Douglas County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Douglas County bail: posting bond in Ava
Ava, the only sizable town in Douglas County, Missouri, sits in the Ozark hills southeast of Springfield. After a state-law arrest anywhere in the county, from Ava itself to the small crossroads communities, the county jail in Ava is where they're usually booked. Inmate search: Douglas County Inmate Search.
How do I get in touch with the jail?
The Douglas County Jail is in Ava, MO 65608. Its phone, shared with the sheriff's office, is 417-683-1020. Ask for directions when you call so you arrive at the right door.
And the courthouse?
The Douglas County circuit clerk is at 203 SE 2nd Ave, Ava, MO 65608, with mail going to PO Box 249, Ava, MO 65608. Call the clerk at 417-683-4713.
Is there a way to look up inmates?
Yes, the Douglas County Inmate Search. In a small rural jail the online list may lag behind real bookings, so if a name is missing, phone and ask, giving the full name and date of birth.
Get these five things on the phone
- Confirmation they're in the Ava jail.
- The charge, in the jail's words.
- Whether bond is set, plus amount and type.
- Holds from anybody outside Douglas County.
- A booking number.
A night has passed with no bond
Often the prosecutor hasn't filed, and generally there's no bail to pay before a charge exists. Missouri sets a 24-hour ceiling on keeping someone uncharged after an arrest that didn't involve a warrant.
If a warrant prompted the arrest, ask whether the judge wrote an amount on it. Many warrants carry one.
Which circuit is Douglas in?
The 44th Judicial Circuit, which Douglas shares with Ozark and Wright counties. In Ava, an associate circuit judge usually conducts first appearances on new criminal cases and sets release terms.
The legal yardstick
Missouri Supreme Court Rule 33.01 asks for the mildest set of conditions that would still reasonably bring the defendant back to court and keep the public safe. If money is required, the judge is supposed to factor in what the defendant can really pay rather than picking a number that guarantees detention.
Can someone leave just by signing?
Sometimes. Recognizance release means a written promise to appear in place of cash. It tends to be granted for less serious charges and defendants with steady ties to the Ava area, and conditions such as no-contact orders can still apply.
Ways the 44th Circuit can set bail
- A recognizance pledge with no money.
- The full amount in cash.
- A portion deposited in cash, if the judge allows.
- A surety bond through a bail agent.
- Real estate pledged as security, if accepted.
- Monitoring, testing, or supervision.
Timing of the first court appearance
Rural associate courts don't always handle criminal cases daily, so the wait follows the Ava calendar, and a Thursday or Friday booking may sit over a weekend. When bail is out of reach and the defendant stays jailed, a lawyer can invoke Rule 33.05, under which the review is supposed to come quickly.
The price of a bail agent
Agents post the entire bond for a fee called a premium, typically a share of the bond amount. You won't get it back. Since Ava is well off the interstate, ask the agent whether mileage or travel adds cost, and get every charge, the collateral rules, and any payment plan written down.
To write bail in Missouri, an agent must hold a DCI license from the state. A trustworthy agent will share the number.
Using a home or acreage as bond
With a judge's okay, land or a house can back the bond. In hill country, families sometimes have acreage but little cash, so it's worth asking. Expect to produce a deed, any mortgage balance, and evidence of value, and to wait longer than a cash posting would take. A bail agent may also accept a deed as collateral under its own contract.
Where to post bond in Ava
Call the jail at 417-683-1020 first and ask whether bond can be posted there at that hour and in what form. During weekday hours, the clerk at 417-683-4713 may also take it at the courthouse on SE 2nd Avenue.
Cards?
We couldn't confirm card acceptance. Arrive with a money order or cash, and if a card option exists, ask about its fee.
Can a neighbor or coworker post?
Generally, yes. Adults with valid photo ID can post for someone else. Cash refunds typically go to whoever paid, so keep the receipt yourself.
After paying: is release coming?
Call the jail and ask how it's going. Before anyone leaves, deputies complete the release forms, run a last check for warrants, and hand back property taken at booking. They may not commit to a time, but can tell you if something is wrong.
Warrants from Ozark, Wright, Christian, or Howell
Money posted in Ava covers Douglas County's case, nothing else. Nearby counties such as Ozark, Wright, Christian, Howell, Taney, and Webster can have open warrants too, and any one of them may keep your relative sitting in Ava until a transport arrives or that county's own bail gets paid. Learn the issuing county and phone its sheriff.
What's a hold?
It's a "keep this person" notice from somebody besides Douglas County: a parole or probation officer, a judge in another county or state, or federal immigration agents. Bail paid in Ava does nothing to cancel it, so raise the question of holds early and learn whether any of them has a price attached.
Ava city charges
Ava's city officers can write ordinance tickets heard by the city's own judge rather than the 44th Circuit, and that court handles bail separately. Ask deputies whether the charge is municipal, state, or both.
Documents worth saving
The bond form spells out court dates in Ava and the rules your relative must follow. The receipt proves payment and matters at refund time. Keep both together in one folder at home, away from clutter.
Breaking a condition
A violation can lead prosecutors to ask for revocation, and the judge may respond with a warrant, a higher bond, or detention until trial. Review the conditions with your relative right after release, and put each court date on a calendar both of you can see. If a rule can't be followed, the lawyer can ask to change it.
Surrender by the agent
A bail agent who thinks a client may run can usually take them back to jail and end the bond. Answering the agent's calls and reporting moves helps prevent that, as does showing up early for every hearing.
Asking the judge for less
Defense counsel files a written motion with the 44th Circuit. Gather real evidence for it: a recent paycheck, a lease or tax receipt showing a Douglas County address, and proof of children or relatives who rely on the defendant. A judge may lower the figure or replace money with supervision.
Finding the next court date
Open Case.net, choose the 44th Circuit, select Douglas County, and search the defendant's name. The docket shows scheduled settings and any bond changes.
Cash refunds
If the defendant made every court date, the clerk refunds cash bail after the case ends, generally to the person who posted it. Fines and costs may be deducted first. It can take a few weeks.
The premium stays with the agent
What you paid the agent is their fee and isn't refunded. Collateral comes back after the bond is discharged, per your contract.
When charges are dismissed
The bond ends, and cash on deposit is returned by the clerk after any assessed amounts. Keep the papers in case a charge is refiled.
Missing a hearing in Ava
Missing court in Ava generally leads to a bench warrant, and the bail can be forfeited. When a surety agent is on the hook, the agency may send someone looking for the defendant and send the co-signer a demand for payment. If a flat tire or a hospital visit caused the miss, tell a lawyer at once so the court hears the reason.
Juvenile cases
People under 18 usually go to the 44th Circuit's juvenile office instead of adult bail. Parents should contact that office quickly.
A lawyer at no cost
People who can't pay for an attorney can apply for one from Missouri's public defender. The request goes in at the first hearing, along with a sheet listing income and expenses. That lawyer can also argue for lower bail.
Federal cases
A federal arrest in Douglas County is handled by the Western District of Missouri's Southern Division in Springfield. A magistrate judge decides release, and the Ava jail doesn't take federal bail. See the Western District website.
If we can cover part of the bail, what are our options?
Let the defense lawyer know the number your family can manage. A 44th Circuit judge can allow a partial deposit, lower the amount, or set supervision in place of money, but someone has to ask. Comparing that with the cost of an agent's premium helps you choose.
Does a bail agent need to come to Ava?
Ask the agency. Some meet families at the jail, while others start paperwork by phone and email. Release can't begin until the bond is actually filed with deputies in Ava, so ask how quickly the agent can get it there.
Call Ava first
Before leaving home, dial 417-683-1020. Check the bond figure, ask whether an outside agency has a hold, and find out what kind of payment the desk can process at that hour.
Keep identification and the booking number with you. Everything on this page is background on the bail process; a defense attorney can speak to the case itself.
Douglas County Jail
Address:
207 SE 2nd Ave.
P. O. Box 907
Ava, MO 65608
Phone:
417-683-1020
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Douglas County
Does Douglas County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Douglas County?
Who can set bail in Douglas County?
When is bail set in Douglas County Missouri?
Does Douglas County have bail?
Yes, Douglas County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Douglas County?
The Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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, Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas County have bail?
Yes, Douglas County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Douglas County?
The Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas County Jail for more information about the jails in Douglas County.
What options are there to pay bail in Douglas County Missouri?
All Douglas 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 Douglas County Jail for more information about posting bail in Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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.