Marquette County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Marquette County bail and bond: the Baraga Avenue jail and where overflow prisoners go
Adults arrested in Marquette County are booked into the Marquette County Jail at 236 West Baraga Avenue, Marquette, run by Sheriff Greg Zyburt. Look the person up with Marquette County Inmate Search to see whether they are in custody and what bail was set. The jail is over its limit, so some prisoners are housed in other Upper Peninsula counties. For what the search cannot tell you, call the jail at 906-225-8435.
1. Is my family member in the Marquette County Jail, or somewhere else?
Start with Marquette County Inmate Search. The sheriff's own phone app only lists people after they are arraigned, according to a 2020 news story, so a very fresh arrest may not show up yet. If the name is missing, call the jail desk at 906-225-8435 (a number listed for the jail; confirm it when you reach them).
The jail is crowded. Sheriff Greg Zyburt's office has made deals to send extra prisoners to other Upper Peninsula jails, so ask the desk which building holds your person.
2. Why would a Marquette County prisoner be in Escanaba, Munising, or Iron River?
The Marquette jail was built in 1976 for a top load of about 80 people, and it has often held close to 100 and sometimes 130. To make room, the county has overflow agreements with Alger and Iron counties. In December 2025 Delta County commissioners approved a $55 per day deal to take some of Marquette's prisoners too.
That means a person arrested in Marquette can sit in a cell in Munising, Iron River, or Escanaba and still have the case heard in Marquette. Ask the jail where they are before you drive.
3. Where is the jail, and who runs it?
The Marquette County Jail sits at 236 West Baraga Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855. It is run by the Marquette County Sheriff, Greg Zyburt. A directory lists the jail's capacity as 160 beds, but local reporting puts the real limit at 80, so do not count on empty beds when you hear a transfer is coming.
4. How is bond set in Marquette County, and is there a fixed price list?
There is no fixed list. The county prosecutor told a Marquette TV station that bail is up to the court and that judges in different counties can set different amounts for similar cases. Charges, record, and risk all count. Michigan Court Rule 6.106 tells the judge to start with release on a promise to return, and to order money only if the judge says on the record that nothing else will do.
For the number on your relative's case, check Marquette County Inmate Search. For questions about a hearing, call the 96th District Court at 906-225-8235.
5. Where do I take bond money in Marquette?
Posting bond in person is usually done at the jail or with the court clerk, and Marquette's pages do not list hours or payment types for bond. Call the jail at 906-225-8435 and ask three things: which window takes the money, which payments count, and whose name the receipt will carry. The 96th District Court is in the county courthouse at 234 West Baraga Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855, phone 906-225-8235; its clerk can be emailed at districtcourtclerk@mqtco.org.
6. What are the 10 percent and one-quarter options?
If the judge allows it, you can post 10 percent of the bail in cash, and the defendant signs a promise to pay the rest if he misses court. The other option is a court-approved bail agent who posts a bond for one quarter of the bail. On a $10,000 bail, that is $1,000 to the court or $250 to an agent, as the state court benchbook explains.
Since May 1, 2026, the court may keep 10 percent of that deposit only when the offense falls under one specific state bail-cost law and the defendant is convicted. In every other outcome the deposit comes back, though fines and costs can still be taken out of it.
7. Who sets the rules for bail bond agents in Michigan?
The state insurance regulator says it does not license bail bondsmen. Agents who write surety bonds must hold an insurance producer license, and each court decides separately whether an agent's finances and character are good enough. The regulator's guidance does not list a fee, so ask each agent for the price and get every term on paper. Complaints can go to the state's consumer line at 877-999-6442 or to the judge.
8. Will Marquette County take land or a house as bond?
Michigan's court rule allows real property as security only if the court agrees, and the judge may ask for proof of what it is worth. Whether the property has to be in Marquette County is a question for the court, so ask the clerk before you start paperwork. A property bond is slower than cash, so ask for the steps in writing.
9. What does it mean when the record says no bond?
Michigan's constitution lets a judge refuse bail only in a short list of cases, and only when the proof is evident or the presumption great. These include murder and treason, first-degree sexual conduct, armed robbery, and kidnapping for extortion, plus certain violent felonies by people with two earlier violent convictions or who were on bail, probation, or parole. If bail is denied, the trial must start within 90 days unless the defense causes delay. A hold from another case can also keep a person in.
10. How soon will the judge see my brother?
Michigan expects an arraignment without unnecessary delay, and the courts follow a 48-hour limit for a judge to review a warrantless arrest. A county must keep a judge or magistrate available every day of the year to arraign on felonies or set bail. A weekend arrest can still mean a wait, so watch the record.
11. Who is the free lawyer if we cannot pay?
Marquette County opened a public defender's office in 2019. The county's page gave no phone number, so ask the judge for a lawyer at the first hearing, or call the district court at 906-225-8235. The state's Indigent Defense Commission can tell you how the county's system works at 517-657-3066, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
12. My teenager was arrested. Where is she held?
Under 18 means juvenile court, not the adult jail, since the Raise the Age law took effect on October 1, 2021. The Marquette sheriff said in December 2025 that no Upper Peninsula facility houses juveniles, so a detained young person is sent downstate. Call the court at 906-225-8235 and ask the family division which center has your child.
13. What if he misses a court date after we post bond?
The court can issue a warrant and declare the bail forfeited. Michigan gives the defendant 28 days after notice to turn himself in before a judgment can be entered. A bail agent is notified within 7 days and gets a hearing to explain. Getting back in front of the judge quickly helps everyone.
14. How do I get my bond money back?
When the case ends, the court cancels the bond and returns the deposit, minus any fines, costs, or fees the judge orders. Cash posted in the defendant's own name is used first for those costs. A bail agent's fee is not refunded. Keep the receipt and case number.
Marquette County bail contacts
- Jail
- Marquette County Jail, 236 West Baraga Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855, 906-225-8435
- Sheriff
- Greg Zyburt
- Custody lookup
- Marquette County Inmate Search
- District court
- 96th District Court, 234 West Baraga Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855, 906-225-8235
- Public defense
- Indigent Defense Commission, 517-657-3066
- Juvenile
- No Upper Peninsula detention center; ask the court which downstate center holds a child
- Insurance complaints
- 877-999-6442
Rules, amounts, and numbers change, and each judge may order something different. Ask the jail or the clerk about your own case before paying. Nothing here replaces a lawyer.
Marquette County Jail
Address:
236 W. Baraga Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855
Phone:
906-225-8435
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Marquette County
Does Marquette County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Marquette County?
Who can set bail in Marquette County?
When is bail set in Marquette County Michigan?
Does Marquette County have bail?
Yes, Marquette County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Marquette County?
Marquette 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 Marquette County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette 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, Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette County have bail?
Yes, Marquette County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Marquette County?
Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Marquette 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 Marquette County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Marquette County Jail for more information about the jails in Marquette County.
What options are there to pay bail in Marquette 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 Marquette County Jail for more information about posting bail in Marquette 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 Marquette 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 Marquette 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.