Wayne County Adult Detention Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Wayne County bail and bond: the Russell Street jail and the 36th District Court
Wayne County's jail now sits in the Criminal Justice Center at 5301 Russell St., Detroit. The old Clinton Street jail buildings are closed, so ignore any older address you may see. Use Wayne County Inmate Search to find out whether someone is held and what bail was set. The Sheriff's Inmate Information line, 313-224-0797, answers what the search cannot.
1. My relative was sent to the Clinton Street jail. Where is he now?
Those buildings closed after the Criminal Justice Center opened on September 3, 2024. The jail is at 5301 Russell St., Detroit, MI 48211. Search Wayne County Inmate Search for his name, then call Inmate Information at 313-224-0797 if it shows nothing. Administration answers at 313-833-0864.
2. Who runs the Wayne County Jail?
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office. The county's sheriff page lists Sheriff Raphael Washington at 313-833-0864. The center also houses the 3rd Circuit Court's criminal division, the prosecutor and clerk offices, and the juvenile detention facility, so one trip may cover several errands.
3. When can I pay a bond at the jail, and when must I go to a court?
The Sheriff says bonds are accepted at the jail every day of the year, around the clock, except Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In those hours, cash bonds and fines are paid at the court that has the case (3rd Circuit or 36th District), and you carry the receipt to the Criminal Justice Center.
4. What can I pay with, and who can pay?
The payer must be 18 or older with a state ID, driver's license, military ID or passport. The sheriff's page lists cash in bills of $20 or more, and cashier's or certified checks made out to Sheriff of Wayne County, one check per charge. Major cards work with an 8 percent fee. Money orders, personal checks and loose coins are refused.
5. Why was my payment accepted but he is still inside?
Staff run a LEIN check first. Extra charges, holds from other agencies, or warrants must be handled before release, and a court or sheriff may take time to process paperwork. Ask Inmate Information at 313-224-0797 which hold is blocking the release, and which agency owns it.
6. What happens at the 36th District Court in Detroit?
Misdemeanor arraignments start at 9 a.m. in Room 1067, and visitors sign in with the clerk in Room 1020 by 8:30 a.m. Felony arraignments are by video at noon and 2 p.m. on weekdays. The court is at 421 Madison St., 313-965-2200, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the Criminal Division answers arraignment questions at 313-965-5029.
7. Can a Detroit police precinct take a cash bond?
For misdemeanors, the court says a Detroit police precinct station may allow a cash bond right after the arrest. It does not list every charge that qualifies, so ask the officer on the desk. If the person is moved to the jail, use the jail or court steps in question 3.
8. Is a ten percent bond offered in Wayne County?
If the judge allows it, you deposit 10 percent of the bail. Since May 1, 2026, the court may keep 10 percent of that deposit only after a conviction for an offense under MCL 780.66. A dismissal or acquittal returns it, less fines and costs. Whether a judge offers this option depends on the case.
9. Do I have to use a bondsman?
No. A bondsman is one option, available if the judge approves a surety bond for a quarter of the bail. Regulators in Lansing issue producer licenses, not bondsman licenses, and each court approves agents on its own. No state premium percentage turned up, so ask for the fee in writing.
10. Does a family member need to bring property papers?
Real property is allowed with the court's consent and proof of value. I did not find where Wayne County requires the land to be, or the equity needed. Ask the court holding the case; do not hand over deeds to the jail desk.
11. Which Wayne County cases come with no bail at all?
Those the constitution allows a judge to hold: murder and treason, some first-degree sexual conduct, armed robbery and extortion kidnapping charges, and violent felonies by repeat offenders or people on release. Custody must be explained on the record, and a custody hearing can be requested.
12. How do I get a court-appointed lawyer in Wayne County?
At arraignment, say you cannot afford one. The 36th District Court page says to ask the court to appoint a lawyer. The county's Indigent Defense Services Division is at 333 W. Fort St., Detroit, MI 48226, and can be emailed at IDSDWayne@waynecountymi.gov. Its page lists no phone, so ask the court clerk at 313-965-5029 first.
13. Where are Wayne County teenagers held?
Nobody under 18 may be held with adults in a jail. The Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility is part of the Criminal Justice Center complex at 5301 Russell St. Call Inmate Information, 313-224-0797, or the court handling the case, to confirm placement and the first hearing.
14. What if the arrest was by a suburban police department?
Many Wayne cities have their own lockups or holding cells for short periods. Michigan defines holding cells as up to 12 hours, centers up to 24, and lockups up to 72, and the 48-hour rule for seeing a judge still applies. Ask the arresting agency where the person is.
15. Is jail commissary money the same as bail?
No. Money for calls or store items stays in the account. Bond is paid to the Sheriff or the court under the judge's order, and you get a receipt. Be careful with texts or calls demanding payment; the 36th District Court says it never texts people demanding money.
Wayne County bond contacts
- Jail
- Wayne County Jail, Criminal Justice Center, 5301 Russell St., Detroit, MI 48211; Inmate Information 313-224-0797
- Bond guide
- Bail and bond guide for Wayne County Jail
- Sheriff administration
- 313-833-0864
- 36th District Court
- 421 Madison St., Detroit, MI 48226; 313-965-2200; criminal 313-965-5029
- Custody lookup
- Wayne County Inmate Search
- Indigent defense
- 333 W. Fort St., Detroit; IDSDWayne@waynecountymi.gov
- Youth
- Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility, 5301 Russell St., Detroit
Bond hours and payment rules are posted by the Sheriff and the courts and can be revised. Confirm them on the day you go, and speak with a lawyer about the specific charge.
Wayne County Adult Detention Facility
Address:
5301 Russell Street
Detroit, MI 48211
Phone:
313-224-0797
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Wayne County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wayne County?
Who can set bail in Wayne County?
When is bail set in Wayne County Michigan?
Does Wayne County have bail?
Yes, Wayne County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wayne County?
Wayne 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 Wayne County?
Bail is set in accordance with a bail schedule or by a judge.
When is bail set in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County Adult Detention 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, Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County have bail?
Yes, Wayne County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Wayne County?
Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County Michigan?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Wayne 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 Wayne County Michigan?
Yes, Michigan does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Wayne County Adult Detention Facility for more information about the jails in Wayne County.
What options are there to pay bail in Wayne 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 Wayne County Adult Detention Facility for more information about posting bail in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County Adult Detention 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.
Inmate Bonds will only be processed at:
Jail Division 1
570 Clinton St,
Detroit, MI 482261
However, Monday – Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., cash bonds and fines should be paid at the court of jurisdiction.
After the bond has been paid at the court, the court bond receipt can be provided to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office for processing.
Only persons eighteen (18) years old and older are allowed to post bonds.
New inmates coming from other agencies or courts cannot be released until that inmate has been processed thru the Wayne County Jail Registry Unit.
Monies accepted for payment of bonds are as follows:
- CASH - Denominations of $20 or larger will be accepted.
- Only cashier’s check and certified checks made out to the Sheriff of Wayne County will be accepted for the amount of the bond.
- Money orders, personal checks, loose and/or rolled coins will not be accepted.
- A separate cashier's check must be made out for each charge.
- Discovery Card, Visa Card, Master Card, and the American Express Card are also accepted.
- All credit cards used for bonds are subject to an 8% processing fee from the GovPayNow.com
