Grand Traverse County Correctional Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Grand Traverse County bail and bond: the 24-hour jail kiosk and the Hall of Justice
People arrested in Grand Traverse County are booked at the Grand Traverse County Correctional Facility, 320 Washington Street, Traverse City. Use Grand Traverse County Inmate Search to see whether your person is in custody, what the bail is and whether release has happened. You can post a bond at the jail lobby kiosk at any hour. The Sheriff's Office is at 851 Woodmere Avenue, 231-995-5000. The judge, not the jail, picks the amount.
Is my family member inside the jail at 320 Washington Street?
Run the name through Grand Traverse County Inmate Search first. It shows whether the person is in custody and what the bail is. A booking that is only minutes old may take a little while to appear. If the name still does not show up, call the Sheriff's Office at 231-995-5000 and ask whether another agency has taken the person.
Where do I pay a Grand Traverse County bond after midnight?
The jail lobby at 320 Washington Street has a payment kiosk that the county says runs 24 hours a day, every day. It takes cash bills and MasterCard, Visa or American Express. It does not take coins, money orders or checks, and it cannot give change back.
You can also pay by phone at 1-866-422-6833 at any hour, or online at expressaccount.com.
What extra fees will the kiosk, phone or website add?
An outside vendor adds its own charge, and the county posted a fee table that it may change at any time. The table shows 6 percent for cash at the kiosk, with a $4 minimum. A card at the kiosk costs $10 plus 7 percent up to $2,000.99, then 7 percent above that. Online is $10 plus 8 percent in the same range, then 8 percent. The phone adds $2 for the agent.
The only way the county says to dodge fees on a court bond is to pay the district court in person with cash or a money order.
My relative's bond is with the 86th District Court. Where do I go?
The 86th District Court is on the first floor of the Robert Griffin Hall of Justice, 280 Washington Street, Suite 121. Its phone is 231-922-4580. The county asks that you not pay booking or bond money to the court clerk directly for jail costs; use the county's debt-payment page for those instead. Bond payments to the court itself can be made online or in person at that first-floor spot.
What if the bond belongs to the 13th Circuit Court?
Circuit bonds are paid in person on the second floor of the same Hall of Justice. The court's general line is 231-922-4701. A felony case usually moves to circuit court after the district court stage, so the bond may follow the case there.
Can I split a bond between the jail and a court?
No. The county says bond payments to the courts must be made in the full amount, and a payment cannot be divided between the jail and a court. Extra money you send above the amount owed goes onto the inmate's commissary account. It is applied to any balance owed at release, and what is left is paid to the inmate by debit card or check, not back to you.
How fast does someone come out after the bond is posted?
Release is usually the same day the bond posts. Conditions set by the judge, such as a no-contact order or a tether, can hold things up for as long as several days. Ask the jail desk at 231-922-4531 which conditions apply before you pay.
What does a ten percent bond mean in Michigan?
If the judge allows it, the defendant (or a friend who is not a bondsman) leaves 10 percent of the bail in cash with the court. Court Rule 6.106 lets a judge choose this option, but a judge does not have to offer it. Since May 1, 2026, the court may keep 10 percent of that deposit only if the person is convicted of an offense covered by MCL 780.66. If the case ends without a conviction, the full deposit comes back, less any fines or costs.
Who sets the amount, and when?
A judge or magistrate decides at the first court appearance. The 86th District Court's two judges sit in Traverse City. Under the court rule the first choice is release on a promise to appear, with money bail only if the judge states on the record why nothing else will do. The judge looks at the person's record, ties to the area, drug or alcohol problems, the seriousness of the charge and what the family can afford.
What does a bail bondsman charge in Traverse City?
No Michigan rule setting a rate has turned up, so ask for the fee in writing before you sign anything. The state insurance department says it does not license bondsmen. Bail agents are licensed as insurance producers, and each court approves the agents it will accept. Questions about an agent can go to DIFS at 877-999-6442 or to the judge handling the case.
Can real estate secure a Grand Traverse bond?
The court rule allows real property only with the court's consent, and the judge may ask for proof of its value. Rules on where the land must be, and how much equity is needed, are not published on the county pages. Call the 86th District Court at 231-922-4580 before you gather deeds.
When can a judge refuse bail altogether?
The Michigan Constitution lets a court deny bail only when the proof is evident or the presumption great and the charge falls in a narrow list: murder or treason, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery or kidnapping for ransom (with a judge-finding exception), and certain violent felonies by people with serious prior records or on release. If bail is denied, the trial must start within 90 days unless the defense causes delay.
Does the jail hold young people under 18?
Michigan law bars holding anyone under 18 in an adult jail unless they are fully separated from adults, and the Raise the Age laws moved most 17-year-old cases to family court in October 2021. For where a young person is being held, call the 13th Circuit Court at 231-922-4701 and ask for the family division.
How do I get a lawyer if we cannot pay?
Ask the judge at arraignment; a lawyer must be offered at that first appearance unless the person waives one or is released on a personal bond. The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission can tell you how Grand Traverse County runs appointed counsel: 517-657-3066.
What happens if my relative misses a court date?
The judge can issue a warrant and declare the bond forfeited. A person who owes a forfeited bond has 28 days after notice to surrender before a judgment can be entered. A bonding company must be told within seven days of the missed date. If the person is caught within a year, the court can set the judgment aside once the county is repaid its costs of finding them.
Key contacts for Grand Traverse County bond questions
- County jail
- Grand Traverse County Correctional Facility, 320 Washington Street, Traverse City, MI 49684; jail desk 231-922-4531
- Sheriff's Office
- 851 Woodmere Avenue, Traverse City, MI 49686; 231-995-5000
- Bond kiosk
- Jail lobby, 24 hours a day; phone payments 1-866-422-6833
- Custody lookup
- Grand Traverse County Inmate Search
- District court
- 86th District Court, 280 Washington Street, Suite 121, Traverse City; 231-922-4580
- Circuit court
- 13th Circuit Court, Hall of Justice, second floor; 231-922-4701
- Jail fee questions
- Balance line 231-922-4532, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Appointed lawyers
- Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, 517-657-3066
- Youth
- 13th Circuit Court family division, 231-922-4701
Fees, hours and numbers shift from time to time, and a judge can order terms that differ from what is described here. Confirm the details for your own case with the county before paying. Nothing here replaces a lawyer.
How Do I pay Bail for Someone Arrested in Grand Traverse County?
Can I pay an Inmate's Bail Online?
Grand Traverse County Correctional Facility 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 Grand Traverse County Correctional Facility at 231-922-4531 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 231-922-4531 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.
Grand Traverse County Correctional Facility
Address:
320 Washington Street
Traverse City, MI 49686
Phone:
231-922-4531
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Grand Traverse County
Does Grand Traverse County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Grand Traverse County?
Who can set bail in Grand Traverse County?
When is bail set in Grand Traverse County Michigan?
Does Grand Traverse County have bail?
Yes, Grand Traverse County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Grand Traverse County?
Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse 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, Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse County have bail?
Yes, Grand Traverse County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Grand Traverse County?
Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Grand Traverse County Correctional Facility for more information about the jails in Grand Traverse County.
What options are there to pay bail in Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse County Correctional Facility for more information about posting bail in Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse 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.