Franklin County Adult Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Franklin County

Missouri • Franklin County • Bail & bond help

Franklin County bail: the detention center in Union

Franklin County stretches from the edge of the St. Louis suburbs out along Interstate 44 and the Missouri River, taking in Washington, Pacific, St. Clair, Sullivan, New Haven, and the county seat, Union. Adults arrested on state charges in Franklin County, Missouri are usually booked at the county's detention center in Union. Inmate search: Franklin County Inmate Search.

Where is the detention center?

The Franklin County Adult Detention Center is at #1 Bruns Lane, Union, MO 63084, phone 636-582-8600.

The sheriff's office is listed at 1 Bruns Dr, Union, MO 63084 with the number 636-583-2560. For inmate questions, the detention center line is the one to use.

Back to questions ↑

The circuit clerk's office

Paperwork for Franklin County criminal cases, including bonds, runs through the circuit clerk at 401 E Main St, Room 100A, Union, MO 63084. Phone 636-583-7378.

Back to questions ↑

Locating someone after an arrest

Search the Franklin County Inmate Search by name. Large intakes mean a fresh booking may not show up online right away. If the name is missing, phone Bruns Lane and spell out the legal name and date of birth.

Back to questions ↑

Questions for the detention center

  • Has the person been booked at Bruns Lane?
  • What are the charges?
  • Is a bond set, and is it cash, surety, or another type?
  • Is there a hold from any other agency?
  • What's the booking number?

Back to questions ↑

Why is there no bond amount yet?

In the first hours, the prosecutor may still be reviewing reports. For an arrest without a warrant, Missouri caps the wait at 24 hours, after which a charge should be on file or the person let go. Bail normally waits until a case exists.

Warrant arrests can be faster, since the judge who signed the warrant may have set the bond already.

Back to questions ↑

Which court handles bail in Franklin County?

The 20th Judicial Circuit, which includes Franklin, Gasconade, and Osage counties. Franklin cases are heard in Union, where an associate circuit judge typically handles the first appearance and sets initial release terms.

Back to questions ↑

How Missouri judges set conditions

Rule 33.01 directs judges toward the gentlest terms that give a reasonable assurance of appearance and public safety. If a money bond is set, the judge must consider the defendant's ability to pay. The rule isn't meant to let poverty alone keep someone in jail.

Back to questions ↑

Recognizance release

Some defendants are released on their own recognizance, signing a promise to appear with no money posted. Strong ties to Washington, Union, or another Franklin County town, a steady job, and a minor charge all make it more likely. Conditions like no contact or check-ins can be added.

Back to questions ↑

Release options in the 20th Circuit

  • A written promise with no money.
  • Cash covering the entire bond.
  • A partial cash deposit, when the judge permits one.
  • Surety backed by a bail agent.
  • A pledge of real estate, if the court agrees.
  • GPS, alcohol monitoring, or pretrial supervision.

Back to questions ↑

How long until bail is reviewed?

The Union docket drives the timing. A Tuesday arrest may see a judge sooner than one that happens on a holiday weekend. When bail stays out of reach, defense counsel may ask the 20th Circuit to revisit it under Rule 33.05, and that rule expects the court to move promptly.

Back to questions ↑

Bail bondsman fees

In return for guaranteeing the full bond, a surety agent collects a premium pegged to a share of the amount. That money belongs to the agent once the bond is posted. With the St. Louis metro so near, Union has plenty of agencies to choose from, so compare a few. Ask each one for the percentage, any extra paperwork or travel charges, what collateral they want, and whether a co-signer is needed, and get all of it in the contract.

Bail agents need a state license from DCI to work in Missouri. Ask for the number and check it.

Back to questions ↑

Using property as bond

A Franklin County judge has discretion to accept land or a house in place of cash. The owner must prove title and enough equity, typically with a deed, a mortgage statement, and some evidence of value. Pulling those together can take days. Some agencies also accept a deed or vehicle title as collateral under their own agreement, which is separate from anything the court does.

Back to questions ↑

Paying bond in Union

Before driving to Bruns Lane, phone 636-582-8600 and ask how bond can be paid at that hour. During the business week, ask the circuit clerk at 636-583-7378 whether the East Main courthouse accepts bail as well. Knowing which window to use saves you a wasted trip from Washington or Pacific.

Back to questions ↑

Can I pay by card?

Card payment at the detention center wasn't something we could confirm. Ask when you call, and keep cash or a money order handy as a backup. If an outside payment service handles cards, expect it to add its own fee.

Back to questions ↑

Who can post bond?

You don't have to be related. In general, a grown-up who brings valid photo identification may post bail on someone's behalf. Think about whose name goes on the payment, because cash refunds are mailed to the payer, not the defendant.

Back to questions ↑

Checking on release

With bail posted, call Bruns Lane to ask whether release has begun. The staff still process paperwork, look for warrants from elsewhere, and return the personal items logged at booking. In a facility this busy, that can take a while, so stay reachable and plan your pickup.

Back to questions ↑

Warrants from St. Louis County, Jefferson, or Warren

Franklin shares borders with St. Louis County, Jefferson, Warren, St. Charles, Gasconade, Crawford, and Washington counties, so warrants from next door aren't unusual. Bail paid in Union only settles the Franklin case. Another county's warrant can keep your relative at Bruns Lane until that agency arranges transport or its own bail is posted. Ask staff where the warrant came from, then call that agency for the amount.

Back to questions ↑

Holds

Besides other counties, a parole or probation officer, a court in another state, or federal immigration agents can tell the jail not to release someone. A Franklin County bond doesn't override that. Ask about every hold before you pay anything.

Back to questions ↑

City charges

Washington, Union, Pacific, St. Clair, and Sullivan each have police departments, and an ordinance ticket from one of them may be heard in that city's municipal court, which sets bail separately. A single night can produce both a city ticket and a state charge. Ask the detention center to list every case and which court owns it.

Back to questions ↑

Keep these documents

Two pieces of paper matter later. The bond form lists the courtroom, the dates, and each rule your relative has to follow. The receipt is proof of payment. File both in one envelope and hang on to them until the last hearing is behind you.

Back to questions ↑

Violating conditions

If a release rule is broken, prosecutors may ask a judge to revoke. The court then could sign a warrant, increase the amount, or hold the defendant until trial. Read through the conditions together on the ride home. If one can't be followed, for example a curfew that clashes with a night shift, have the lawyer ask for a change.

Back to questions ↑

Bondsman surrender

Most surety agreements give the agent a way out: returning the client to Bruns Lane. That tends to happen when a client stops answering or seems likely to skip. Keep phones on and give the agent advance notice of any move.

Back to questions ↑

Lowering bail

A defense lawyer can ask the 20th Circuit by motion for a lower amount or easier rules. Judges respond to proof, such as recent paychecks, a lease or deed in Franklin County, and evidence of children or relatives who depend on the defendant. Sometimes the court keeps the figure but changes the type of bond.

Back to questions ↑

Court dates

Use Case.net, choose the 20th Circuit and Franklin County, and search by the defendant's name. Since Gasconade and Osage share the circuit, double-check that the case was filed in Franklin.

Back to questions ↑

Cash bond refunds

If every hearing was kept, the clerk returns cash bail once the Franklin case is over, typically to the person who deposited it. Fines and court costs come out of it first. Allow several weeks, and update the clerk if you move.

Back to questions ↑

Premium refunds

What you paid an agent as the premium is the agent's fee for the guarantee and normally isn't refunded, even if charges go away. Pledged items are different and get returned when the bond closes, under your contract.

Back to questions ↑

Dismissals

A dismissal ends the bond. Your deposit is sent back by the Union clerk minus whatever costs were assessed. Because some charges can be filed again, keep the paperwork until the lawyer says it's done.

Back to questions ↑

Missed court

Skipping a hearing in Union usually brings a warrant and can lead to forfeiture. Where a bondsman signed on, expect recovery efforts and a bill for whoever co-signed. A lawyer reached quickly can sometimes explain a genuine emergency to the court.

Back to questions ↑

Juveniles

A youth under 18 is usually handled by the 20th Circuit's juvenile office, not through adult bail. Detention for minors is decided on that track. Moms and dads in Washington or Sullivan should ring the juvenile office immediately.

Back to questions ↑

Public defender

Missouri's public defender system may appoint a lawyer for someone who can't afford one. Bring it up at the first appearance, where a financial form is filled out. Appointed counsel can also argue for lower bail.

Back to questions ↑

Federal charges

A federal arrest in Franklin County moves to the federal courthouse in St. Louis, which serves the Eastern Division of Missouri's Eastern District. A U.S. magistrate decides pretrial release under federal law, and Bruns Lane can't accept money toward a federal case. The Eastern District website explains the process.

Back to questions ↑

Call Union first

Dial 636-582-8600 before leaving. Confirm the current bail amount, check for holds placed elsewhere, and learn what payment the detention center can take at that time.

Bring government identification, plus the booking number. This page explains the bail process generally; a lawyer is the one to advise on the charges.

Back to questions ↑

Franklin County Adult Detention Center

Address:
#1 Bruns Lane
Union, MO 63084
Phone:
636-582-8600

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Franklin County


Does Franklin County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Franklin County?

Who can set bail in Franklin County?

When is bail set in Franklin County Missouri?

 

 

Does Franklin County have bail?

Yes, Franklin County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Franklin County?

The Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County Adult Detention Center 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, Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County have bail?  

Yes, Franklin County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Franklin County? 

The Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County Adult Detention Center for more information about the jails in Franklin County.

What options are there to pay bail in Franklin County Missouri? 

All Franklin 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 Franklin County Adult Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County Adult Detention Center 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Franklin County

Human-verified information Manually curated

Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.