Clinton County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Clinton County bail and the jail in Plattsburg
Clinton County lies between Kansas City and St. Joseph, with Cameron, Lathrop, Gower and the farm country in between. When someone is arrested on a state charge in Clinton County, Missouri, they are usually taken to the county jail in Plattsburg. Inmate search: Clinton County Inmate Search.
How do I contact the Plattsburg jail?
The Clinton County Jail is at 207 North Main Street, Plattsburg, MO 64477, phone 816-539-2156.
The sheriff's office uses 816-539-3777, with mail going to PO Box 423, Plattsburg, MO 64477. We couldn't verify a direct number for the circuit clerk.
Is my family member in there?
Search the Clinton County Inmate Search. When a common name brings up several people, match the birth date or age before assuming you've found the right person. If the arrest happened in the last few hours or the name doesn't appear, dial the jail and give the full name and birth date.
Write these down on the first call
- Confirmation of custody in Plattsburg.
- The charge or charges.
- The bond figure and type, if set.
- Any hold from another agency.
- The booking number.
Nobody can tell me a bond amount yet
Early in a case, that's normal. The prosecutor's office has to settle on a charge before any bail can be paid. Missouri lets officers keep someone they picked up warrantless for up to 24 hours in Missouri while that decision is pending.
If a warrant prompted the arrest, look at whether the warrant already lists a bond; staff can often read it to you.
Who decides release in Clinton County?
Clinton is part of the 43rd Judicial Circuit. A judge at the associate circuit level in Plattsburg typically sees new criminal defendants first and sets the starting conditions.
The legal standard for release
Supreme Court Rule 33.01 tells Missouri judges to pick the gentlest terms that still reasonably assure a return to court and protect others.
Where cash is required, the court should look at what the defendant can actually pay.
Going home without posting money
A judge can release someone on recognizance, which is a signed promise to appear. That's more likely for lesser charges and for people who live and work nearby. Conditions might include no contact with a certain person or regular reporting.
Bond formats in the 43rd Circuit
- Personal recognizance.
- Full cash.
- A percentage deposit if allowed by the judge.
- Surety through a licensed bondsman.
- Property, if the court accepts it.
- Supervision or a monitoring device.
Timing of the first hearing
How fast it happens depends on when the Plattsburg court is in session. Arrests over a weekend or a holiday can mean a longer wait. If a bond is set but remains unaffordable, the defense lawyer can ask for a prompt review under Rule 33.05.
Bondsman fees
A bondsman posts the full amount for a premium, usually a set percentage of the bond. That money isn't returned. Get the percentage in writing, ask about any extra charges, and find out whether you'll need a co-signer or collateral. Agents from the Kansas City and St. Joseph areas may serve Plattsburg, so ask whether travel changes the price.
These agents answer to the state, which licenses them through DCI. Asking for a license number is a reasonable first step.
Using property instead of cash
A property bond may be allowed if the judge agrees. Expect to prove ownership and equity with documents such as a deed and a mortgage payoff. Separately, an agent may accept property as collateral under a private contract.
Paying the bond
Call 816-539-2156 to ask where and how to pay, and what forms of payment are accepted right now. The jail on North Main is the usual place once a bond is set.
Card payments
Whether Plattsburg takes cards is something our research couldn't pin down. Ask, and keep cash or a money order in your pocket just in case. If an outside payment service is used, there may be a fee.
Anyone can post?
Most adults with a valid photo ID can post a bond for someone else. If you pay cash, the receipt and any refund are usually in your name.
Following up on release
Once the bond is in, you can call to ask how release is going. Staff check for warrants, finish paperwork, and return belongings before the person leaves. They may not have an exact time but can usually say whether anything is holding it up.
A warrant from Clay, Buchanan, or another county
The Clinton bond covers only Clinton charges. If another Missouri county, such as Clay, Buchanan, or DeKalb, has a warrant, your relative may be held for that agency. Ask who placed the hold, then call that agency about its bond and pickup.
Holds and detainers
A hold is a request to keep someone, which may come from probation or parole, another court, or federal immigration authorities. A local bond doesn't lift a hold. Ask about it before paying, and ask whether the hold carries its own bond or simply means waiting for the other agency.
Municipal court cases
Some towns in the county, such as Cameron, may have municipal courts for city ordinance violations. Those cases follow their own bond process, and paying the wrong office only adds delay. Ask the jail where the case is filed, and whether the person is being held on a city charge, a state charge, or both, since each one may need its own bond.
Receipts and bond papers
Hang on to both, ideally in one folder. The bond paper is your relative's roadmap: it lists where to appear, when, and every rule attached to release. The receipt shows exactly what was paid and by whom, which matters at the end of the case and money is owed back.
Breaking a condition
Release in Plattsburg comes with terms, and breaking one can undo it. The prosecutor may ask the judge to revoke the bond; the judge can then issue a warrant, raise the amount, or keep the defendant jailed until trial. Read every term out loud together on the drive home so nothing gets missed. If a condition can't realistically be met, such as a reporting time during a work shift in Cameron, ask the lawyer to seek a change rather than quietly skipping it.
The bondsman can surrender
Bail contracts generally let the agent hand the client back to the jail if the agent comes to believe the client will run. That ends the agent's obligation, and your relative is back in custody. Answer the agent's calls, report any change of address or phone, and keep every court date to avoid that outcome.
Seeking a reduction
Through a motion from defense counsel. Judges in the 43rd Circuit want specifics, so gather proof such as recent pay stubs, a lease or deed showing a Clinton County address, and letters from family members who rely on the defendant for income or childcare. Sometimes the court will keep the amount but loosen other terms instead.
Looking up hearings
Open Case.net, pick the 43rd Circuit, choose Clinton County, and enter the defendant's name. Hearings, continuances, and bond changes generally appear on the docket entries there.
Cash bond refunds
When the Clinton County case closes and the defendant made every appearance, the clerk releases the cash bond, usually by check to whoever posted it. Before that happens, the court may take out fines or court costs. The paperwork often takes several weeks, so tell the clerk right away if your address changes.
Premium refunds
What you paid the bondsman was a fee for service, and it usually stays with the agency no matter how the case turns out. Any collateral you pledged, like a car title, should come back once the bond is discharged, following the terms in your contract.
Charges dismissed
Once a case is dismissed, the bond is discharged. A cash deposit goes back through the clerk minus any amounts the court assessed. Because some charges can be refiled later, keep your papers until the lawyer says the matter is truly closed.
Missed court dates
Missing a hearing in Plattsburg usually brings a warrant, and the judge may order the bond forfeited. If an agent posted it, the agency may hunt for the defendant and seek repayment from the co-signer. A lawyer contacted right away can sometimes ask the court to set aside the warrant if there was a real emergency.
Minors
For anyone under 18, the case typically goes to the 43rd Circuit's juvenile office rather than through regular bail. Detention questions are decided by the juvenile officer and the court. Mothers and fathers in Cameron or Lathrop ought to phone the juvenile office the moment they hear their child was picked up, and ask when the detention hearing is.
Should I wait for court or call a bondsman tonight?
Weigh the size of the bond against what your household can spare. If the bond is low enough to pay in cash, posting it yourself avoids a nonrefundable premium, and you may get most of it back. If it's high, an agent can get your relative out sooner, but the fee is gone for good. When the bond seems unfair, another path is having a lawyer ask for review at the first appearance; that can save money but may mean more days in jail.
Free legal help
Defendants without money for an attorney can apply for one through the state's public defender program. The request is usually made at the first appearance, and the applicant fills out a form about income and assets.
Federal arrests
A federal case out of Clinton County is heard in St. Joseph, at the Western District of Missouri's St. Joseph Division. Release there is up to a U.S. magistrate judge under federal rules, and the Plattsburg jail doesn't accept bail on federal charges. The Western District website has more.
Call ahead to Plattsburg
Before you make the trip, phone 816-539-2156. Confirm the bond amount, ask whether any holds exist, and find out which payment methods can be handled at that hour.
Take a photo ID and the booking number along. Think of this page as a starting point; for advice on the charge, speak with a lawyer.
Clinton County Jail
Address:
207 North Main Street
Plattsburgh, MO 64477
Phone:
816-539-2156
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Clinton County
Does Clinton County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Clinton County?
Who can set bail in Clinton County?
When is bail set in Clinton County Missouri?
Does Clinton County have bail?
Yes, Clinton County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Clinton County?
The Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton 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, Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton County have bail?
Yes, Clinton County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Clinton County?
The Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton County Jail for more information about the jails in Clinton County.
What options are there to pay bail in Clinton County Missouri?
All Clinton 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 Clinton County Jail for more information about posting bail in Clinton 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 Clinton 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 Clinton 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.