Cheboygan County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Cheboygan County bail and bond: daytime court, nighttime kiosk
People arrested in Cheboygan County are held in the Cheboygan County Jail at 870 South Main Street. Look up your person with Cheboygan County Inmate Search to see if they are in custody and what the bail is. Bond is paid at the 89th District Court during the day and at the Sheriff's Department kiosk after hours. The sheriff's line is 231-627-3155.
Is my dad in the County Building jail on South Main?
Search his name at Cheboygan County Inmate Search first. It shows if he is booked and the bail. The Cheboygan County Jail is in the County Building at 870 South Main Street, Cheboygan.
The county says the jail has 103 beds and holds people awaiting court as well as people sentenced to a year or less. For details the search skips, call 231-627-3155, or ask for the jail administrator, Lt. Brenda Beckwith, at 231-627-3155 ext. 433.
What can I do at the District Court window, and what has to wait?
During business hours, bond is posted at the 89th District Court office in the same building. It is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays, and the number is 231-627-8809.
The court takes cash only. A card is not accepted at the window.
It is 9 p.m. Can I still pay tonight?
Yes, the county lists after-hours posting at the Sheriff's Department in the same County Building. There is a kiosk just inside the door, and a counter where staff can help. You may need to tell an employee first.
The kiosk is the place for a credit or debit card. Call 231-627-3155 before you leave home if you are unsure the person's bond is ready to post.
I am paying for my friend. Does it matter whose name is on the bond?
Yes. If you post for someone else, the county asks you to sign the required paperwork so the bond is placed in your name.
That means a refund may come to you, but it also means you answer for it if the friend skips court. Read what you sign.
Who is on the approved bail agent list?
The court publishes a 2026 approved bail bondsperson list, and the circuit court says it takes agent applications for the 2027 list from October 1 through December 15. The 2027 lists are due to be posted by January 1, 2027.
An agent not on the court's list may not be accepted here, so check the list before you sign anything. Questions go to the 89th District Court at 231-627-8809.
What does the agent's fee run?
That is a private deal between you and the agent, and this page cannot quote a figure. Do not accept a spoken number. Ask for the fee, any collateral, and refund terms in writing.
Agents hold insurance producer licenses, not special bondsman licenses. Complaints go to 877-999-6442.
Does a judge have to ask for money?
No. Court Rule 6.106 puts release on a signed promise or an unsecured bond first. The judge may require cash only after saying on the record why nothing else will work.
When money is required, the judge looks at his record, missed court dates, substance use, mental health and what he can afford.
What is the tenth-part deposit, and who keeps it?
If the judge allows it, you deposit ten percent of the bail with the court clerk. The court returns the deposit at the end of the case, less fines and costs.
As of May 1, 2026, the court retains ten percent of that deposit only when he is convicted of an offense under MCL 780.66. A dismissal or acquittal returns the whole deposit.
Can a house or a woodlot be the security?
The court may take real property if it consents and sees proof of its value. This is slow, and only the court can say whether the land must lie in Cheboygan County. Call 231-627-8809 with your parcel details before you pay for papers.
Cash or an approved agent is faster.
Why is there no bail on the screen?
The booking may be unfinished, a judge may not have set an amount, or a hold from probation, parole or another agency may block release.
Bail can also be denied outright. The Constitution allows that for murder, for treason, and for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery or kidnapping for extortion when the proof is evident. Then trial must begin within 90 days unless the defense delays.
How soon does he get before a judge?
Michigan requires arraignment without unnecessary delay, and a judge should review a warrantless arrest within about 48 hours.
A county judicial officer must be available every day of the year. The 89th District Court, 231-627-8809, can tell you the date and time on the next business day.
Can we get a free lawyer?
Tell the judge at arraignment that you cannot pay. You will be given a form about your finances. The county's pages do not list a defender office, so ask at 231-627-8809 or call the state commission at 517-657-3066.
Felony cases later go to the 53rd Circuit Court, 231-627-8818.
What about my 15-year-old?
Michigan treats anyone under 18 as a juvenile and bars keeping them with adult prisoners. A 17-year-old's case generally starts in the family division of circuit court.
Cheboygan County planned two juvenile holding cells at the jail, kept apart from adults, and had obtained state approval for them. Ask the Sheriff's Office at 231-627-3155 whether a youth was held there or sent elsewhere, and where the hearing will be.
What if he does not come back for court?
The judge can issue a warrant and forfeit the bond. He has 28 days from the mailed notice to surrender before judgment.
An agent is told within 7 days and has a chance to show cause. A defendant brought in within a year may get the judgment set aside.
Cheboygan County bail contacts
- Jail
- Cheboygan County Jail, County Building, 870 South Main Street, Cheboygan, MI 49721, 231-627-3155; jail administrator 231-627-3155 ext. 433
- Custody lookup
- Cheboygan County Inmate Search
- District court
- 89th District Court, 870 South Main Street (PO Box 70), Cheboygan, MI 49721; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 231-627-8809
- After hours
- Sheriff's Department kiosk and counter, County Building
- Circuit court
- 53rd Circuit Court, 231-627-8818
- County main line
- 231-627-8855
- Approved agents
- 2026 approved bail bondsperson list
- Defense commission
- Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, Lansing, 517-657-3066
- Agent complaints
- State insurance regulator, 877-999-6442
The court can change who it approves, what it accepts and when it opens, and judges may order different terms for your case. Phone first when money is involved. This is a reading aid, not counsel.
Cheboygan County Jail
Address:
870 South Main St.
Cheboygan, MI 49721
Phone:
231-627-3155
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Cheboygan County
Does Cheboygan County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cheboygan County?
Who can set bail in Cheboygan County?
When is bail set in Cheboygan County Michigan?
Does Cheboygan County have bail?
Yes, Cheboygan County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cheboygan County?
Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan 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, Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan County have bail?
Yes, Cheboygan County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cheboygan County?
Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Cheboygan County Jail for more information about the jails in Cheboygan County.
What options are there to pay bail in Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan County Jail for more information about posting bail in Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan 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.