Lawrence County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lawrence County bail and bond: Monticello, the sheriff-run jail, and the court steps that follow
An arrest in Lawrence County leads to the Lawrence County Jail in Monticello, which the Sheriff's Office runs. Put the name into Lawrence County Inmate Search to learn if your person is booked and whether a bond is set. The circuit clerk at 517 East Broad Street, 601-587-4791, handles the court side. Once an amount is set, use a licensed bondsman or the court's own options to post bail.
1. My relative was picked up in Monticello. How do I find out where he is?
Search the name on Lawrence County Inmate Search. If it shows nothing after a few hours, ask the arresting agency for the report number and for the facility where he was taken. The circuit clerk at 601-587-4791 can tell you which court has the case once a charge is filed.
2. Who runs the Lawrence County Jail?
The Sheriff's Office runs the jail in Monticello. Use Lawrence County Inmate Search to check a booking, the charge and any bond. Court papers for the case are kept by the circuit clerk, not the jail.
3. Which courthouse do Lawrence County felony cases go to?
Lawrence County Circuit Court is at 517 East Broad Street, Monticello, 601-587-4791, weekdays. The circuit clerk's office there handles case files and bond papers once a case is indicted. Lawrence County sits in the 15th Circuit Court District.
4. The jail says the judge has not set a bond. Who sets it?
A person arrested without a warrant should reach a judge inside two days. In Lawrence County that can be a justice court, county or circuit judge. The judge states the charge, covers rights, and sets release terms. Ask the circuit clerk at 601-587-4791 which judge has the case.
5. How much will a bondsman want for a Lawrence County bond?
State law limits the fee to 10 percent of the bond, with a $100 minimum, plus a $50 processing fee. So a $10,000 bond costs $1,000 up front, plus the $50. The bondsman keeps that fee. Choose someone licensed by the Mississippi Insurance Department, 601-359-3582.
6. Could we skip the bondsman and pay the court a part of the bond?
Sometimes. The state rule on a cash deposit bond sets the deposit at 10 percent of the bond or $250, whichever is greater, along with a notarized affidavit. The judge decides whether to offer it. Ask at the circuit clerk's office, 601-587-4791, whether the judge in your case accepts it.
7. We own land in Lawrence County. Can it back a bond?
A person who is not a bondsman signs a sworn statement that he or she owns property in Mississippi worth the full bond, after debts and exempt property. Land elsewhere in the state counts under the rule's wording. The clerk explains what must be recorded.
8. What does the 48-hour rule mean on a weekend arrest?
The rule speaks of 48 hours from arrest and lists no weekend exception. If no judge sees the person in time and the charge allows bail, the person goes free on a bond at the lowest guideline amount. A prosecutor can ask the judge to revisit it.
9. What would stop a judge from granting bond?
A capital charge, a new felony while already out on a felony bond, or a domestic violence arrest before the first hearing. A probation or parole hold also keeps a person in custody, and a bond on a new case does not erase it.
10. What should we bring to a bond hearing for my brother?
The judge looks at his age, family ties, health, work, time in the area, record, any violence in the charge, and the property he owns. Bring proof of a job, a home address, and letters from people who will vouch for him.
11. Who is the free lawyer for a person who cannot pay?
Tell the judge at the first appearance. State rules call for appointing counsel for someone who cannot pay. The circuit clerk at 601-587-4791 can say who the court appoints.
12. My brother was charged with a felony in Lawrence County. Is there a hearing before the grand jury?
On request, a person charged with a felony can get a preliminary hearing, generally within 14 days of the demand. If it does not begin in that time and was not postponed, the person is released on recognizance. Ask the judge at the first appearance, or have a lawyer make the demand, because the right is not automatic.
13. Is he allowed to phone me from the Monticello jail?
State rules say a person under arrest gets a reasonable chance to make a telephone call. Tell him not to discuss the facts of the case on a jail line, since calls can be recorded. Save the number he calls from.
14. What does he promise when he is released on bond?
Every release comes with four promises under state rules: appear whenever the court requires, commit no crime, tell the court quickly about a new address, and meet with the appointed or hired lawyer as directed. A judge can add limits on travel, contact with named people, or drug testing.
15. What if a bonded person misses court?
The judge can forfeit the bond, and the bondsman then has time to bring the person back. A surrender to the jail ends the bondsman's risk. Cash can be refunded within 18 months after final forfeiture, less costs, if the person is returned or found held elsewhere.
16. How do I make sure money reaches the right place?
Pay bond only through the court clerk or a licensed bondsman, and get a receipt with the case number. Commissary deposits for an inmate are separate and release no one. Never pay a stranger who phones you.
Lawrence County bail contacts
- Jail
- Lawrence County Jail, Monticello, MS; run by the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office
- Custody lookup
- Lawrence County Inmate Search
- Circuit Court
- 517 East Broad Street, Monticello, MS 39654; 601-587-4791
- Bondsman licensing
- Mississippi Insurance Department, 601-359-3582
- State prison records
- Mississippi Department of Corrections, 601-359-5600
Judges can set different terms in any case, and fees and procedures change over time. Confirm each step with the circuit clerk before you pay. This page does not replace a lawyer.
Lawrence County Jail
Address:
1565 F E Sellers Hwy
Monticello, MS 39654
Phone:
601-587-4995
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lawrence County
Does Lawrence County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence County?
Who can set bail in Lawrence County?
When is bail set in Lawrence County Mississippi?
Does Lawrence County have bail?
Yes, Lawrence County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence County?
Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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, Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County have bail?
Yes, Lawrence County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence County?
Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Mississippi?
Yes, your attorney may request a bail reduction at any time prior to the trial.
In Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Mississippi?
Yes, Mississippi counties do offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Lawrence County Jail for more information about the jails in Lawrence County.
What options are there to pay bail in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Jail for more information about posting bail in Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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.