Lauderdale County Detention Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lauderdale County bail and bond: the Meridian detention facility and how release works
Meridian is the county seat, and adults arrested in Lauderdale County are held at the Lauderdale County Detention Facility. Check Lauderdale County Inmate Search before you call anyone: it shows whether a booking exists and whether a bond is attached. The Board of Supervisors at 2600 Courthouse Boulevard in Meridian, 601-482-9746, is the county's main office line. When a bond amount appears, the bail options are cash, a surety bond, or a court deposit.
1. How do I find out whether my person is at the Meridian detention facility?
Run the name through Lauderdale County Inmate Search. A booking only minutes old can take time to appear, so check again after a few hours. Keep the full legal name, the birth date and the arresting agency's report number handy, since each narrows the search.
2. Where do I go in Meridian to arrange a bond?
Look for a bond amount on Lauderdale County Inmate Search first. Security is posted with the clerk of the court as cash, certified funds or a surety's undertaking, or through a licensed bondsman. The county's offices at the Board of Supervisors, 2600 Courthouse Boulevard, 601-482-9746, are the starting point for county business.
3. Who decides the bond amount after a Meridian arrest?
Usually a judge at the first hearing. Depending on the arresting agency, that is a municipal, justice, county or circuit judge. A sheriff can set bond for a misdemeanor arrest when no judge has. For a felony, a sheriff can do so only in an emergency, such as when no judge can be reached within the time limit.
4. My son was arrested by Meridian police. Does the city handle him?
City officers book the people they arrest, and a city judge can handle the first hearing for city charges. Ask the department that arrested him for the report number, and keep checking Lauderdale County Inmate Search for the booking.
5. What is the difference between cash, surety and signature release?
Mississippi's rules list several forms. A personal recognizance release needs only a promise to appear. An unsecured bond needs a promise plus liability if the person skips. A secured bond needs the full amount deposited. A cash deposit bond needs a part of the amount. A surety bond is backed by a bondsman or an approved individual. The judge picks what fits the case.
6. Does the bondsman's fee count toward the bond?
No. The fee is capped by state law at 10 percent of the bond, with a $100 minimum and a $50 processing fee, and the bondsman keeps it. The bond itself is a promise to the court. Report an agent who asks for more than the state allows to the Mississippi Insurance Department at 601-359-3582.
7. Can a Lauderdale County judge lower a bond that is too high?
Yes. A lawyer can file a motion to reduce bond or ask for a habeas corpus review. Bail cannot be set just to keep someone locked up, and a person can ask for a reduction for lack of money. Ask the judge's clerk how to file.
8. Can I put up property for someone's bond?
A person who is not a bondsman can file a sworn statement that he or she owns Mississippi property worth the bond after debts and exempt items. Property in Lauderdale County is not required. For local filing steps, call the county Board of Supervisors at 601-482-9746.
9. Why does the record say no bond?
Capital charges can carry no bail. A person on a felony release who is arrested for a new felony with a sentence over five years can lose all bonds. A hold from probation, parole or another agency also blocks release, even if a bondsman pays the new charge. The Mississippi Department of Corrections answers at 601-359-5600.
10. It was a domestic violence arrest. Why can't we pay yet?
For these charges, state law allows no bail until the person has appeared before a judge. That hearing can be by phone. The judge can order a wait of up to 24 hours, but no automatic cooling-off period applies.
11. What if a Lauderdale County defendant skips court?
Forfeiture of the bond begins. A bondsman can surrender the person to the facility to avoid the loss. If the person returns or is found held elsewhere, cash can come back minus costs within 18 months of final forfeiture. Call a lawyer right away.
12. Does Lauderdale County have a Youth Justice Center?
Yes. The Lauderdale County Youth Justice Center is one of the county's departments. Start with the Board of Supervisors at 601-482-9746 to reach it.
13. My nephew has been in the Meridian facility for months. Can anyone review his bond?
Yes. Before each circuit court term, jail officials give the judge, the district attorney and the circuit clerk a list of felony defendants held for trial. The senior circuit judge, or a designee, then reviews the release terms of every bail-eligible felony defendant held longer than 90 days. A lawyer can also file a motion at any time asking for a lower bond or easier conditions.
14. Can the first hearing be held by video from the facility?
Yes, with the person's consent. State rules allow an initial appearance through an audio and video link. The judge still has to name the charge, explain the right to a lawyer, and decide on release. A lawyer or family member can ask the court clerk how to listen in.
15. How do I get a lawyer if my family cannot pay?
Raise it with the judge when your person first appears in court. State rules direct the judge to appoint counsel for a person who cannot pay and asks for one. Appointed attorneys can ask for a bond reduction.
16. Is money for the inmate's account the same as bond?
No. A deposit for commissary or phone use never releases anyone. Pay bond only through the court clerk or a licensed bondsman, and do not pay anyone who calls you with an urgent demand for gift cards or an app transfer.
Lauderdale County bail contacts
- Detention facility
- Lauderdale County Detention Facility, Meridian, MS
- Custody lookup
- Lauderdale County Inmate Search
- County offices
- Board of Supervisors, 2600 Courthouse Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Meridian, MS 39301; 601-482-9746
- Youth Justice Center
- Lauderdale County Youth Justice Center; start with the Board of Supervisors, 601-482-9746
- Bondsman licensing
- Mississippi Insurance Department, 601-359-3582
- State prison records
- Mississippi Department of Corrections, 601-359-5600
Each judge sets the terms in a case, and fees and phone lines can change. Confirm with the clerk before paying. This page is a plain-language guide and not a lawyer's advice.
Lauderdale County Detention Facility
Address:
2001 5th Street
Meridan, MS 39307
Phone:
601-482-9801
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lauderdale County
Does Lauderdale County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lauderdale County?
Who can set bail in Lauderdale County?
When is bail set in Lauderdale County Mississippi?
Does Lauderdale County have bail?
Yes, Lauderdale County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lauderdale County?
Lauderdale County courts will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Bail is available in several forms including personal recognizance bond, cash bail, property bond, and surety bond.
Who can set bail in Lauderdale County?
For minor, non-violent crimes bail is preset and can be set by the arresting officer. More serious crimes require bail be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Lauderdale County Mississippi?
For minor, non-violent crimes bail is preset and that information will be available during the booking process. More serious crimes require the defendant to appear before a judge. This bail hearing is required to take place within 48 hrs. of arrest, not counting weekends or holidays.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County 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, Lauderdale 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.
The following is a general guideline to bail amounts in Mississippi:
- Manslaughter –$10,000 to $1,000,000
- Drug Distribution and Trafficking -$5,000 to $1,000,000.
- All other non-capital felonies- $5,000 to $250,000
- Misdemeanors - $50 to $2000 plus fines or court costs.
- Misdemeanor DUI and DWLs $500 to $2000.
- Municipal Ordinance Violation: $100 to $1000.
What are the different types of bonds in Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County have bail?
Yes, Lauderdale County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lauderdale County?
Lauderdale County courts will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Bail is available in several forms including personal recognizance bond, cash bail, property bond, and surety bond.
Who can set bail in Lauderdale County?
For minor, non-violent crimes bail is preset and can be set by the arresting officer. More serious crimes require bail be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Mississippi?
For minor, non-violent crimes bail is preset and that information will be available during the booking process. More serious crimes require the defendant to appear before a judge. This bail hearing is required to take place within 48 hrs. of arrest, not counting weekends or holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Lauderdale County Mississippi?
Yes, your attorney may request a bail reduction at any time prior to the trial.
In Lauderdale County Mississippi, 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 Mississippi could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Lauderdale County Mississippi?
Yes, Mississippi counties do offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Lauderdale County Detention Facility for more information about the jails in Lauderdale County.
What options are there to pay bail in Lauderdale County Mississippi?
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 Lauderdale County Detention Facility for more information about posting bail in Lauderdale County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Mississippi?
Yes. You will get it back from the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court, less fees or percentages kept by the bail bondsman.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Lauderdale County?
No, Mississippi law does not allow 'no money down' bail or bonds. Unless you are released on personal recognizance you can expect to pay at least 10%.
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 Mississippi?
The Lauderdale County 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.