Chippewa County Correctional Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Chippewa County bail and bond: the Sault Ste. Marie jail and 91st District Court
People arrested in Chippewa County are held at the Chippewa County Correctional Facility in Sault Ste. Marie. Use Chippewa County Inmate Search to see if yours is in custody and what the bail is. The corrections line is 906-635-7620. The 91st District Court, 906-635-6300, sets the bond and tells you when arraignment is.
Is my uncle at the Sault Ste. Marie jail right now?
Type his name into Chippewa County Inmate Search. You will see whether he is booked, the charges, and the bail. A booking from the last hour or two may not be posted yet.
The corrections line is 906-635-7620. The county says its correctional section handles booking, bail and bonds, visits and inmate services, so call it for anything the search leaves out.
Who is in charge of the jail?
The Chippewa County Correctional Facility is run through the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office, 325 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. The sheriff is Michael D. Bitnar and the undersheriff is Ryan Hering.
The sheriff's business office is staffed Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office phone is 906-635-6355.
He was arrested for a fight. Why does the judge see him the next morning?
The 91st District Court says all assaultive cases require the defendant to appear the very next business day for arraignment, unless the court orders something else in writing.
So an assault arrest on a Friday night usually means a Monday hearing. The court's number is 906-635-6300. Plan to be there early, because the bond is set at that hearing.
Who sets bond, and can I pay before the hearing?
A district court judge or magistrate sets the amount, weighing risk to a victim or the public and the chance he will miss court. Some minor offenses carry a standard bond set by the judge, so a person can post and leave almost right away.
If bond is posted, the officer or jail staff gives him a report date. Ask the corrections desk at 906-635-7620 whether his charge has a standard bond.
What conditions might come with release?
The court's page lists examples: no contact with a victim, staying out of bars, no alcohol, or a curfew. Court Rule 6.106 allows many more, including drug tests and travel limits.
Break one and the judge can revoke release. Ask for a copy of the order before he leaves.
Where do I pay, and what do they accept?
The court's bond page gives its address, 319 Court Street, and hours of Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It does not say which payment types it takes. Ask at 906-635-6300 for the court, or 906-635-7620 for the jail.
Bring photo ID and the case number, and confirm cash, check, or card before you leave home.
What does the ten percent option do for me?
A judge who allows it lets you pay one tenth of the bail to the court. On a $3,000 bail, that is $300.
Under the rule effective May 1, 2026, the court keeps ten percent of the deposit only when the person is convicted of an offense under MCL 780.66. Otherwise the deposit returns, less fines and costs.
How do I choose a bail agent?
A surety bond can be set at one quarter of the bail if the judge permits it. The agent's fee is yours to negotiate, and it is not refunded. Get everything in writing.
The state does not license bondsmen as a group. They are insurance producers, and each court approves them, so ask at 906-635-6300 who is approved. Complaints go to 877-999-6442.
May I put up my house?
The court may take real property as security if it consents, and may want proof of value. Ask whether land outside Chippewa County counts.
It takes more days than cash.
When is bail refused in Chippewa County?
Michigan's Constitution lets a judge deny bail in a few cases. Murder and treason qualify. So do first-degree criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery and kidnapping for extortion, when the proof is evident or the presumption is great.
A person charged with a violent felony after two earlier violent convictions, or while on release for one, can be held too. Denied bail triggers a trial within 90 days unless the defense delays.
What if he misses court after being released?
A warrant can issue and the bond can be forfeited. A mailed notice starts a 28-day period to surrender before judgment is entered.
The agent is told within 7 days. If he is caught within a year, the court may set the judgment aside with conditions.
Does Chippewa County have a free lawyer for him?
Ask for one at arraignment. The court gives you a financial form. The county's defender office phone is best learned from the court at 906-635-6300, or from the state commission at 517-657-3066.
Michigan standards call for counsel at the first appearance.
My son is 16. Where do Upper Peninsula counties hold juveniles?
A Marquette County sheriff said in December 2025 that no Upper Peninsula facility houses juveniles for detention. Chippewa youth who must be held may therefore be sent downstate.
Michigan treats anyone under 18 as a juvenile and bars holding them with adult prisoners. Ask the court at 906-635-6300 which facility has your son and when the hearing is.
When do I get the money back?
When the court discharges the bond, it returns what it holds after taking fines, costs and assessments from a cash bond posted by the defendant. A bondsman keeps the fee.
Ask the court office at 906-635-6300 how to claim a refund.
Chippewa County bail contacts
- Jail
- Chippewa County Correctional Facility; corrections line 906-635-7620
- Sheriff's Office
- 325 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783; business office Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 906-635-6355
- Custody lookup
- Chippewa County Inmate Search
- District court
- 91st District Court, 319 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 906-635-6300
- Defender information
- Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, Lansing, 517-657-3066
- Bondsman issues
- State insurance regulator, 877-999-6442
A court can change a bond order or its hours at any time, so treat these numbers as a starting point and call. The page explains the process but does not replace a lawyer.
Chippewa County Correctional Facility
Address:
325 Court Street
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Phone:
906-635-7620
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Chippewa County
Does Chippewa County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Chippewa County?
Who can set bail in Chippewa County?
When is bail set in Chippewa County Michigan?
Does Chippewa County have bail?
Yes, Chippewa County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Chippewa County?
Chippewa 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 Chippewa County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Chippewa 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 Chippewa 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 Chippewa 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 Chippewa County Correctional Facility 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, Chippewa 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 Chippewa 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 Chippewa County have bail?
Yes, Chippewa County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Chippewa County?
Chippewa 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 Chippewa 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 Chippewa County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Chippewa 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 Chippewa County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Chippewa County Correctional Facility for more information about the jails in Chippewa County.
What options are there to pay bail in Chippewa 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 Chippewa County Correctional Facility for more information about posting bail in Chippewa 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 Chippewa 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 Chippewa County Correctional Facility 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.