Monroe County Inmate Dormitory Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Monroe County bail and bond: the Second Street jail, the Dormitory, and the district court
Adults arrested in Monroe County are held by the Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Troy Goodnough, in the county jails. The county has more than one jail, so see Monroe County jails for the list, and use Monroe County Inmate Search to find the right building and the bail amount. The Sheriff's Office is at 100 East Second Street, phone 734-240-7530.
Is my husband at the Monroe County Main Jail or the Dormitory?
Look him up on Monroe County Inmate Search first; it shows which building has him. A directory lists two county facilities, the Monroe County Main Jail at 100 East Second Street and an Inmate Dormitory Facility on East Dunbar Road, so a move between them is normal. For the part the search cannot answer, call the listed jail line, 734-240-7430, or the Sheriff's Office at 734-240-7530.
Who is Monroe County's sheriff, and where is the sheriff's office?
Troy Goodnough is the Monroe County Sheriff, according to a 2025 news report on the office's annual report. A police-careers listing puts the Sheriff's Office at 100 East Second Street, Monroe, MI 48161, phone 734-240-7530. The same report says the office hired 17 corrections officers in 2025, so the jail has been recruiting.
What do the two Monroe jail buildings do?
A directory says the Main Jail was built in 1981 with 183 beds, and the Dormitory Facility opened in 2001 at 7000 East Dunbar Road. Another listing says on-site video visits happen at the dormitory. Use the county's own notice when you plan a visit, because the directory gives two different booking rules for visits.
How and where do I pay bail in Monroe?
A directory says cash, credit cards, and money orders are taken, but county web pages list no hours or window. Call 734-240-7430 and ask for the hours, the window, and the name the receipt should carry. If the court, not the jail, controls the case, a 1st District Court clerk may have to take the money.
Which court does the case go to?
Monroe County is covered by the 1st District Court, which also runs a South County court in Erie at 12277 South Telegraph Road, Erie, MI 48133, phone 734-848-4771. Felonies move on to the 38th Circuit Court. Ask the clerk of the court named on the paperwork for hours and for how bond is taken.
What is the typical bail for common charges in Monroe County?
County web pages post no schedule with amounts, and Michigan has no statewide table. A judge or magistrate decides at arraignment. The judge must first consider release without money and may order money only after saying why. The factors include prior record, flight history, drug or alcohol problems, mental condition, the seriousness of the offense, finances, and ties to the community.
How much do I really pay with the quarter-bail option?
If the judge permits it, an approved agent can post a bond equal to one quarter of the bail. The state court benchbook gives this example: on a $10,000 bail, the 10 percent cash option means $1,000 to the court, while the one-quarter bond is a $2,500 bond, and the defendant pays a bond provider $250 for it. That $250 is an illustration, not a posted rate.
Does Monroe County keep part of the 10 percent?
Not unless two things happen. The offense has to be one covered by a particular state bail-cost law, and the defendant has to be convicted. That is the rule since May 1, 2026. Some older court web pages still describe the old rule.
Can a bondsman be trusted?
An agent holds an insurance producer license and must be approved by the court that handles the case. The insurance regulator says it does not license bail bondsmen and its guidance lists no fee. Get the premium, collateral, and duties in writing. Complaints go to 877-999-6442, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Is Monroe County property acceptable for bond?
A court may accept real estate if the judge consents and may ask for proof of its value. Whether Monroe County needs the land to be inside the county is a clerk's question. Do not pay for an appraisal until you have the answer.
Why would the jail refuse to release someone who posted bail?
Reasons include a hold from another county or state, a probation or parole hold, or a warrant on a second case. Bail can also be denied outright, but only for murder, treason, certain sexual or robbery charges, and violent felonies in the groups the constitution lists. Ask for the hold's source and its court.
How quickly will a judge see my son?
Michigan requires prompt arraignment, with a 48-hour limit for judicial review after an arrest without a warrant. If bond is not posted, the person must be taken to the court of the offense by the next business day. Video arraignment is allowed.
Who is the court-appointed lawyer for those who cannot pay?
Request one at arraignment and fill out a financial form. The state Indigent Defense Commission, 517-657-3066, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., can say how Monroe County supplies lawyers. The listed phone for the 1st District Court's Erie office is 734-848-4771.
Where is a juvenile held?
A directory lists a Monroe County Youth Center for juveniles. County web pages give no address for it, so ask the court at 734-848-4771 or the Sheriff at 734-240-7530 to confirm. Since October 1, 2021, a person under 18 may not be held with adult prisoners.
Monroe County bail contacts
- Sheriff's Office
- Sheriff Troy Goodnough, 100 East Second Street, Monroe, MI 48161, 734-240-7530
- Jails
- Monroe County jails: Main Jail, 100 East Second Street; Inmate Dormitory Facility, 7000 East Dunbar Road, Monroe, MI 48161; listed jail line 734-240-7430
- Custody lookup
- Monroe County Inmate Search
- District court
- 1st District Court, South County office, 12277 South Telegraph Road, Erie, MI 48133, 734-848-4771
- Public defense
- Indigent Defense Commission, 517-657-3066
- Juvenile
- Monroe County Youth Center; ask the Sheriff at 734-240-7530 for its address
- Insurance complaints
- 877-999-6442
Hours, amounts, and numbers can change, and each judge decides for the case in front of them. Verify with the jail or the court clerk before sending money. This is a family guide, not legal representation.
Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Monroe County
The Monroe County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Monroe County.
However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:
- You can always pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Monroe County, or in some cases the state of Michigan, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Monroe County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
- The typical fee for a bond in Michigan is between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15% or less. So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1,500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Monroe County Inmate Dormitory Facility, or the courthouse in Monroe County where the offense took place.
Call 734-240-8000 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Monroe County inmate locator.
Monroe County Inmate Dormitory Facility
Address:
7000 East Dunbar Road
Monroe, MI 48161
Phone:
734-240-8000
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Monroe County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Monroe County?
Who can set bail in Monroe County?
When is bail set in Monroe County Michigan?
Does Monroe County have bail?
Yes, Monroe County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Monroe County?
Monroe 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 Monroe County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County Inmate Dormitory 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, Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County have bail?
Yes, Monroe County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Monroe County?
Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Monroe 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 Monroe County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Monroe County Inmate Dormitory Facility for more information about the jails in Monroe County.
What options are there to pay bail in Monroe 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 Monroe County Inmate Dormitory Facility for more information about posting bail in Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County Inmate Dormitory 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.