Muskegon County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Muskegon County bail and bond: the Hall of Justice kiosk and the county jail
People arrested in Muskegon County are held at the Muskegon County Jail, 990 Terrace Street, Suite 450, Muskegon, MI 49442. It is in the same complex as the Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice. Use Muskegon County Inmate Search to see if your person is booked and what the bond is. The county says bond money goes into a kiosk at the entrance of the Hall of Justice, which is open every hour of the day. Read the jail's bond instructions too. For a question the search cannot answer, reach the jail lieutenant at 231-724-7113.
1. Is my person inside the Terrace Street jail?
Look the name up on Muskegon County Inmate Search. A new booking can take a little while to show. Muskegon's jail has 542 beds and opened in 2015 with staff on duty around the clock. The jail lieutenant's line is 231-724-7113. The Sheriff's Office main line is 231-724-6351.
2. How does the cash kiosk at the Hall of Justice work?
The county's bond page says the inmate account kiosk at the entrance of the Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also deposit through ExpressAccount.com. The bond page says only cash, in the full amount, may be posted as bond.
The page header also says "Cash or Surety," so the two lines do not match. Ask the lieutenant at 231-724-7113 whether the judge on your case allows a bondsman.
3. Why might someone stay in jail after the bond is paid?
The county warns that a person may have a hold from another court or agency. A hold from a different county, a probation hold, or a warrant elsewhere can block release even when Muskegon bond is posted. Before you pay, ask the jail whether any hold is listed.
4. Is putting money in an inmate account the same as paying bail?
No. The same kiosk and website handle both inmate spending money and bond. Phone and store money does not free anyone. Say "bond" at the kiosk menu, pick the case, and keep the receipt.
5. Which court sets bond for a Muskegon arrest?
The 60th District Court is in the Hall of Justice at 990 Terrace Street. The main court number is 231-724-6294. Criminal and traffic questions go to 231-724-6258. A felony is later heard in the 14th Circuit Court, where records are at 231-724-8843.
Michigan lets a magistrate or judge set the amount at the first court appearance. Some courts also post a local policy, so ask the criminal desk how this court handles your charge.
6. Can a person turn themselves in on a warrant?
For a 60th District Court warrant, the court asks you to call or email first. The court says you may be able to have a Zoom arraignment instead of waiting in a cell. Phone the criminal desk at 231-724-6258 and ask what applies to your case.
7. What does a 10 percent or a one-quarter bond mean in Michigan?
State rule 6.106 lets a judge allow a deposit of 10 percent of the bail in cash. It also lets a judge allow a court-approved surety bond of one quarter of the bail. On a $10,000 bail, for example, that is $1,000 cash or a $2,500 surety bond.
Since May 1, 2026 the court may keep a part of a 10 percent deposit only for an offense covered by MCL 780.66, such as a traffic offense or misdemeanor, and only after a conviction. Muskegon's bond page lists cash in full, so ask whether a percentage option applies.
8. Does a bondsman set a fixed price?
No state rule setting a bondsman's fee was found. Bondsmen are licensed as insurance producers, and each court approves them separately. Get the price, the collateral, and the conditions in writing. A bondsman is responsible for making sure the person shows up, not for other court conditions.
9. Can I pledge real estate?
The court rule allows designated real property if the judge agrees and proof of value is given. No Muskegon page says whether the land must be in the county. Call the 60th District Court at 231-724-6294 before you start gathering papers.
10. Why does a record say "no bond"?
A judge may deny bail only in groups the Constitution lists: murder or treason, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery, kidnapping to extort, and some repeat or on-release violent felonies. For other charges bail must be reasonable. A hold may be what the screen shows. Ask the criminal desk at 231-724-6258 for the reason.
11. What if my teenager was arrested?
Muskegon County has its own Juvenile Detention Center at 205 E. Apple Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49442. It holds 24 detention beds and 8 residential beds, and its number is 231-724-8850. Under Michigan's age-18 law, a person under 18 cannot sit in an adult jail with adults. The Family Court line is 231-724-6234.
12. Does Muskegon have a public defender?
Yes. The county lists a Public Defender office for criminal and family cases at 1903 Marquette Avenue, Suite A111, Muskegon, MI 49442. No phone was posted on that page, so call the court at 231-724-6258 to be connected. The state Michigan Indigent Defense Commission is at 517-657-3066.
13. What happens if the defendant skips court?
The court can revoke release, issue a warrant, and forfeit the bond. Notice goes by mail, and the person has 28 days to surrender before judgment is entered. A bondsman is notified within 7 days. A bond paid in the defendant's own name is applied to fines and costs before any refund.
14. How do I avoid a bail scam in Muskegon?
Be careful of anyone who asks for gift cards or an app transfer. Use the official kiosk, the county's ExpressAccount site, or the lieutenant at 231-724-7113.
Muskegon County bond contacts
- County jail
- Muskegon County Jail, 990 Terrace Street, Suite 450, Muskegon, MI 49442; jail lieutenant 231-724-7113
- Bond help
- Jail bond instructions
- Custody lookup
- Muskegon County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 231-724-6351
- Bond kiosk
- Entrance of the Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace Street; open 24 hours
- District court
- 60th District Court; main 231-724-6294; criminal and traffic 231-724-6258
- Circuit court
- 14th Circuit Court records 231-724-8843; Family Court 231-724-6234
- Youth detention
- Juvenile Detention Center, 205 E. Apple Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49442; 231-724-8850
- Public defender
- 1903 Marquette Avenue, Suite A111, Muskegon, MI 49442
Hours, kiosk rules and phone numbers can change, and a judge can change a bond. Please verify any step with the jail lieutenant or the district court before money leaves your hands.
How Do I pay Bail for Someone Arrested in Muskegon County?
Can I pay an Inmate's Bail Online?
Muskegon 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 Muskegon County Jail at 231-724-6289 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 231-724-6289 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.
Muskegon County Jail
Address:
990 Terrace Street
Muskegon, MI 49440
Phone:
231-724-6289
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Muskegon County
Does Muskegon County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Muskegon County?
Who can set bail in Muskegon County?
When is bail set in Muskegon County Michigan?
Does Muskegon County have bail?
Yes, Muskegon County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Muskegon County?
Muskegon 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 Muskegon County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Muskegon 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 Muskegon 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 Muskegon 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 Muskegon 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, Muskegon 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 Muskegon 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 Muskegon County have bail?
Yes, Muskegon County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Muskegon County?
Muskegon 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 Muskegon 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 Muskegon County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Muskegon 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 Muskegon County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Muskegon County Jail for more information about the jails in Muskegon County.
What options are there to pay bail in Muskegon 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 Muskegon County Jail for more information about posting bail in Muskegon 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 Muskegon 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 Muskegon 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.