St. Joseph County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
St. Joseph County bail and bond: the Centreville jail and the 3B District Court
The St. Joseph County Jail is at 125 W. Main St. in Centreville, and it runs around the clock. Use St. Joseph County Inmate Search to see whether your person is booked, what the charge is, and what bail the court set. Call the jail at 269-467-5500 only for what the search leaves out. The Sheriff's Department keeps a separate address.
Is she in the Centreville jail tonight?
Search St. Joseph County Inmate Search first. The county says the jail operates 24 hours a day, so a call at night will be answered at 269-467-5500. Give the full name and birth date. If the jail says she was never booked, ask the arresting agency, such as a city or state police post, where she was taken.
Are the jail and the Sheriff's Department in the same building?
They are separate addresses. The jail is at 125 W. Main St., P.O. Box 189, Centreville, MI 49032, 269-467-5500. The Sheriff's Department is at 650 E. Main St., P.O. Box 339, Centreville, MI 49032, 269-467-9045. Use the jail number for questions about a person in custody.
Which court decides the bail in Centreville?
The 3B District Court, on the main floor of the Courts' Building at 125 W. Main St., 269-467-5627. Its payment page lists Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., though the county footer shows 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so confirm by phone. A district judge or magistrate sets bail at the first appearance.
Can I pay a bond at the 3B District Court window?
The court office takes cash, money orders, certified checks and credit cards for fines, and the county page does not say whether a cash bond is handled there. Call 269-467-5627 and ask: Is this bond payable at the court, the jail, or both? What hours? Which forms of payment? Then ask whether the jail window works overnight.
What is a personal bond, and who gets one?
It is a written promise to come to court, with no money paid up front. Michigan's rule makes it the default. The judge may add conditions, such as no alcohol, a curfew, testing, or staying away from named people. Money bail is for cases where the judge says on the record that nothing else will do.
How does a 10 percent bond work in this county?
That depends on the judge, and the option is not automatic. You give the court 10 percent of the bail, and the person is released. If the person is cleared or the case is dismissed, the deposit is returned. Since May 1, 2026, the court may keep part of it only after a conviction for an offense covered by MCL 780.66.
What does a bondsman cost, and who sets it?
No Michigan law I found sets a fee. Each court approves the bondsmen it will accept, and agents are licensed as insurance producers rather than as bondsmen. Ask the 3B District Court for names it accepts, then get the fee, any collateral, and the rules for missed court in writing before signing.
Can I post land or a home?
Michigan's court rule says a judge can accept real property with the court's consent and proof of value. I did not locate a St. Joseph County checklist. The questions to ask the clerk: must the land lie in this county, how is value shown, and who must sign.
A violent felony is listed. Will the judge refuse bail?
Possibly. Murder and treason can be non-bailable, and so can certain violent felonies, but only after the judge finds the proof evident or the presumption great. If bail is denied, a trial must start within 90 days unless the defense asked for the delay. A custody hearing can be requested.
Do police have to take him to a judge right away?
Yes, without unnecessary delay. As a rule of thumb, courts treat holding someone more than 48 hours without a judge's review of the arrest as presumptively too long. That is a constitutional standard rather than a Michigan statute. Weekends do not erase it, and a judicial officer is to be available every day.
We cannot pay a lawyer. Who helps?
Ask the judge at arraignment for a court-appointed lawyer and be ready to describe your income. The state's defense commission requires help at the first appearance. I could not confirm a St. Joseph County defender office number, so ask the 3B District Court at 269-467-5627 who takes appointments.
Which youth center takes a St. Joseph County teenager?
Under Michigan law, no one under 18 can be held with adult prisoners in a jail. The Family Division of the circuit court decides placement. I could not confirm which youth detention center St. Joseph County uses, so ask the court clerk at 269-467-5627 or the county line at 269-467-5500 before driving anywhere.
What happens to the bond if he misses a hearing?
The judge may order the bond forfeited and issue an arrest warrant. The court must notify any surety within 7 days, and the defendant has 28 days to give himself up before judgment is entered. Report to the clerk before the warrant is served and ask about a new date.
St. Joseph County bail contacts
- Jail
- St. Joseph County Jail, 125 W. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032; 269-467-5500
- Bond guide
- Bail and bond guide for St. Joseph County Jail
- District court
- 3B District Court, Courts' Building, 125 W. Main St., Centreville; 269-467-5627
- Sheriff's Department
- 650 E. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032; 269-467-9045
- Custody lookup
- St. Joseph County Inmate Search
- Lawyer and youth questions
- Ask the 3B District Court clerk, 269-467-5627
Hours, fees and procedures differ by case and may be updated by the court. Confirm them with the clerk before you pay, and talk with a lawyer for advice on a specific charge.
How Do I pay Bail for Someone Arrested in St. Joseph County?
Can I pay an Inmate's Bail Online?
St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County Jail at 269-467-4009 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 269-467-4009 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.
St. Joseph County Jail
Address:
650 E. Main St.
Centreville, MI 49032
Phone:
269-467-4009
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in St. Joseph County
Does St. Joseph County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Joseph County?
Who can set bail in St. Joseph County?
When is bail set in St. Joseph County Michigan?
Does St. Joseph County have bail?
Yes, St. Joseph County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Joseph County?
St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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, St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County have bail?
Yes, St. Joseph County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Joseph County?
St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the St. Joseph County Jail for more information about the jails in St. Joseph County.
What options are there to pay bail in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County Jail for more information about posting bail in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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.