Dent County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Dent County bail: what to know about the jail in Salem
Salem is the seat of Dent County, Missouri, in the hills near the headwaters of the Current River and Montauk State Park. Arrests around Salem, Boss, Lenox, and the county's back roads generally go to the jail on East 5th Street. Inmate search: Dent County Inmate Search.
Address and phone for the Salem jail
The Dent County Jail is at 112 E. 5th Street, Salem, MO 65560. Dial 573-729-3241. The sheriff's office shares that building, listed as Suite 7, and the same number.
First step: is the person booked?
Type the name into the Dent County Inmate Search. Anyone brought in during the last few hours might not be listed yet. In that case, a quick call with their full name and birthday should clear it up.
Questions to have on a notepad
- Is the person on East 5th Street right now?
- Which charges were filed or booked?
- Has a judge put a bond on it, and is it cash, surety, or something else?
- Is any outside agency asking Salem to keep them?
- What booking number goes with the file?
How come bail hasn't been set?
Usually because there's no formal charge yet. A person arrested without a warrant can't be held more than 24 hours in Missouri unless the prosecutor files within that window. Until then, there's normally no amount to post.
People picked up on a warrant are in a different spot. The judge who issued it may have already named a bond, which the jail can look up.
The court that sets Dent County bail
Dent is one of five counties in the 42nd Judicial Circuit, together with Crawford, Iron, Reynolds, and Wayne. A new criminal case in Salem typically opens before an associate judge, who decides the first release conditions.
Missouri's approach to release
Rule 33.01 lays out a sliding scale. Judges are expected to land on whatever is least restrictive while still giving reasonable confidence that the accused will return and the community will be protected.
A dollar amount isn't required. When the judge sets one, the defendant's real means are meant to weigh in. Locking up somebody only because they're broke, when milder terms would work, goes against the rule.
Release without money
Judges sometimes grant recognizance, where a defendant signs a promise to appear and walks out without paying. Lower-level charges and long local roots make it more likely. Extra rules, like staying sober or avoiding a certain person, may come with it.
The menu in the 42nd Circuit
- A signed promise, called recognizance.
- Cash for every dollar of the bond.
- A partial deposit, if the court permits.
- A surety bond posted by a bail agent.
- Real estate as security, with judicial approval.
- Monitoring or reporting conditions.
How long before a bond hearing?
That depends on when the associate court in Salem is hearing criminal matters, and an arrest late in the week may wait through the weekend. If the defendant can't meet the bond, a defense lawyer can raise it under Rule 33.05, which requires that review to happen promptly.
Costs of using a bail agent
A bail agent covers the full bond for a premium, usually a percentage of the total, and keeps that money no matter what. Before you commit, get the percentage and all extra charges on paper, along with collateral and co-signer requirements. Salem is a fair distance from bigger towns like Rolla, so ask whether an agent bills for the trip.
All Missouri bail agents need a license from the state's Department of Commerce and Insurance. Ask for it.
Putting up property
A judge may let land or a home secure the bond, but you'll need to show clear ownership and enough equity. That usually means gathering a deed, any mortgage balance, and proof of value, which can take days. Outside the courthouse, a bail agent could agree to accept a deed or a pickup's title as security.
Posting a Dent County bond
The jail on East 5th Street is generally where bail is posted. Ring 573-729-3241 before going and ask what payment methods work at that hour. Our research found no direct line for Dent's circuit clerk. Deputies should know whether the courthouse accepts bail on weekdays as well.
Are cards taken?
We couldn't verify it. Bring cash or a money order as your main plan, and if a card service is available, ask about the fee before paying.
Who can put up the money?
Grown-ups who carry government photo identification are generally allowed to pay, kin or not. Since cash is generally refunded to the person who paid, keep the receipt in your own name.
Calling about the release itself
Once the bond is paid, you can check in by phone. Deputies still finish the release forms, run a final warrant search, and give back the property taken at booking. They may not offer an exact time, but they can tell you if something is holding things up.
What if another county wants the person?
Paying Dent's bond resolves only Dent's charge. A warrant from Phelps, Shannon, Texas, Crawford, Reynolds, or any other county may keep your relative in Salem until that agency takes them or its separate bail is posted. Learn which agency is involved and call it for its amount.
Holds and detainers
A state supervision officer, a judge from another county or state, or federal immigration staff can each tell Salem to keep someone. Local bail won't lift that, so ask about holds before you pay.
City ordinance charges
Salem has city police too. When an officer cites a person under a local ordinance rather than state law, that matter may go before the city's municipal judge, who handles bail separately from the circuit. Ask deputies which kind of charge it is, and if there are both, whether each one carries a separate bond.
What to save
File both bond papers and the payment slip in one spot. The form lists the court dates and conditions, and the receipt backs up any refund.
When a release rule is broken
Prosecutors may file for revocation. From there the court has options: a warrant, a stiffer bond, or holding the accused in Salem while the case plays out. When a term truly can't be followed, the fix is a motion to modify it, never quiet noncompliance.
Can the bondsman turn the person in?
Bail contracts usually give agents that right. An agent who believes the client may run can return them to the jail and end the bond. Stay reachable and keep the agent informed of any address change.
Getting the amount reduced
Defense counsel can file a motion in the 42nd Circuit asking for less money or easier terms. Judges in Salem will want specifics, like recent paychecks, a Dent County lease or deed, and a list of the people counting on the defendant at home.
Court dates online
Use Case.net, choose the 42nd Circuit and Dent County, and search by name or case number.
Getting cash bail back
After the case closes, if no hearing was missed, the clerk mails cash bail back, generally addressed to the depositor. Expect costs or a fine to be subtracted beforehand. Allow a few weeks.
The bondsman's fee isn't returned
A premium pays for the agent's guarantee and is kept even if charges disappear. Collateral comes back once the bond is discharged, under your contract's terms.
Charges dropped
Once prosecutors drop it, the bond is finished, and money you deposited comes back through the clerk less assessed costs. Keep your papers in case a charge is refiled.
A missed court date
Skipping a Salem setting tends to bring a fresh warrant, and the money behind the bail is at risk. Where a surety agent signed on, recovery staff may come knocking and the co-signer may owe. Get an attorney on the phone that day, especially if a real emergency caused the absence.
Arrests of minors
Kids in trouble in Dent County don't usually post bail the way adults do. The 42nd Circuit's juvenile staff take over, and a juvenile judge decides whether the teen stays detained. If it's your child, get in touch with juvenile staff right away to learn the hearing date.
Getting a lawyer if you can't pay
Missouri's public defender system can appoint counsel for those who qualify. Ask at the first appearance; a financial form is part of the process.
Federal charges
A federal case from Dent County goes to St. Louis, to the Eastern District of Missouri's Eastern Division. A federal magistrate decides release, and the Salem jail can't accept bail on federal charges. See the Eastern District website.
Will my relative go before a judge in person or by video?
That's up to the court and jail in Salem, and practices vary. Ask the jail or the clerk how first appearances are handled on the day your relative is scheduled. If you want to attend, find out whether the hearing is open to family and what time to arrive at the courthouse.
What if we can afford part of the bond but not all of it?
Tell the defense lawyer. A judge in the 42nd Circuit can permit a partial cash deposit, lower the amount, or swap money for supervision, but only if someone asks. Another route is a bail agent, where you'd pay only the premium. Compare what each path costs before deciding.
Does a bondsman need to drive to Salem?
Ask the agent. Some meet families at the jail, and others handle much of the paperwork by phone and email before the bond is filed. The release clock really starts once the bond is filed with deputies, so ask how soon that can happen.
Phone Salem before driving over
Dial 573-729-3241 before you go. Make sure the figure hasn't changed, ask whether some other office has a hold, and check what kind of money the desk will take at that hour.
Carry identification, and have the booking number on a scrap of paper. Treat what's written here as an explainer; a defense attorney is the person to advise on the case.
Dent County Jail
Address:
112 E. 5th Street
Salem, MO 65560
Phone:
573-729-3241
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Dent County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dent County?
Who can set bail in Dent County?
When is bail set in Dent County Missouri?
Does Dent County have bail?
Yes, Dent County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dent County?
The Dent 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 Dent 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 Dent 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 Dent 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 Dent 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 Dent 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, Dent 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 Dent 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 Dent County have bail?
Yes, Dent County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dent County?
The Dent 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 Dent 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 Dent 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 Dent 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 Dent 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 Dent County Jail for more information about the jails in Dent County.
What options are there to pay bail in Dent County Missouri?
All Dent 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 Dent County Jail for more information about posting bail in Dent 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 Dent 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 Dent 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.