Buchanan County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Bail help for Buchanan County and St. Joseph
St. Joseph is the hub of Buchanan County, Missouri, and nearly every arrest in the county, from the riverfront to Agency and De Kalb, leads to one jail downtown. Here's how families can work through the bail process there. Inmate search: Buchanan County Inmate Search.
1. Where in St. Joseph is the county jail?
Downtown, at 501 Faraon Street, St. Joseph, MO 64501. The Buchanan County Jail can be reached at 816-271-5555, and the sheriff's office lists 816-236-8812.
City police and county deputies both book people there. Try the Buchanan County Inmate Search to see if your relative shows up.
2. Someone I love was arrested in St. Joe last night. What's the very first move?
Confirm custody. Calling the jail with a correct name and birth date usually settles it in a minute or two.
While you have staff on the line, find out the charge, whether bond exists yet, and the booking number. Those three facts steer everything else.
3. Why can't I pay anything during the first hours?
Often it's because no charge has been filed. State law gives prosecutors a 24-hour window to file after a warrantless arrest, and the person can stay in custody meanwhile.
Once charges are filed, a bond is usually set. If the 24 hours pass with nothing filed, release should follow.
4. Who makes the bail call in Buchanan County?
Buchanan and Andrew counties together form Missouri's 5th Judicial Circuit. Here in St. Joseph, associate circuit judges usually set the first release terms on new criminal cases.
Jail staff simply carry out the order as written.
5. What does Missouri Supreme Court Rule 33.01 require?
In short, release on the least burdensome terms that still bring the defendant to court and keep the community safe. Money isn't meant to be the default.
If a judge goes with a cash or surety amount, the person's finances must be considered so the figure isn't simply out of reach.
6. Is there a chance of release with no payment?
Yes. Judges can grant recognizance, where a signed promise stands in for money.
That doesn't mean no rules. Expect possible conditions such as staying away from a person or place, a curfew, or reporting to a pretrial officer.
7. What sorts of bonds will I see in the 5th Circuit?
- Recognizance, on a signed promise.
- Cash, paid in full.
- Surety, guaranteed by a bonding company or agent.
- Release paired with supervision or monitoring.
A "cash only" order requires actual money for the full amount; agents can't cover it.
8. What pushes the dollar figure up or down?
Charge severity, criminal history, and any record of skipping court push it up. So do concerns about witnesses or victims.
Working in St. Joseph, living in the area for years, and having family who will help can lower it.
9. Can a judge keep someone locked up with no bond?
When the evidence shows that no release terms would protect people or secure a return to court, yes. That decision should come after a hearing.
A defense attorney is crucial at that point.
10. How do we request a bond review?
Rule 33.05 opens the door for anyone still held to ask that release terms be revisited, and courts are meant to respond promptly.
Your relative's attorney files the request in the 5th Circuit. The clerk will know the hearing date once it's on the calendar.
11. Can we get free legal help for the bond hearing?
Possibly. Missouri's public defender system takes clients who qualify based on income. Requests are usually made at the first appearance.
The public defender office covering St. Joseph can explain how to apply.
12. Where does cash bail get paid in Buchanan County?
Usually at the Faraon Street jail. Before you head down, call 816-271-5555 and ask which forms of payment are accepted and whether a bond can be taken at that time.
The circuit clerk, Room 331 at 411 Jules St, Saint Joseph, MO 64501 (816-271-1462), may also process bond payments on weekdays.
13. Will the jail take a credit card or online payment?
We couldn't confirm either. Jails that use outside payment vendors generally charge an added fee.
Ask by phone, and bring cash or a money order in case cards aren't an option.
14. What's the deal with bonding companies?
A licensed agent posts the entire bond and charges you a nonrefundable fee for the guarantee. The agent is betting the defendant will show up.
Agents in Missouri hold licenses issued by the state insurance department. Verify the license before paying.
15. How much do St. Joseph bondsmen charge?
Rates are usually a percentage of the bond and vary by agent. Some add costs for payment plans.
Get a written quote with every charge listed.
16. Could a house be pledged for bond?
Some Missouri courts allow property bonds, and some agents will hold real estate as collateral. Whether that's allowed in a Buchanan case rests with the judge.
The circuit clerk can describe the paperwork, often a deed and a valuation.
17. What happens to me if I co-sign and the defendant runs?
The agent can come after you for the bond amount or take any collateral you pledged. The contract spells out the details.
Study it first and file your copy somewhere you'll find it.
18. Can bond be posted after dark or on a weekend?
When a figure is already in the system, the jail generally accepts it at any hour. A quick call confirms.
Arrests that still need a judge's review may wait for the next weekday.
19. How do I deal with a warrant out of Buchanan County?
Look the person up on Case.net or ask the sheriff whether a bond was attached.
Arriving at Faraon Street ready to post it, or with a bonding agent on board, keeps the time in custody short.
20. What if St. Joseph police pick someone up on a warrant from elsewhere?
The person might be held downtown until the issuing county or state collects them, or until that bond is satisfied. Payment for an outside bond may or may not be possible in St. Joseph.
Ask jail staff who issued the warrant, then call that agency. Kansas and other states add the possibility of extradition, which a lawyer can explain.
21. Is a St. Joseph municipal charge handled differently?
Some local ordinance cases are filed in the city's municipal court, which runs its own bond process.
On the phone, find out which court filed it, city or circuit.
22. What happens after the bond is paid?
Staff process the release, look for holds, and return belongings. Expect a wait of a few hours.
Any other hold, such as probation, may keep the person in custody, so ask before you pay.
23. Is a reduction in bail realistic?
A lawyer can request it by motion. Pay stubs and a local lease give the judge something concrete.
24. How do I track court dates?
Search the defendant on Case.net under the 5th Circuit.
25. Who returns cash bail in St. Joseph, and when?
The circuit clerk refunds the deposit once the case is resolved and every appearance was made. The court can take out fines or costs.
Keep the receipt. A refund may take several weeks.
26. What happens if court is missed?
A warrant usually follows, and the bond can be forfeited. Bonding agents may pursue the person and the co-signer.
27. How are teenagers handled?
Youth under 18 typically go through the 5th Circuit juvenile office. Detention is decided there with the court, not at the adult jail. Parents should call right away.
28. Is there a federal court in St. Joseph?
Yes. Buchanan County is part of the Western District's St. Joseph Division, so federal cases are heard in the city.
Federal release is a magistrate judge's decision and has nothing to do with the Faraon Street jail. The Western District website lists the clerk.
29. Who's allowed to pay bond at Faraon Street?
Typically any adult with valid ID and accepted payment. You don't have to be related. Staff can confirm by phone.
30. After paying, what documents do I keep?
You should get a receipt and a bond form. The form lists conditions and when the defendant must appear in the 5th Circuit. Hold onto both.
31. Breaking release terms in Buchanan County
A judge can revoke the bond and have the person arrested again. Prosecutors may also ask for stricter terms. Review the conditions carefully with your relative.
32. Can a bonding company hand the defendant over to deputies?
Bail contracts usually allow surrender if the company believes the defendant is a risk. That ends the company's guarantee and can mean a new bond is needed.
33. Can a federal immigration hold keep someone downtown after bail?
A detainer is separate from the Buchanan bond, and paying one doesn't clear the other. Ask staff about detainers before posting.
34. What should I confirm before heading downtown?
Call 816-271-5555. Ask how much the bond is, whether some other hold exists, and which payments staff take right now.
Bring a government ID and the booking number. Use this as general guidance, and consult a lawyer about the case itself.
Depositing Money in an Inmate's Account so that they can Self Bail
Buchanan County Bail Bond Deposit
Buchanan County Jail uses a third-party, Inmate Canteen, to let you use a credit or debit card to deposit funds into an inmate's account so that they can pay their bail and get released after an arrest.
- To begin the process, first call the Buchanan County Jail at 816-271-5555 to get the exact amount needed to pay the bail.
- Next, go to Inmate Canteen, register and select this facility by first choosing Missouri. Then you will select the inmate you want to deposit money for, then the amount.
- Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
There will be a delay between the time you deposit the money and when Inmate Canteen forwards it to the inmate's account, but the sooner you notify the inmate and the Buchanan County Jail, the quicker they will be released.
Buchanan County Jail
Address:
501 Faraon Street
St. Joseph, MO 64501
Phone:
816-271-5555
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Buchanan County
Does Buchanan County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Buchanan County?
Who can set bail in Buchanan County?
When is bail set in Buchanan County Missouri?
Does Buchanan County have bail?
Yes, Buchanan County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Buchanan County?
The Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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, Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan County have bail?
Yes, Buchanan County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Buchanan County?
The Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan County Jail for more information about the jails in Buchanan County.
What options are there to pay bail in Buchanan County Missouri?
All Buchanan 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 Buchanan County Jail for more information about posting bail in Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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.