Dunklin County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Dunklin County bail in the Bootheel: the Kennett jail
Dunklin County forms the western half of Missouri's Bootheel, cotton and rice country that runs south along the Arkansas line. Arrests in Kennett, Malden, Campbell, Senath, Hornersville, Holcomb, and Clarkton generally lead to the county jail in Kennett, the seat of Dunklin County, Missouri. Inmate search: Dunklin County Inmate Search.
Where is the Kennett jail?
The Dunklin County Jail is at 1175 Floyd Street, Kennett, MO 63857. Call 573-888-4010 about a person in custody.
Other offices in Kennett
The sheriff's office uses 573-888-2424 and receives mail at PO Box 801, Kennett, MO 63857. The circuit clerk can be reached at 573-888-2456, mailing address PO Box 567, Kennett, MO 63857.
The Floyd Street line is best for custody and release questions. The clerk handles court records, bond filings, and refunds.
Searching for someone
Enter the name in the Dunklin County Inmate Search. If the arrest is fresh or the name won't come up, phone the jail and give staff the full legal name and the person's birth date.
What to find out first
- Whether they're held in Kennett.
- What they were booked for.
- If bail is set, how much and of what type.
- Whether a hold exists, and from whom.
- The booking number.
No bail yet? Here's the usual reason
Until a charge is filed, there's typically nothing to post. When an arrest happens without a warrant, Missouri law allows 24 hours, no more, to hold the person while prosecutors decide; after that, a charge or a release should follow.
Arrests on warrants can move faster, because the issuing judge may have set the bond in advance. Ask staff whether the warrant lists one.
Which court decides bail?
Dunklin and Stoddard counties together make up the 35th Judicial Circuit. A Dunklin case generally starts in Kennett before an associate judge, who handles the first appearance and the opening release conditions.
What principle does the judge follow?
Supreme Court Rule 33.01. Missouri judges are instructed to choose conditions no harsher than necessary to give reasonable assurance of two outcomes: the defendant returns for court, and the public stays safe. Where money is set, the defendant's finances have to be part of the calculation.
Is release possible without posting cash?
It can happen. A judge may release someone on recognizance, a signed promise to come back, with no money down. That's likelier for minor charges and for people with deep roots in the county. Conditions like no-contact orders can still come with it.
Kinds of release in the 35th Circuit
- Recognizance on a written promise.
- A cash bond for the whole figure.
- Partial cash, when the court permits.
- Surety, posted by a bail agent with a state license.
- Real estate pledged, with court approval.
- Electronic monitoring or supervision.
When does the first hearing happen?
It follows the Kennett court's calendar, and an arrest over a weekend or holiday may wait longer. If your relative stays in jail because the bond is too high, the defense can request review under Rule 33.05, and that review is required to be prompt.
Bondsman costs in the Bootheel
A surety agent posts the whole amount and keeps a premium, figured as a percentage of the bond. That fee is nonrefundable. Get the rate, any added fees, the collateral terms, and the payment arrangement in writing. Agents working out of Kennett, Dexter, or Poplar Bluff may cover this jail; compare a couple if you can.
Missouri licenses bail agents through DCI, its Department of Commerce and Insurance. Ask an agent for the license number before you pay.
Can farmland or a house serve as bond?
Possibly. In farm country, a family's wealth is often in the land, and a 35th Circuit judge has discretion to let a property bond stand in for cash. Plan to prove title and equity with a deed, a mortgage payoff letter, and some measure of value; that process moves slower than a money posting. A bail agent might also take a deed under a private collateral agreement.
How to post bond in Kennett
Families typically post at the Floyd Street jail once an amount exists. Before you drive over, call 573-888-4010 to ask which payment forms the desk takes right then. On weekdays, the clerk at 573-888-2456 can say whether the courthouse accepts bond too.
Debit and credit cards
Card acceptance wasn't something our research could pin down for Kennett. Carry cash or a money order in case, and if a card works, ask about the surcharge.
Who may post?
Bail can usually be paid by any grown-up showing government photo ID; you needn't be a relative. Keep the receipt in your own name, since cash refunds go back to whoever paid.
Asking about the release
With the money in, a phone call tells you whether release has begun. Deputies still wrap up forms, search once more for outside warrants, and return the items taken at intake. An exact minute is hard to promise, though staff can usually say if something has stalled.
Warrants from Arkansas
Kennett sits close to the Arkansas border, so out-of-state paper turns up. An Arkansas warrant can mean a hold while extradition is sorted out, and the Dunklin bail won't touch it. Have staff tell you which Arkansas agency is involved and whether your relative will see a judge about extradition, then call that agency directly.
Warrants from Pemiscot, Stoddard, or New Madrid
Bail posted in Kennett settles only the Dunklin case. If Pemiscot, Stoddard, New Madrid, Butler, or another Missouri county holds a warrant, your relative may stay on Floyd Street until that county sends transport or its own bail is met. Ask deputies who issued it and call that sheriff's office.
Other holds
Probation and parole officers and federal immigration authorities can also ask the jail to keep someone. A local bond doesn't lift those holds, so ask before paying.
City charges in Kennett or Malden
City officers in Kennett, Malden, Campbell, and other towns may cite people under local ordinances. Those tickets usually go before the town's municipal judge, who handles bail on its own terms. A person can be held on city and state matters at once, so ask deputies to list each one.
Papers to keep
Two documents matter. The bond form lists your relative's court dates and every rule of release, and the payment receipt proves what you paid. Store them together until the case is fully closed.
Violating release conditions
If a condition is broken, prosecutors may ask to revoke release, and the judge may issue a warrant, raise the bond, or hold the person until trial. Go over the conditions carefully together.
Surrender by a bondsman
Usually, yes. Bail contracts let the agent bring a client back to Floyd Street and end the bond when the agent loses contact or suspects flight. Answer the agent's calls and tell them about any move ahead of time.
Asking for a lower bond
A defense attorney files the request with the 35th Circuit in Kennett. Bring documents a judge can rely on: paychecks from a local employer, a lease or tax bill with a Dunklin address, and evidence of children or older relatives who depend on the defendant. The judge may trim the figure or trade cash for supervision.
Finding court dates
Open Case.net, pick the 35th Circuit, then Dunklin County, and search the defendant's name. Because Stoddard shares the circuit, make sure the case was filed in Kennett and not Bloomfield.
Cash bail refunds
As long as no hearing was missed, the Kennett clerk mails back cash bail once the matter closes, normally to whoever deposited it. The court can keep back costs or a fine first. Expect a wait of some weeks, and let the clerk know if your address changes.
Is the premium refunded?
The bondsman's fee is kept. Collateral is returned under the contract once the bond is discharged.
Dismissed charges
Prosecutors dropping a Dunklin case ends the bail obligation. Anything you deposited with the court flows back from the Kennett clerk once assessed costs are cleared. Keep the paperwork, because a dismissed charge can occasionally be filed again.
Missing a court date
Skipping a Kennett hearing usually brings a warrant, and the posted money is at risk. When an agent wrote the bond, recovery staff may come looking and the co-signer could owe the loss. If an emergency caused the miss, get a lawyer to tell the court that same day.
Minors
Teens under 18 aren't usually run through adult bail in Kennett. Their cases go to the 35th Circuit's juvenile office, and detention gets decided there. A parent should call there right away and find out when the detention hearing is.
Public defender
Defendants short on money for counsel may request a lawyer through Missouri's statewide public defender. The request is made at the first appearance, where a form about income and expenses is completed. Appointed counsel can also push for lower bail.
Federal charges
Arrests made by federal agents in the Bootheel are sent up the river to Cape Girardeau, seat of the Eastern District's Southeastern Division. A federal magistrate rules on release there, and the Floyd Street jail can't accept money on a federal case. The Eastern District website has the details.
Call Kennett before you go
Ring 573-888-4010 before setting out. Verify the amount, ask about outside holds, and learn what form of money staff can take at that hour.
Keep a photo ID in your pocket and the booking number written down. This page explains the bail process in general terms; for advice about the charge, talk with a lawyer.
Dunklin County Jail
Address:
1175 Floyd Street
Kennett, MO 63857
Phone:
573-888-4010
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Dunklin County
Does Dunklin County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dunklin County?
Who can set bail in Dunklin County?
When is bail set in Dunklin County Missouri?
Does Dunklin County have bail?
Yes, Dunklin County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dunklin County?
The Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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, Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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 Dunklin County have bail?
Yes, Dunklin County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Dunklin County?
The Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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 Dunklin County Jail for more information about the jails in Dunklin County.
What options are there to pay bail in Dunklin County Missouri?
All Dunklin 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 Dunklin County Jail for more information about posting bail in Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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 Dunklin 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.