Kalamazoo County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Kalamazoo County bail and bond: the Lamont Avenue jail, kiosk fees and the Eleanor Street courts
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail at 1500 Lamont Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49048. Use Kalamazoo County Inmate Search to check custody and the bond before you go. The jail's administration line is 269-383-8821, and non-emergency dispatch is 269-488-8911. Bond is paid at a kiosk in the Sheriff's Office lobby or online, and there are fees you should know about first.
How do I see if someone is in the Kalamazoo County jail?
The county posts its own inmate search, and Kalamazoo County Inmate Search takes you to it. Put in the full name. A new booking may need a little time to show up. If a person you expect is missing, call administration at 269-383-8821 and have the birth date ready.
Where do I pay a Kalamazoo bond, and can I do it from home?
In person, use the Canteen kiosk in the Sheriff's Office lobby at 1500 Lamont Ave. From home, the county points to eXpressAccount.com. The kiosk takes cash, and MasterCard or Visa debit and credit cards. It does not take coins, money orders or checks.
The county page does not give lobby hours. The county government offices keep Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., but that is not the jail lobby. Call 269-383-8821 to ask when the kiosk is staffed and working.
Why was I charged extra fees at the kiosk?
Three things can add up. First, the kiosk company adds a service fee that rises with the size of the bond. Second, the Sheriff's Office adds a $10 cash-only processing fee for each charge when the bond is for a warrant arrest, comes after arraignment, or is a surety bond. Third, a $12 booking fee is collected when a person is admitted.
The Sheriff's Office cannot make change, so bring exact bills for the cash fees.
Whose name is the bond in, and who gets the refund?
The county says all bonds paid are in the inmate's name. Only the court that has the case can refund bond money, and the money may be used first for fines or court costs. Anything left goes to the defendant, not to the person who paid.
So if a parent pays, the parent must get repaid by the defendant. For refund questions on a circuit case, the 9th Circuit Court is at 269-383-8950. Overpayments go to the inmate's spending account.
Will the jail keep my son because of unpaid money he owes?
The county says inmates will not be held solely on debt. A hold from another court, agency or county is a different thing and can still stop a release even after bond is paid. Ask the desk at 269-383-8821 whether any holds show.
How does an approved bondsman help in Kalamazoo?
The county page says a bail bondsman may reduce the amount you owe by about ten percent on court-set cash or surety bonds. You have to book an appointment with an approved bondsman and finish the surety steps. It does not say what a bondsman charges, so ask for the fee and extra costs in writing.
The 9th Circuit Court keeps a list of agencies that may post bonds in the county, updated each year. The court's Criminal Division Administrator, Connie Branch, is at 269-384-8250.
Which Kalamazoo courthouse will hear the case?
The Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center, 330 Eleanor St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007, houses the 8th District Court and the 9th Circuit Court. The 8th District North line is 269-384-8171. The 9th Circuit Court is 269-383-8950.
A second site, the Gull Road Justice Complex at 1536 Gull Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49048, has the Probate Court and Circuit Court offices. Probate is 269-383-8666 and the Juvenile Court is 269-385-6000.
Does the ten percent deposit change in 2026?
It does. For a deposit bond on an offense covered by MCL 780.66, a May 1, 2026 court-rule change lets the court keep ten percent of the deposit only when the person was convicted. Anyone discharged without a conviction gets the full deposit back, minus fines and costs where they apply.
The judge decides whether a deposit option is offered at all. A person out on another bail, or with two felony convictions in five years, may be limited to cash or a surety who is not a bonding company.
How long can police hold someone before court?
Michigan law calls for arraignment without unnecessary delay. A judge or magistrate must be available in each county every day. Someone who cannot post bond is to be taken to the court district of the offense by the next business day. If your arrest happened somewhere else, the court there decides on release.
Can a judge decline to set bail in Kalamazoo?
Yes, within the state constitution's limits: murder and treason, certain first-degree sexual conduct, armed robbery and kidnapping charges, and repeat or on-release violent felonies when the proof is clear. If bail is denied, trial must begin within 90 days unless the defense delays. Probation and parole holds are separate.
Can a home secure a Kalamazoo bond?
Court Rule 6.106 says the court must agree and may want proof of value. The county sources I read say nothing about property bonds. Ask the 9th Circuit Court at 269-383-8950 which papers the judge expects.
Where do Kalamazoo teenagers in custody go?
The Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home, 1424 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49048, is the county's secure facility for young people who broke the law. Its number is 269-385-8550. It will not take a juvenile without a court order. People under 18 are not held in adult jail cells under Michigan law.
Who represents me if I cannot hire a lawyer?
The Kalamazoo Defender Office is at 151 S. Rose St., Suite 200, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. I did not see its own phone, so start with the county main line at 269-384-8111 and ask for the Defender Office. The judge also asks at the first hearing whether you need a lawyer.
What are the steps if my daughter misses court?
A warrant can issue, and the bond can be forfeited. The court must tell any surety within seven days and set a date to show cause. A defendant has 28 days after notice to appear. Call the court at 269-383-8950 and the bondsman the same day.
Is it a scam if someone texts me a Kalamazoo payment link?
Treat unexpected links with caution. Real options are the lobby kiosk, eXpressAccount.com typed in by you, and the court. Gift cards and personal transfers are not bond payments. Call 269-383-8821 if you are unsure.
Kalamazoo County bail contacts
- Jail
- Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office and jail, 1500 Lamont Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49048; administration 269-383-8821; dispatch 269-488-8911; Kalamazoo County jail and bond pages
- Custody lookup
- Kalamazoo County Inmate Search
- Courts
- Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center, 330 Eleanor St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007; 9th Circuit 269-383-8950; 8th District North 269-384-8171
- Gull Road
- Gull Road Justice Complex, 1536 Gull Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49048; Probate 269-383-8666; Juvenile Court 269-385-6000
- Bondsman list
- 9th Circuit Court Criminal Division, 269-384-8250
- Public defense
- Kalamazoo Defender Office, 151 S. Rose St., Suite 200, Kalamazoo, MI 49007; county main 269-384-8111
- Juvenile
- Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home, 1424 Gull Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49048; 269-385-8550
Fees, kiosk rules and court procedures can be changed by the county at any time, and a judge may set different terms. Confirm each item with the Sheriff's Office or the court before paying. This page is a family guide, not an attorney's advice.
How Do I pay Bail for Someone Arrested in Kalamazoo County?
Can I pay an Inmate's Bail Online?
Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo County Jail at 269-383-8821 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 269-383-8821 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.
Kalamazoo County Jail
Address:
1500 Lamont Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Phone:
269-383-8821
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Kalamazoo County
Does Kalamazoo County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Kalamazoo County?
Who can set bail in Kalamazoo County?
When is bail set in Kalamazoo County Michigan?
Does Kalamazoo County have bail?
Yes, Kalamazoo County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Kalamazoo County?
Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo 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, Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo County have bail?
Yes, Kalamazoo County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Kalamazoo County?
Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Kalamazoo County Jail for more information about the jails in Kalamazoo County.
What options are there to pay bail in Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo County Jail for more information about posting bail in Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo 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.