Barton County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Bail and bond in Barton County, Missouri
Lamar is the county seat and the home of the jail for Barton County, Missouri. If a family member has been arrested anywhere from Liberal to Golden City, these answers should help you plan your next few hours. Inmate search: Barton County Inmate Search.
Where would someone arrested in Barton County be held?
Adults are booked into the Barton County Jail, 210 West 11th Street, Lamar, MO 64759. The jail's line is 417-682-5515.
The sheriff's office itself is at 1010 Cherry St., Lamar, MO 64759, reachable at 417-682-5541. Searching the Barton County Inmate Search is a good place to begin.
What should I ask the jail on that first phone call?
Start by confirming the person is there. Then ask what they are charged with, whether a bond has been set, and what the booking number is.
Also ask whether any holds exist, like a probation hold or a warrant from somewhere else. A hold can keep a person in jail even after the bond is paid.
Can Barton County hold someone before charges are filed?
Missouri law lets officers hold a person arrested without a warrant for up to 24 hours while prosecutors decide whether to file charges. If no charge is filed in that time, the person should be let go.
During that window there may be no bond to post yet. Calling the jail again later in the day is often the best you can do.
Who decides on bail in Lamar?
Barton is part of the 28th Judicial Circuit, which also takes in Cedar, Dade, and Vernon counties. An associate circuit judge usually handles bond on new cases filed in Barton.
When the arrest is on a warrant, the bond may already appear on that warrant.
What principles guide a Missouri bail decision?
Rule 33.01 of the Missouri Supreme Court asks judges to pick the mildest conditions that will still bring the person back to court and keep the community safe.
Before choosing a money bond, the judge should consider less costly options. If money is required, the person's ability to pay belongs in the decision.
Can the person be released on a promise alone?
Yes. Release on recognizance requires only a signature promising to appear. Nothing is paid.
The judge may still attach rules. Typical examples are no contact with a named person, staying in Missouri, or a curfew.
What bond types might be ordered in Barton County?
- Recognizance with no payment.
- A cash bond deposited with the court.
- A surety bond, which a licensed agent can post.
- Release with extra conditions such as monitoring.
Read the order carefully. A "cash only" bond has to be paid in full by someone, and an agent can't post it.
What does the judge think about when choosing an amount?
The charge itself, the person's record, and their history of coming to court all count. So does any threat to a victim or witness.
The judge also notices ties to Barton County. Years of living in Lamar, a job, and family nearby tend to work in the person's favor.
Is it possible to be held with no bond?
Missouri allows it when a judge finds that no conditions would protect others or make sure the defendant comes back. That finding should rest on evidence presented at a hearing.
If this happens, get a lawyer involved right away.
How quickly can bond be reviewed?
Under Rule 33.05, a defendant still in custody can ask the court to review the release conditions, and the court is expected to move promptly.
The public defender or a private attorney files that request. Afterward, the clerk can tell you when the hearing is set.
How do I get a public defender for the bond hearing?
The Missouri State Public Defender represents people who can't afford a lawyer. The person can ask for one at the first appearance, or the family can contact the public defender office serving the 28th Circuit.
An application about income is usually required.
Where is bail paid in Barton County?
Families usually pay at the jail on West 11th Street. Call 417-682-5515 to confirm payment types and whether staff can take a bond when you plan to arrive.
On weekdays, the circuit clerk at 1004 Gulf Rm 204, Lamar, MO 64759 (417-682-2444) may also accept bond money for open cases.
Is online or card payment an option?
We couldn't confirm an online system or kiosk at the Barton jail. When jails use outside vendors for card payments, a fee usually applies.
Ask before you go. Cash and money orders are the most widely taken.
What does a bail bondsman do?
The bondsman guarantees the full amount to the court and charges you a fee for taking on that risk. The fee is not returned.
Missouri requires bail agents to hold a license from the Department of Commerce and Insurance. A legitimate agent will show you theirs.
How is a bondsman's fee figured?
It's normally a share of the total bond, and the agent sets the rate. Some charge extra for paperwork or payment plans.
Ask for every charge in writing before you sign.
Can property be used as bond in Barton County?
In some Missouri courts a property bond is allowed, and agents may accept property as collateral. Whether the court in Lamar will accept one for your relative's case rests with the judge.
Expect to need a deed, proof of value, and extra time.
What am I promising if I co-sign?
You're telling the agent you will cover the loss if the defendant disappears. You might owe the whole bond or forfeit whatever collateral you pledged.
Be honest with yourself about the risk before you sign.
Can bail be posted on a weekend in Lamar?
If the bond has already been set, the jail can usually take it at any time. A phone call confirms that.
If a judge still needs to review the case, a weekend arrest might wait until the next court day.
What if there's a warrant in Barton County?
Look it up on Case.net or call the sheriff to find the bond amount.
The person can then turn themselves in with the bond ready. That usually leads to a much quicker release than being picked up on a traffic stop.
Lamar is holding my relative on a warrant from somewhere else. Now what?
Someone held in Lamar on another county's warrant may have to wait for that county to pick them up. In some cases, the bond can be posted where the person is being held.
Ask the Barton jail which county issued the warrant and call that county to learn how its bond is paid.
How long until release once bond is posted?
Usually a few hours, though it varies. Deputies finish forms, look for any holds, and hand back belongings.
Should a hold turn up, release may be delayed or blocked.
Is a city ticket bond handled the same way?
It can differ. Cases in a city's municipal court, such as some traffic or local ordinance charges, may have their own bond process separate from the circuit court.
Ask the jail whether the charge is a state case or a municipal one.
Can the bond be lowered?
Yes, if a lawyer asks the court and the judge agrees. Proof of a job, a home, and family support helps.
How do I follow the case?
Search Case.net under the 28th Circuit. Charges, hearing dates, and bond often appear.
How do refunds of cash bail work?
The circuit clerk returns the bond after the case closes, if every hearing was attended. Fines and costs may be taken out first.
Keep your receipt. A refund check can take several weeks.
What happens if a hearing is missed?
The judge will likely issue a warrant and may forfeit the bond. A bondsman may try to locate the person and could collect from the co-signer.
How are juveniles handled in Barton County?
Young people under 18 go to the 28th Circuit juvenile office. A juvenile officer and the court decide on detention. Parents should call promptly.
Where are federal cases from Barton County heard?
Joplin. Barton is assigned to the federal court's Southwestern Division there, part of Missouri's Western District.
A federal magistrate judge sets release terms under federal law, so the Lamar jail can't take a federal bond. The Western District site has details.
Do I have to be a relative to post bond in Lamar?
Any adult can usually do it; a family tie is rarely required. An adult with valid identification and payment the jail accepts can usually post. Staff can confirm their policy by phone.
What will the jail hand me after I pay?
Typically a receipt and a copy of the bond paperwork. The bond lists the conditions and the next date in the Barton courtroom, so make sure the defendant gets a copy too.
What happens if a bond rule is broken?
Prosecutors can ask the court to revoke release, and a judge may issue a warrant. A violation also makes it harder to win a lower bond later in the case.
Can the bonding agent cancel the bond?
Many agent contracts permit the agent to surrender the defendant to custody. If that happens, the person goes back to jail and a new bond may be needed.
Ask the agent what would trigger a surrender before you sign.
What should I confirm before I go to the jail?
Call 417-682-5515 to check the bond amount, holds, payment types, and hours.
Have your ID and the person's booking number with you. This guide offers general information and isn't legal advice.
Barton County Jail
Address:
210 West 11th Street
Lamar, MO 64759
Phone:
417-682-5515
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Barton County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Barton County?
Who can set bail in Barton County?
When is bail set in Barton County Missouri?
Does Barton County have bail?
Yes, Barton County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Barton County?
The Barton County court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Bail is available in several forms including a recognizance bond, uncompensated sureties, 10% cash bond or cash bond.
In Missouri, Uncompensated Sureties make it so an individual may act as their own surety if they are at least 21 years of age and a resident of the state of MO. They must have net assets with a value in excess of exemptions at least equal or greater than the amount of the bond set.
They cannot have been found guilty or pled no contest within the past 15 years to any felony charge and they can’t have any outstanding unsatisfied judgment entered on any bail bond in any court in Missouri or the US.
POST YOUR OWN 10% CASH BOND: Bonds are generally set at a specified cash amount by the court. In Missouri, the defendant is in most instances entitled to be released upon payment of a 10% cash fee paid to the Court Clerk as the bond. This money, unlike money paid to a bondsman, is then refunded to the defendant at the conclusion of the case.
This money will not be refunded to the defendant at the conclusion of the case if you have any court costs due etc. and will instead be applied to those costs which is 99% of the time almost always the case.
Who can set bail in Barton County?
Some offenses have preset bail according to a bail schedule and can be processed at the jail without waiting for a judge. In other cases, the bail will be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Barton County Missouri?
For some offenses is set according to a pre-determined bail schedule. If this is the case the jail will inform the defendant of the bail amount during processing. In other cases, bail will be set by a judge. A bail hearing is generally scheduled within 48 hours of arrest.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Barton 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 Barton 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 Barton 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, Barton 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 Barton 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. This is one of the more popular bonds in Missouri.
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.
In Missouri, Uncompensated Sureties make it so an individual may act as their own surety if they are at least 21 years of age and a resident of the state of MO. They must have net assets with a value in excess of exemptions at least equal or greater than the amount of the bond set.
They cannot have been found guilty or pled no contest within the past 15 years to any felony charge and they can’t have any outstanding unsatisfied judgment entered on any bail bond in any court in Missouri or the US.
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 Barton County have bail?
Yes, Barton County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Barton County?
The Barton County court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Bail is available in several forms including a recognizance bond, uncompensated sureties, 10% cash bond or cash bond.
In Missouri, Uncompensated Sureties make it so an individual may act as their own surety if they are at least 21 years of age and a resident of the state of MO. They must have net assets with a value in excess of exemptions at least equal or greater than the amount of the bond set.
They cannot have been found guilty or pled no contest within the past 15 years to any felony charge and they can’t have any outstanding unsatisfied judgment entered on any bail bond in any court in Missouri or the US.
POST YOUR OWN 10% CASH BOND: Bonds are generally set at a specified cash amount by the court. In Missouri, the defendant is in most instances entitled to be released upon payment of a 10% cash fee paid to the Court Clerk as the bond. This money, unlike money paid to a bondsman, is then refunded to the defendant at the conclusion of the case.
This money will not be refunded to the defendant at the conclusion of the case if you have any court costs due etc. and will instead be applied to those costs which is 99% of the time almost always the case.
Who can set bail in Barton County?
Some offenses have preset bail according to a bail schedule and can be processed at the jail without waiting for a judge. In other cases, the bail will be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Missouri?
For some offenses is set according to a pre-determined bail schedule. If this is the case the jail will inform the defendant of the bail amount during processing. In other cases, bail will be set by a judge. A bail hearing is generally scheduled within 48 hours of arrest.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Barton County Missouri?
You can get the court to reduce an excessive bond - sometimes if the bond is set unfairly high, it can be reduced to a more manageable amount by an attorney – your own or court appointed/public defender. This can usually be accomplished early in proceedings shortly after arrest.
In Barton County Missouri, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail could be the arrested, a relative or close friend. All could be considered a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Missouri could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Barton County Missouri?
Missouri counties do not currently process online payments for bail. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Barton County Jail for more information about the jails in Barton County.
What options are there to pay bail in Barton County Missouri?
All Barton County courts accept cash or surety from a bail bonds agent. Some courts allow payment via credit or debit card, money order or cashier’s check. Go to the Barton County Jail for more information about posting bail in Barton County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Missouri?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail and in Missouri, usually to the defendant. 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 Barton 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 Missouri?
The Barton 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.