Crawford County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Crawford County bail and the Steelville jail
Steelville is known for float trips on the Meramec, but it's also the seat of Crawford County, Missouri, where people arrested around Cuba, Bourbon, Leasburg, and Interstate 44 are taken for booking. The same jail houses prisoners for neighboring Gasconade County. Inmate search: Crawford County Inmate Search.
1. Where do I find the jail?
The Crawford County Jail is located at 212 South Third Street, Steelville, MO 65565. Staff answer at 573-775-2125.
2. Why would a Gasconade County arrest be in Steelville?
Gasconade County sends its prisoners to Crawford's jail. That means someone arrested in Hermann, Owensville, or elsewhere in Gasconade may be sitting on South Third Street. Their bail still comes from the Gasconade case and that county's court, so ask staff which county's charge is involved before you pay anything.
3. Checking whether someone is booked
Run a name through the Crawford County Inmate Search. When a booking is very recent, it may not be listed yet; calling the jail with the person's full name and birth date is the backup.
4. Get these answers on your first call
- Is the person held in Steelville, and for Crawford or Gasconade?
- What are the charges?
- Has bail been set, and in what form?
- Are other agencies asking to hold the person?
- What's the booking number?
5. Why hasn't a bail amount been set?
Most often the prosecutor hasn't filed charges yet. Following a warrantless arrest, Missouri allows the person to be held a maximum of 24 hours without a charge. Bail can't usually be posted until a case is open.
If the arrest happened on a warrant, a bond may already be set on it. Ask deputies whether they see one.
6. Which circuit decides bail?
The 42nd Judicial Circuit groups Crawford with four other counties: Dent, Iron, Reynolds, and Wayne. New criminal cases in Steelville normally come first before an associate judge, and that judge fixes the opening release terms. Gasconade cases go through Gasconade's own court.
7. How judges choose release conditions
Missouri's Supreme Court Rule 33.01 says judges should use the least restrictive conditions that will reasonably assure the defendant shows up and the public is safe. It's a list to choose from, not a menu with a fixed price.
If a judge orders money, the defendant's ability to pay has to be taken into account. Holding someone simply because they can't afford a bond isn't what the rule allows when lesser conditions would work.
8. Getting out on a signature
Some defendants are released on recognizance, signing a promise to come back without paying. It's more likely with minor charges and people who have jobs and family nearby. Conditions such as no contact with a named person or checking in can still apply.
9. Kinds of bonds in the 42nd Circuit
- Personal recognizance.
- Cash for the whole amount.
- A partial cash deposit when the judge allows it.
- A surety bond from a licensed agent.
- Real estate, should the judge accept it.
- Supervision or monitoring.
10. How long until the first hearing?
That turns on when the Steelville court sits. A rural associate court may not hear criminal matters every day, so an arrest late in the week can mean a longer wait. If the bond keeps the defendant jailed, a lawyer can request Rule 33.05 review, which must happen promptly.
11. What will a bondsman charge?
A licensed surety agent posts the bond for a fee called the premium, usually a percentage of the total. That fee is the agent's to keep. Ask for the rate in writing, along with any extras like travel or filing charges, and whether you'll need collateral or a co-signer. Agents from the Rolla or Sullivan areas may cover Steelville, but distance can affect cost.
Missouri bail agents are licensed by DCI, the Department of Commerce and Insurance. Ask for proof.
12. Could a house or land serve as bond?
If a judge agrees, yes. A property bond requires showing ownership and enough equity, usually with a deed, a payoff statement, and some evidence of value. Pulling that together takes time. A bondsman may also accept property as collateral in a private contract.
13. How is bond paid in Steelville?
Once bail is set on a Crawford case, it's typically posted at the jail. Call 573-775-2125 ahead of time to ask what payment forms are accepted right then.
The circuit clerk's office at 302 W Main St, Steelville, MO 65565, mailing address PO Box 1550, Steelville, MO 65565, may take bond money during business hours. The clerk's phone is 573-775-2866.
14. Can a card be used?
Our research turned up nothing definite on cards in Steelville. Pack cash or a money order unless deputies tell you a card will go through, and ask what the processing charge would be.
15. Who can post the money?
Generally any adult with a valid photo ID. Since the refund on a cash bond usually goes back to whoever paid, keep the receipt.
16. How do I find out when release will happen?
After the bond is posted, call and ask whether release is underway. Deputies finish paperwork, check for warrants from other places, and return belongings first. They likely won't give an exact minute, but they can say if something is holding it up.
17. What if Phelps, Franklin, or Washington County has a warrant?
Bail paid on South Third Street answers for Crawford's charge alone. If Phelps, Franklin, Washington, Dent, or some other county has an open warrant, your relative could wait in Steelville until officers from there make the trip or that county's bail is handled. Learn from deputies where the warrant came from and phone that sheriff.
18. Holds that block release
Probation or parole officers, courts in other counties or states, and federal immigration authorities can ask the jail to hold someone. Paying the local bond won't lift that hold. Ask before you pay, and for a Gasconade prisoner, ask whether Crawford has its own case too.
19. A city charge in Cuba or Bourbon
Towns such as Cuba and Bourbon may send ordinance tickets to their own municipal courts, which handle bail separately from the 42nd Circuit. Before you pay, have jail staff tell you whether the case is a city matter or a state one, and if both, whether each needs its own bond.
20. What should I keep?
Save the bond paperwork and your receipt together. The paperwork lists court dates and conditions; the receipt is needed for a refund.
21. What if a condition is broken?
Prosecutors can then move to revoke. Options for the judge include issuing a warrant, setting a bigger bond, or ordering the defendant held until trial. Go over each condition on the ride home, and if one can't be met, ask the lawyer to seek a change.
22. Can a bondsman pull the bond?
An agent who believes the defendant will skip can usually return them to the jail and be released from the bond. Keep the agent informed about addresses and court dates.
23. How do I get bail lowered?
Defense counsel files the request with the 42nd Circuit, asking for a smaller figure or gentler terms. It helps to hand the lawyer real documents: a paycheck from an employer along I-44, a rent receipt or tax bill with a Crawford address, and letters from family who count on the defendant. A judge may answer by trimming the amount or by trading money for supervision.
24. Where can I see court dates?
Search Case.net for Crawford cases using a name or case number; Gasconade matters live under that county's own circuit. Watch the docket for continuances, since rural settings sometimes move.
25. When will I get cash bond money back?
Provided the defendant made every hearing, the clerk sends back cash bail after the case wraps up, normally to the one who deposited it. The court may hold back costs or a fine. Allow a few weeks or more, and tell the clerk's office about any change of address so the check doesn't go astray.
26. Do I get the bondsman's fee back?
Usually not. The premium is the price of the agent's guarantee and is earned when the bond is posted, even if the case later falls apart. What you pledged as collateral, like a truck title, ought to be handed back once the bond is closed out, per your contract.
27. Charges dismissed
Dismissal ends the bond. Money deposited in Steelville is returned by the clerk, less whatever the court assessed. Some charges can be filed again later, so hold on to your papers.
28. After a missed court date
A warrant will probably follow, and the bail could be forfeited. If a bondsman is on the hook, the agency may try to locate the defendant and send the co-signer a bill. When the miss had a real cause, such as a car breakdown on a back road or a medical emergency, a lawyer should alert the court immediately.
29. Juveniles
A child under 18 is usually handled by the 42nd Circuit's juvenile office, not the adult bond system. Whether a young person stays in custody gets settled there. Parents should call it as soon as they learn of the arrest and ask about the detention hearing.
30. Free lawyer
Missouri's public defender offices supply attorneys to people who can't pay for one. Speak up about it at the first appearance in Steelville, where the court will have the defendant fill out a short sheet about income and bills.
31. Federal cases
Federal charges from Crawford County are handled in the Eastern District of Missouri's Eastern Division in St. Louis. A magistrate judge decides release, and the county jail doesn't take bail on federal cases. See the Eastern District website.
32. Call before heading to Steelville
Phone 573-775-2125 to confirm the bond and which county's case it is, ask about holds, and find out what payment is accepted at the moment.
Have identification ready and the booking number written down. This is a plain-language overview; for advice on the charges, talk to an attorney.
Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Crawford County
The Crawford County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Crawford County.
However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:
- You can always pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Crawford County, or in some cases the state of Missouri, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Crawford County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
- The typical fee for a bond in Missouri is between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15% or less. So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1,500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Crawford County Jail, or the courthouse in Crawford County where the offense took place.
Call 573-775-2125 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Crawford County inmate locator.
Crawford County Jail
Address:
212 South Third Street
Steelville, MO 65565
Phone:
573-775-2125
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Crawford County
Does Crawford County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Crawford County?
Who can set bail in Crawford County?
When is bail set in Crawford County Missouri?
Does Crawford County have bail?
Yes, Crawford County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Crawford County?
The Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford 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, Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford County have bail?
Yes, Crawford County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Crawford County?
The Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford County Jail for more information about the jails in Crawford County.
What options are there to pay bail in Crawford County Missouri?
All Crawford 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 Crawford County Jail for more information about posting bail in Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford 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.