Branch County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Branch County bail and bond: the Coldwater jail and how release works
Adults arrested in Branch County are booked into the Branch County Jail in Coldwater, run by the Sheriff. Look the person up with Branch County Inmate Search to see if they are in custody and what the bail is. The jail line, 517-278-2325, handles what the search cannot. A judge or magistrate sets the bond amount.
Is my cousin locked up in Coldwater?
Enter his name in Branch County Inmate Search. It shows whether he is booked into the county jail and what the bail is on each charge.
Coldwater also has a state prison, Lakeland Correctional Facility. That is a different place for people already sentenced to state prison, and this county search is for the county jail. If the search shows nothing, call the jail line, 517-278-2325, and ask whether he was held at another agency first.
Where is the Branch County Jail?
The Branch County Jail is on Keith Wilhelm Drive in Coldwater, ZIP 49036, and is run by the elected sheriff. A public directory lists the street number as 379 and the phone as 517-278-2325. Confirm both when you call.
A builder's project page says the sheriff's facility can house up to 220 people.
Who sets the amount and when?
A District Court judge or magistrate sets it, usually at the first court appearance. Michigan Court Rule 6.106 orders the judge to consider the charge, past record, missed court dates, money, and community ties.
The judge may not base the decision on race, religion, sex, or how poor a person is.
Can he be released with just a promise?
Often, yes. The starting point in the rule is release on his own written promise or an unsecured bond. The judge moves away from that only after finding it would not ensure his return or protect others.
Money bail has to be explained on the record. The judge can also order tests, treatment, a curfew, or a stay-away from a named person.
What are my options for paying a bond at the jail?
Call the jail at 517-278-2325 and ask three things before you drive over: is the booking desk open now, is cash the only choice, and does a cashier's check work.
Bring a government photo ID. If you are not the defendant, expect to sign papers that put the bond in your name.
Does ten percent cash end up costing me?
Only if the judge permits a ten percent bond. You then deposit that share of the bail with the court. The deposit comes back after the case, less fines or costs, unless the court may keep part of it.
That last case is narrow after May 1, 2026. A court keeps ten percent of the deposit only if the person is convicted of an offense under MCL 780.66, so if he is cleared you get the whole deposit back.
Is a bondsman cheaper?
Not always. A bail agent writes a surety bond for a quarter of the bail, but the agent's fee is paid on top and does not come back.
Every Michigan court approves agents on its own, so ask the Branch County court which agents it takes. The state does not license bondsmen as such. They need insurance producer licenses, and you can complain at 877-999-6442.
Can a house or a car be security?
Real property can secure a bond if the court agrees, and you may be asked to show its value. A car is not named in the court rule.
Whether land outside Branch County works is a question for the judge's staff, so ask first.
What if the record says he is held without bail?
The state Constitution allows a no-bail hold in a short list of situations. Murder and treason head it. Next come first-degree sexual assault, armed robbery and kidnapping to extort, where the proof is strong.
A repeat violent offender can also be held. So can a person on probation or parole for the violation alone. The defense can ask for a custody hearing, and trial must start within 90 days if bail was denied.
What if he is arrested on a weekend?
The law wants arraignment without unnecessary delay. Courts treat a judge's review within 48 hours of a warrantless arrest as the limit.
Every county keeps a judge or magistrate on call for felony arraignment and bail, even on weekends.
Can he get a free lawyer?
If he cannot afford one, he can ask for appointed counsel at arraignment. Michigan's indigent defense standards call for a lawyer at the first appearance.
For the county's defender office phone, ask the court at the first hearing. The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, 517-657-3066, can point you to the county's system.
My daughter is 17 and was arrested. Where is she held?
A 17-year-old is now a juvenile in Michigan, and under-18s may not be kept with adult prisoners. Her case generally starts in the family division of circuit court.
Ask the jail at 517-278-2325 where she was taken, or ask the Branch County court clerk at the first hearing.
What if he does not show up in court?
The court can issue a warrant, forfeit the bail, and mail notice. He has 28 days to surrender before judgment on the bond.
Bail agents get notice within 7 days and a hearing. Call the court and the agent the same day.
Branch County bail contacts
- Jail
- Branch County Jail, Keith Wilhelm Drive, Coldwater, MI 49036, 517-278-2325
- Custody lookup
- Branch County Inmate Search
- Courts
- Branch County District Court and Branch County Circuit Court, Coldwater; ask the jail line for the courtroom and time of the first hearing
- Lawyer help line
- Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, Lansing, 517-657-3066
- Bondsman problems
- State insurance regulator, 877-999-6442
Nothing on this page binds a court. A judge can change an amount or a condition at any hearing, and phone numbers can change. Verify details with the jail before you travel or pay.
How Do I pay Bail for Someone Arrested in Branch County?
Can I pay an Inmate's Bail Online?
Branch County Jail has contracted with Express Account, a third party online money deposit service, to pay for an Inmate's Bail using a credit card.
Here's how it works:
- Call the Branch County Jail at 517-278-2325 to find out the exact amount you need in order to pay your inmate's bail. Often there are fees that are in addition to the bail amount. Keep in mind that Express Account will also be adding a small percentage for the use of their service. Make sure you select 'bond' when doing this.
- Go to Express Account, register with them and follow the instructions to pay bail. You can also do this by phone if you prefer, by calling 866-422-6833.
- A fax or email is sent to the facility within 5 minutes of posting the bond. It includes the information about the bail/bond payment which begins the release process at the facility. If you have a concern, you may contact the facility at 517-278-2325 to inquire.
If you have any questions on how this works phone support is available Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) between 8am - 4pm EST - call 866-422-6833. If you prefer to contact them online, go to their Customer Service Contact Page and write them with the question(s) you have.
Branch County Jail
Address:
379 Keith Wilhelm Drive
Coldwater, MI 49036
Phone:
517-278-2325
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Branch County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Branch County?
Who can set bail in Branch County?
When is bail set in Branch County Michigan?
Does Branch County have bail?
Yes, Branch County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Branch County?
Branch 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 Branch County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Branch 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 Branch 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 Branch 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 Branch 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, Branch 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 Branch 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 Branch County have bail?
Yes, Branch County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Branch County?
Branch 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 Branch 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 Branch County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Branch 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 Branch County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Branch County Jail for more information about the jails in Branch County.
What options are there to pay bail in Branch 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 Branch County Jail for more information about posting bail in Branch 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 Branch 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 Branch 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.