Tuscola County Correctional Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Tuscola County bail and bond: the Court Street jail in Caro and the 71B District Court
People arrested in Tuscola County are booked into the Tuscola County Jail on Court Street in Caro, a building that also holds the sheriff's office. Start with Tuscola County Inmate Search to learn who is in custody and what bail was set. Because this jail is old and small, some prisoners have been sent to other counties, so a name that is missing may simply be somewhere else.
Why is my brother not listed in the Caro jail?
Try Tuscola County Inmate Search again in a few hours. If he is still missing, he may be in a different county's jail. A 2023 news report said that about ten years earlier the county housed 49 prisoners in other counties, at a cost of almost $250,000, and might need to again. Call the sheriff's office at 989-673-8161 and ask where he is.
Where exactly is the Tuscola County Jail?
At 420 Court St., Caro, MI 48723. News reports say the same building holds the sheriff's office. The number 989-673-8161 is the one listed for it in public-record directories, so if no one answers, ask at the district court. Do not assume visiting rules; ask the jail first.
How big is the jail, and why does it matter to families?
One 2023 report gave it 92 beds, and state law keeps part of them open. It was built in the mid-1960s, with 1990s additions. Voters turned down a replacement jail in November 2022, and a $44 million bond was on the ballot again in August 2023; I did not read that later result. A crowded jail can mean transfers to other counties.
Which court handles bail for Tuscola arrests?
The 71B District Court, in the Tuscola County Courthouse at 440 N. State St., Caro, MI 48723, 989-672-3800. The Circuit Court, which hears felonies after the first hearings, answers at 989-673-3330. Ask the district clerk where today's arraignment will be.
Can I pay the bond at the courthouse or the jail?
I could not confirm a posted bond window, hours or payment list for Tuscola County. Phone 989-672-3800 during the day and 989-673-8161 after hours, and ask where cash is taken, whether credit cards work, and whether a cashier's check must name a payee. Bring photo ID.
What do the words personal bond and money bail mean in Michigan?
A personal bond is a signed promise to appear. Money bail is a dollar amount. Court rules require the judge to start with release on a promise or an unsecured bond and to explain, on the record, why money is needed. Lower and higher tiers exist, and the judge picks among them.
If the judge allows 10 percent, what do I really pay?
Ten percent of the bail goes to the court in cash. For a $3,000 bail, that is $300. In a dismissed or won case, the deposit comes back. Since May 1, 2026, the court may keep 10 percent of that deposit only after a conviction for an MCL 780.66 offense.
Is using a surety bondsman cheaper?
It can lower the cash you hand over, because a surety bond can be for one quarter of the full bail. But the fee is gone for good, and I found no Michigan rule setting the percentage. Michigan says court-by-court approval applies, so ask the district court clerk for the bondsmen it takes. Complaints about a bondsman go to the state insurance department at 877-999-6442 or to the court.
Does Tuscola County accept property as security?
The court rule lets a judge accept real property after consent and proof of value. I do not have a Tuscola County rule on which county the land must be in. Ask the clerk before you pay for a title search or appraisal.
What does it mean when no bail is allowed?
A judge can deny bail only under the state constitution for murder, treason, some first-degree criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery or kidnapping for extortion charges, or certain repeat or on-release violent felony cases. The judge must make findings, and trial must begin within 90 days unless the defense delayed it.
Can I get a free lawyer in Tuscola County?
Ask for one at arraignment. A judge decides if you qualify, and the state's defense commission asks counties to provide a lawyer at that first hearing. I did not find a Tuscola public defender phone, so call the district court at 989-672-3800 and ask how appointments are made.
Where do juveniles go after an arrest in Tuscola County?
Under 18 means Family Division, not adult court, and no adult jail. I could not confirm the detention center this county uses. Ask the 54th Circuit Court at 989-673-3330 where the youth is held and when the first hearing is.
What if he misses court after we post the bond?
The judge can revoke release, issue a warrant and order bail forfeited. A notice is mailed, and he has 28 days to surrender before judgment can be entered. Contact the court right away and consider calling a lawyer.
Tuscola County bond contacts
- Jail
- Tuscola County Jail, 420 Court St., Caro, MI 48723; 989-673-8161
- Bond guide
- Bail and bond guide for Tuscola County Jail
- District court
- 71B District Court, 440 N. State St., Caro, MI 48723; 989-672-3800
- Circuit court
- 54th Circuit Court, same courthouse; 989-673-3330
- Custody lookup
- Tuscola County Inmate Search
- Lawyer and youth questions
- Ask the district court, 989-672-3800, or the circuit court, 989-673-3330
Jail conditions, fees and court hours can change, and Tuscola County has been debating a new jail. Use these notes to ask better questions, and verify each step with the court before paying.
How Do I pay Bail for Someone Arrested in Tuscola County?
Can I pay an Inmate's Bail Online?
Tuscola County Correctional Facility 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 Tuscola County Correctional Facility at 989-673-8161 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 989-673-8161 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.
Tuscola County Correctional Facility
Address:
420 Court Street
Caro, MI 48723
Phone:
989-673-8161
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Tuscola County
Does Tuscola County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Tuscola County?
Who can set bail in Tuscola County?
When is bail set in Tuscola County Michigan?
Does Tuscola County have bail?
Yes, Tuscola County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Tuscola County?
Tuscola 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 Tuscola County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Tuscola 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 Tuscola 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 Tuscola 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 Tuscola County Correctional 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, Tuscola 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 Tuscola 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 Tuscola County have bail?
Yes, Tuscola County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Tuscola County?
Tuscola 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 Tuscola 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 Tuscola County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Tuscola 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 Tuscola County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Tuscola County Correctional Facility for more information about the jails in Tuscola County.
What options are there to pay bail in Tuscola 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 Tuscola County Correctional Facility for more information about posting bail in Tuscola 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 Tuscola 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 Tuscola County Correctional 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.