Ingham County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Ingham County

Michigan • Ingham County • Bail & bond help

Ingham County bail and bond: the Mason jail and the courts that can set bail

Adults arrested in Ingham County are held at the Ingham County Jail in the Justice Complex in Mason. Use Ingham County Inmate Search to see whether the person is in custody, the charge and the bail amount. The Sheriff's Office number is 517-676-2431. Which court sets the amount depends on the city and charge: Mason, Lansing or East Lansing.

Which Ingham County court is handling my relative's bail, Mason, Lansing or East Lansing?

It depends on where the arrest happened and the charge. Ingham County has three district courts, the 55th in Mason, 54-A in Lansing and 54-B in East Lansing, plus the 30th Circuit Court for felonies that move on. Check Ingham County Inmate Search to find the case, then call the right court. The amount is set by that court's judge or magistrate.

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Is the jail still on North Cedar Street?

No, according to county news reports: a new jail opened in 2023 inside the Ingham County Justice Complex in Mason, replacing the 1960s buildings. The complex has about 440 beds and houses the sheriff's offices and the 55th District Court facilities. An older listing that shows North Cedar Street may be out of date, so call the Sheriff's Office at 517-676-2431 to learn which entrance to use.

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How do I confirm someone is in custody after an arrest in Lansing?

Use Ingham County Inmate Search, then ask the arresting agency if the name has not appeared. A person arrested by Lansing or East Lansing police may be in a city holding area for a short time before transfer. Hold times at city lockups are limited by state rules, with holding cells up to 12 hours, holding centers 24 hours and lockups 72 hours.

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Where do I post a bond in Ingham County?

Ingham's own jail and court web pages could not be read for this guide, so the exact bond window and hours are not confirmed. Michigan courts usually take bond at the clerk's counter during court hours, and the jail takes it at other times. Call the 55th District Court at 517-676-8400 during the day and the Sheriff's Office at 517-676-2431 at night.

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What do I bring to the 55th District Court?

The court is at 700 Buhl Street in Mason. Bring a photo ID, the person's full name, the case number if you have one and the payment the clerk says it accepts. Ask in advance about cards, checks and cash, since the court's page lists no hours or payment types.

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What if the case is in the Lansing or East Lansing court?

Call the court that issued the order. The 54-A District Court is on the sixth floor of Lansing City Hall, 124 West Michigan Avenue, 517-483-4433. The 54-B District Court is at 101 Linden Street in East Lansing, 517-351-7000. Each posts its own bond rules, so do not assume the Mason window can take a bond from those courts.

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How is bail set, and what can lower it?

A magistrate or judge sets it at the first appearance after weighing the record, past court attendance, substance use, mental health, the seriousness of the charge and ability to pay. A lawyer can then ask the same court to review it. The review motion carries no filing fee, and the person asking has the burden of showing a reason to change it.

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Does Ingham have a pretrial program that can help?

The state materials reviewed name Oakland, Kent, Saginaw, Washtenaw and Macomb programs, but not one for Ingham. Ask the court at 517-676-8400 whether a pretrial screening or supervision option is used for your case, and whether a recommendation is sent to the judge.

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How much does a ten percent bond cost, and what is returned?

The state benchbook gives this example for a $10,000 bail: $1,000 to the court or $250 to a bond provider on a one-quarter surety bond. Since May 1, 2026, the court may keep part of a deposit only after a conviction under MCL 780.66; otherwise it is all returned, less fines and costs.

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Which bondsmen can I use in Ingham County?

Ask the court which agents it has approved, because Michigan has no statewide list and each court decides. The insurance department says it does not license bondsmen, only insurance producers. No premium schedule exists in the sources reviewed, so compare quotes and read the contract, especially about collateral and what happens if the person misses court.

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Where do 17-year-olds and younger go?

The county's juvenile detention center is on Jolly Road at present, and in November 2025 commissioners approved a new 24-bed building for West Holmes Road. No opening date has been announced in the sources reviewed. Because the facility moves, call the 30th Circuit Court at 517-483-6500 and ask for the family division before you travel.

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Can the court refuse bail?

Yes, but only in the Constitution's short list. Murder and treason charges, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom can be held without bail when the proof is evident or the presumption great. Repeat violent felonies and violent felonies committed on release can qualify too. If bail is denied, trial is due within 90 days unless the defense delays.

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How do I get an appointed lawyer in Ingham County?

Ask for one at the first appearance, where the court must offer counsel unless the person waives it. The county's own defender office phone is not listed in the sources reviewed, so the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission at 517-657-3066 can point you to the right office.

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What happens if the person misses the next hearing?

The court can revoke release, issue a warrant and order the bond forfeited. The person has 28 days after notice to surrender before judgment on the bond. A surety is told within seven days and may show good cause. Contact the court immediately, and a lawyer can ask it to reset the date.

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Key contacts for Ingham County bond questions

County jail
Ingham County Jail, Ingham County Justice Complex, Mason, MI; Sheriff's Office 517-676-2431
Custody lookup
Ingham County Inmate Search
55th District Court
700 Buhl Street, Mason, MI 48854; 517-676-8400
54-A District Court
6th floor, City Hall, 124 West Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933; 517-483-4433
54-B District Court
101 Linden Street, East Lansing, MI 48823; 517-351-7000
30th Circuit Court
341 South Jefferson Street, Mason, MI 48854, and 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing; 517-483-6500
Appointed lawyers
Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, 517-657-3066
Youth
County juvenile detention, 700 Jolly Road; new building planned at 1601 West Holmes Road; family division through 517-483-6500

Court locations, jail entrances and fees can shift, and Ingham is in the middle of building changes. Confirm with the court or the Sheriff's Office before you travel or pay, and talk with an attorney about your own legal choices.

How Do I pay Bail for Someone Arrested in Ingham County?

Can I pay an Inmate's Bail Online?

Ingham 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:

  1. Call the Ingham County Jail at 517-676-2431 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 517-676-2431 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.

Ingham County Jail

Address:
640 North Cedar Street
Mason, MI 48854
Phone:
517-676-2431

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Ingham County


Does Ingham County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Ingham County?

Who can set bail in Ingham County?

When is bail set in Ingham County Michigan?

 

 

Does Ingham County have bail?

Yes,  Ingham County recognizes most types of bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Ingham County?

Ingham 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 Ingham County?

Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.

 

 

When is bail set in Ingham 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 Ingham 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 Ingham 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 Ingham 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, Ingham 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 Ingham 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 Ingham County have bail?  

Yes,  Ingham County recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Ingham County? 

Ingham 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 Ingham 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 Ingham County Michigan? 

Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.

In Ingham 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 Ingham County Michigan?  

Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Ingham County Jail for more information about the jails in Ingham County.

What options are there to pay bail in Ingham 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 Ingham County Jail for more information about posting bail in Ingham 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 Ingham 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 Ingham 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Ingham County

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.