Cedar County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Stockton jail and Cedar County bail
Stockton Lake draws boaters every summer, but the county seat of Stockton also runs the jail for Cedar County, Missouri, and it takes in prisoners from Dade County to the south as well. This page sorts out how bond works for anyone booked there. Inmate search: Cedar County Inmate Search.
Where exactly is the jail in Stockton?
The Cedar County Jail is at 113 South Street, Stockton, MO 65785, reachable by phone at 417-276-5133. The sheriff's office is listed at 202 S High St, Stockton, MO 65785 under that same number.
The Cedar County Inmate Search should show recent bookings.
Why are Dade County people sitting in Stockton?
Dade County, whose seat is Greenfield, doesn't run its own jail and contracts with Cedar to hold its prisoners. So a Greenfield or Lockwood arrest may land on South Street.
Here's the catch: a Dade prisoner's bond comes from the Dade case, not a Cedar one. Ask staff which county filed the charge before you hand over any money.
What should my first call to the jail cover?
Verify custody, learn whether a Cedar or Dade case is behind it, the charge, whether a bond exists, and the booking number. Jot it all down; you may be juggling two counties' offices.
A day goes by and still no bond. Is that legal?
State law sets a one-day ceiling, 24 hours, on holding a person taken in without a warrant while charges are considered. Bail typically can't be posted until a charge is on file.
After that 24-hour mark with nothing filed, release is supposed to follow.
Who in the court system sets bond here?
Cedar sits in the 28th Judicial Circuit with Barton, Dade, and Vernon counties. For Cedar cases, an associate circuit judge in Stockton usually sets the opening release terms; Dade cases get the same treatment from the judge hearing Dade matters.
What standard does a Missouri judge apply?
Supreme Court Rule 33.01. Its core idea is restraint: the judge should impose only what's needed to bring the defendant back and protect the public.
If money becomes part of the order, the judge must weigh the defendant's means. Nobody is supposed to be jailed just for being broke when lesser terms would do.
Is release on a signature possible?
Yes, it's called recognizance. The defendant promises in writing to come to court and leaves without paying.
Conditions often ride along: steer clear of a certain person, no alcohol, a curfew, or regular reporting.
Bonds the 28th Circuit may order
- Recognizance.
- Cash covering the whole figure.
- Surety through a licensed bondsman.
- Release with supervision or electronic monitoring.
A "cash only" designation means an agent can't step in.
Why would one person's bond be higher than another's?
Judges consider the charge, prior convictions, and the person's track record on showing up. Risk to a victim is a heavy factor.
Roots in Cedar or Dade County, such as a farm, a steady job, or kids in local schools, tend to help.
Holding someone without bond
Missouri permits it when no set of conditions would adequately protect others or ensure attendance. A judge should base that on evidence, typically at a hearing where the defense can respond.
How fast can a defendant get the bond looked at again?
By filing under Rule 33.05. That rule gives someone still in custody a path to prompt review of release terms.
The defense lawyer files in the 28th Circuit under whichever county's case applies.
Help for people who can't pay a lawyer
Missouri's public defender system appoints counsel for those who qualify. The defendant asks at the first appearance and fills out a financial questionnaire.
Where do families pay a bond?
Most often at the South Street jail. Phone 417-276-5133 beforehand to learn which forms of money the jail takes and whether it can accept a bond on a Dade case.
For Cedar cases, we didn't confirm a separate circuit clerk phone or address, so ask the jail about courthouse payment. Dade's circuit clerk is at 300 W Water St, Greenfield, MO 65661, phone 417-637-2271.
Plastic or online options?
We didn't confirm a web portal, kiosk, or card acceptance at the Cedar jail. Ask by phone; vendor card services usually tack on a fee.
Using a bail agent for a Stockton bond
A licensed bondsman guarantees the entire bond for a nonrefundable charge. Missouri requires agents to hold a state license through its insurance department, so ask to see it.
What does that cost?
Usually a percentage of the bond, with each agent setting its rate. A rural drive to Stockton may add a travel charge. Get every number written down.
Is a property bond an option?
Missouri courts sometimes allow real estate to secure a bond, and some bondsmen accept property as collateral. A 28th Circuit judge decides in each case.
You'd typically need a deed and proof of value.
Risks for the co-signer
Signing with a bondsman makes you responsible if the defendant disappears, which may mean covering the whole bond or giving up collateral. Don't sign lightly, and keep a copy of everything you put your name on.
Posting bail at night or on weekends
Once a figure is set, the jail usually takes bond any time. A call first saves a wasted trip.
Without a set figure, the person may wait for the next court day.
Handling a Cedar County warrant
Search Case.net for the warrant and any bond, or ask the sheriff's office. Surrendering at South Street with money ready or an agent lined up shortens the stay.
What about a hold from Polk, St. Clair, or another county?
Stockton deputies may keep the person until the other county arranges a ride or its bail is handled. Whether that outside bond can be paid on South Street varies, so phone the issuing sheriff for the answer.
Who's allowed to pay the bond?
Most adults carrying identification and acceptable funds, whether family, friends, or employers. For a Dade prisoner, a relative in Greenfield may find it easier to arrange an agent than to drive north. Confirm the jail's policy by phone.
Paid the bond. When do they get out?
Expect a few hours for paperwork, property return, and a records check. A second hold, such as probation or an immigration detainer, can block release.
Documents to keep afterward
Your receipt and the bond paperwork, which spells out conditions and the court date in Stockton or Greenfield.
Breaking a release condition
A violation gives prosecutors grounds to ask that release be revoked, and the judge may order the person picked up. Reading each rule aloud together, before your relative steps out of South Street, avoids most surprises.
Can a bondsman put the defendant back in jail?
Typically the contract allows it if the agent fears a no-show, ending the agent's obligation.
Getting the bond reduced
A lawyer can move for a lower amount. Evidence of local work and housing makes the argument stronger.
Looking up the case
On Case.net, choose the 28th Circuit and then Cedar or Dade, depending on which county filed. Settings, charges, and bond details generally appear in the docket entries.
Refunds of cash bail
The circuit clerk for the county handling the case returns cash bail after it closes, provided every hearing was attended. Fines or costs may be applied first.
Bail is not a fine
They do different jobs. Bail is security that the defendant will keep coming to court, while a fine is a penalty imposed only after a conviction or plea. The overlap comes at the end, when the Cedar or Dade court may take court costs or a fine out of posted cash before refunding the rest.
If the charges are dropped
Once a case is dismissed, the bond has done its job and is released. Cash returns to the person who posted it through that county's clerk, minus any assessed court charges. Fees paid to a bondsman, however, are gone for good.
When a court date is missed
The judge handling the Cedar or Dade case will likely sign an arrest order, and the posted money is at risk of forfeiture. A bondsman who wrote the bond typically goes looking for the defendant and can bill the co-signer for the loss.
Juveniles
Anyone under 18 is normally referred to the 28th Circuit's juvenile office rather than held with adults in Stockton. A juvenile officer, with a judge's oversight, decides on detention. Parents should call that office right away.
Federal cases from Cedar County
Federal charges go to Springfield, where the Western District of Missouri's Southern Division sits.
A federal magistrate judge decides release, and the Stockton jail can't take federal bonds. See the Western District website.
Call the Stockton jail first
Phone 417-276-5133 to confirm the bond, which county's case it is, any holds, and accepted payment.
Take identification and the booking number with you. What's written here is an overview; legal advice must come from an attorney who knows the case.
Cedar County Jail
Address:
113 South Street
Stockton, MO 65785
Phone:
417-276-5133 Ext. 251
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Cedar County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cedar County?
Who can set bail in Cedar County?
When is bail set in Cedar County Missouri?
Does Cedar County have bail?
Yes, Cedar County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cedar County?
The Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar 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, Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar County have bail?
Yes, Cedar County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Cedar County?
The Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar County Jail for more information about the jails in Cedar County.
What options are there to pay bail in Cedar County Missouri?
All Cedar 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 Cedar County Jail for more information about posting bail in Cedar 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 Cedar 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 Cedar 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.