Hillsdale County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Hillsdale County bail and bond: the Fayette Street jail and paying online
People arrested in Hillsdale County go to the Hillsdale County Jail, 165 West Fayette Street, Hillsdale, run by the Sheriff's Office. Look up your person with Hillsdale County Inmate Search to see custody status, the charge and the bail amount. The jail phone is 517-437-7317. A card payment can be made online, but a fee is added.
Is my person in the Hillsdale County Jail or only in a holding cell?
Check Hillsdale County Inmate Search first. The jail on West Fayette Street has 67 regular beds, plus room for up to 13 people in holding cells who have not yet been arraigned. A brand-new arrest may take time to show up online. The jail desk, 517-437-7317, can confirm.
Can I pay Hillsdale bail without going to the building?
Yes, the county says bail can be paid online through eXpressAccount. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover are accepted. The service adds a fee to every payment, and the county says that fee is not refunded. In-person bond posting is not described on the sheriff's jail page, so ask the desk whether a counter payment is possible.
Which fee can I not get back?
The service charge added by the online payer is kept by the company. It is separate from the bail itself. Ask the jail or the court how any refund of the bail is paid when the case closes.
Do inmate deposits count as bail?
No. The lobby kiosk at the Sheriff's Office and the eXpressAccount or inmatesales.com deposit pages are for commissary, phone and video time. Money put there will not release anyone. The toll-free deposit line is 866-422-6833, but that line is for accounts, not bonds.
How does a video arraignment work in Hillsdale?
The jail runs video arraignments, so a person who has not posted bail may see the judge or magistrate by screen from inside. The first appearance is where bail gets set, and where a lawyer must be offered. Families usually cannot join that video session, so ask the jail for the court name and time.
What must the judge consider before asking for money?
The court rule starts from release without money. Bail in cash or by bond can be required only if the court states on the record that appearance or public safety cannot otherwise be protected. Factors include the person's criminal and juvenile record, past court attendance, drug or alcohol use, mental health, the seriousness of the offense and the person's finances.
Which bond types does the Michigan rule list?
Four forms of money security are listed: a surety bond for one quarter of the bail, a full-cash bond, a 10 percent cash deposit if the judge permits it, and real estate with the judge's consent. A person charged while already on bail, or with two felony convictions in five years, may be required to use a cash bond or a non-applicant surety, a limit the state court office describes.
Is the 10 percent deposit lost?
Not in most cases. The May 1, 2026 rule change lets the court keep part of a 10 percent deposit only if the person is convicted of an offense under MCL 780.66, which covers traffic and misdemeanor-type offenses. Without a conviction the full deposit is returned. After a conviction, the court may first apply it to fines and costs.
What can I learn about bondsman pricing?
Nothing in Michigan law that was reviewed sets a price, so you are comparing offers. The insurance department says it does not license bondsmen; they carry insurance producer licenses, and courts approve them one by one. Ask the jail desk for the bonding companies the court accepts, and put the fee and any collateral in writing.
Can a driver's license stand in for cash?
For an ordinance violation or a misdemeanor, Michigan law lets a person give up a valid driver's license in place of other security, or as a personal-recognizance condition. The jail gives a receipt, and the license comes back at trial or sentencing. Ask the court whether the judge allowed it in your case.
When is a person held with no bail at all?
The Michigan Constitution allows it for murder and treason, and for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom, subject to a judge finding the person is not a flight risk or danger. It also allows it for violent felonies by people with serious violent records or who were on bail, probation or parole. A hold from another county or a parole detainer can also block release.
How soon must someone see a judge?
The law says without unnecessary delay. For an arrest without a warrant, courts apply a 48-hour limit for a judge to find probable cause, with the clock tied to a constitutional ruling rather than a state statute. Weekends and holidays are not addressed in that rule, so call the jail if more than two days have passed.
How do I request a free lawyer in Hillsdale?
Tell the judge at the first appearance. Counsel must be provided at arraignment unless the person waives it or is released on a personal bond without a plea. The state commission that oversees appointed counsel, 517-657-3066, can tell you how Hillsdale County sets up its system.
Where do minors go after an arrest?
Under-18 arrests are no longer handled in the adult jail except with full separation. This guide could not confirm which youth detention facility serves Hillsdale County, so call the jail at 517-437-7317 and ask which juvenile center the family court uses.
What if the money is paid and the person skips court?
The court may revoke release and order the bail forfeited. A mailed notice gives 28 days to surrender before judgment is entered. A surety must be told within seven days of the missed date and may show cause why judgment should not be entered. A person caught within a year may get the judgment set aside once the county is repaid.
Key contacts for Hillsdale County bond questions
- County jail
- Hillsdale County Jail, 165 West Fayette Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242; 517-437-7317
- Custody lookup
- Hillsdale County Inmate Search
- Online bail
- eXpressAccount (card payments with a fee); account line 866-422-6833
- Inmate deposits
- Lobby kiosk at the Sheriff's Office, eXpressAccount or inmatesales.com (accounts, not bail)
- Appointed lawyers
- Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, 517-657-3066
- Youth
- Ask the jail desk, 517-437-7317, which juvenile center the family court uses
Prices, phone lines and procedures change, and a judge may order terms that differ from this summary. Check the details for your case with the jail or the court before you pay, and talk to a lawyer about legal questions.
How Do I pay Bail for Someone Arrested in Hillsdale County?
Can I pay an Inmate's Bail Online?
Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale County Jail at 517-437-7317 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 517-437-7317 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.
Hillsdale County Jail
Address:
165 W. Fayette Street
Hillsdale, MI 49242
Phone:
517-437-7317
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Hillsdale County
Does Hillsdale County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hillsdale County?
Who can set bail in Hillsdale County?
When is bail set in Hillsdale County Michigan?
Does Hillsdale County have bail?
Yes, Hillsdale County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hillsdale County?
Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale 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, Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale County have bail?
Yes, Hillsdale County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Hillsdale County?
Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Hillsdale County Jail for more information about the jails in Hillsdale County.
What options are there to pay bail in Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale County Jail for more information about posting bail in Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale 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.