies when the proof is evident or the presumption is great.
Does Barry County provide a public defender?
The county website has a Public Defender department page, but we found no phone for it. Ask the judge at the first hearing, or call the 56-B court at 269-945-1404. The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission at 517-657-3066 can also name the office.
Where does Barry County keep arrested minors?
We did not find a detention center that Barry County names. Call the 5th Circuit Court at 269-945-1286 and ask where the youth is held and when the hearing is. Michigan law keeps anyone under 18 apart from adult prisoners.
What if he breaks a release condition in Barry County?
The judge may issue a warrant, revoke release, and order the bond forfeited. Notice is mailed and he has 28 days to surrender before judgment may be entered. Ask a lawyer how to respond.
Is it true Barry County lets inmates have unlimited visits?
One outside website says so and also says each inmate is assigned one day a week, which cannot both be true. The county page links its own visitation page. Call the jail at 269-948-4804 before you plan a trip.
How do I get back the money I paid for a Barry bond?
The court returns a bond when the case is over, after taking any fines, costs, and assessments owed. Keep every receipt and the case number.
How can I tell a scam from a real bond request?
No court asks for gift cards. Phone the numbers on the county page. Bondsman problems can be reported at 877-999-6442.
Can the bond be reduced after it is set in Barry County?
A motion to review bond may be filed in the court that has the case, at no charge. Before the information arraignment, the judge needs a substantial reason to change release. Later, the judge can look at the question again. Bring proof of work, housing, and family support, and ask a lawyer to argue it.
When must a Barry County bond be cash or from a non-bondsman?
Michigan law and a state court memo say a judge may require a cash bond or a surety who is not a bonding agent when the person was charged while already out on bail, or has two felony convictions within five years. A 10 percent deposit is not allowed if those conditions apply. The booking line will say CASH ONLY or a similar term.
Barry County bond contacts
- Jail
- Barry County Jail, 1212 West State Street, Hastings, MI 49058; 269-948-4804
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond page
- Custody lookup
- Barry County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's office
- 269-948-4801
- District court
- 56-B District Court, 206 West Court Street, Suite 202, Hastings, MI 49058; 269-945-1404; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
- Circuit court
- Barry County Courthouse, 220 West State Street, Hastings; 269-945-1286
- Public defense
- Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, 517-657-3066
- Bondsman complaints
- State insurance consumer line, 877-999-6442
Barry County posts few bond details online, so hours and payment steps above may be out of date. Confirm by phone and bring any case questions to an attorney.
Barry County Jail
Address:
1212 W. State Street
Hastings, MI 49058
Phone:
269-948-4804
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Barry County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Barry County?
Who can set bail in Barry County?
When is bail set in Barry County Michigan?
Does Barry County have bail?
Yes, Barry County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Barry County?
Barry County 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 four types of bail available: personal recognizance bond, cash bail, ten-percent bail, and surety bond.
Who can set bail in Barry County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Barry County Michigan?
Bail is set at the first court appearance, also known as the arraignment. In most cases this hearing is required to be held within 72 hours of arrest, unless delayed by the defense.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Barry 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 Barry 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 Barry 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, Barry 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 Barry 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 Barry County have bail?
Yes, Barry County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Barry County?
Barry County 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 four types of bail available: personal recognizance bond, cash bail, ten-percent bail, and surety bond.
Who can set bail in Barry County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Michigan?
Bail is set at the first court appearance, also known as the arraignment. In most cases this hearing is required to be held within 72 hours of arrest, unless delayed by the defense.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Barry County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Barry County Michigan, 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 Michigan could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Barry County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Barry County Jail for more information about the jails in Barry County.
What options are there to pay bail in Barry County Michigan?
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 Barry County Jail for more information about posting bail in Barry County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Michigan?
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 Barry 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 Michigan?
The Barry 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.