Gentry County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Gentry County bail: Albany cases, Pattonsburg jail
Gentry County is rolling farmland in Missouri's northwest corner, with Albany as its seat and Stanberry, King City, and McFall as its other towns. Gentry County, Missouri doesn't hold its own prisoners. Instead they are generally taken east to the regional jail that Daviess and DeKalb counties operate in Pattonsburg. Inmate search: Gentry County Inmate Search.
Which building has my relative?
Most likely the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail, located at 102 N. Meadows Lane, Pattonsburg, MO 64670. Call 660-367-2200 and say up front that the arrest came from Gentry County.
Who answers in Albany?
The Gentry County Sheriff's Office sits at 104 N Polk, Albany, MO 64402; mail goes to PO Box 37, Albany, MO 64402. Its number is 660-726-3721.
Our research didn't turn up a direct line for Gentry's circuit clerk. The sheriff's office can point you to the right court office.
Can I search online?
The Gentry County Inmate Search is the place to try. A prisoner from Gentry is physically in another county's facility, so the entry may sit in the regional jail's records instead. When the search comes up empty, phone Pattonsburg with the full name and birth date.
Jot these down during the call
- Is the person in Pattonsburg on a Gentry case?
- What were they booked for?
- Bond amount and type, if any.
- Other agencies with a hold.
- Booking number.
Why might bail not exist yet?
Charges come first. If officers arrested without a warrant, Missouri gives prosecutors a 24-hour window to file before the person must be let go, and bail normally isn't available until the charge is in. Reports moving from Albany to the prosecutor and the court can take time.
A warrant arrest is different. The judge often attaches a bond to the warrant itself, so ask whether one is listed.
Which court has Gentry cases?
The 4th Judicial Circuit, a five-county district in Missouri's northwest corner that also covers Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Worth. Gentry criminal cases usually open before an associate circuit judge in Albany, who sets the first conditions of release even though the defendant is housed out of county.
What legal test applies?
The state high court's Rule 33.01. It steers judges toward the least burdensome terms likely to get the accused back to court while protecting others. A money amount is optional; when one is set, it's supposed to fit the defendant's real finances.
Signature bonds
Recognizance lets a judge send a defendant home on a signed pledge to come back, with no money changing hands. Small-town roots, a farm or job to tend, and a minor charge all help. Rules like no-contact orders can still be attached.
The bond choices
- Personal recognizance.
- Cash, all of it.
- A partial deposit, if the court agrees.
- Surety from a licensed bail agent.
- Property, at the judge's discretion.
- Supervision or a monitor.
How long until a hearing?
A rural associate court may not sit on criminal matters every day, and with the defendant held in Pattonsburg, getting them before the Albany judge takes coordination. Weekends and holidays slow things. When bail can't be met, a lawyer can file under Rule 33.05 for a quick second look.
Agents and their fees
For a cut of the bond called the premium, an agent guarantees the entire amount; that cut is never returned. Ask how much, what other charges apply, what collateral is wanted, and who must co-sign, then insist it's all on paper. Distances in this corner of the state are long, so ask whether the agent bills for driving to Pattonsburg or Albany.
Agents must be licensed by Missouri's Department of Commerce and Insurance. Asking for a license number is reasonable.
Can farmland be put up?
Land is often a Gentry family's biggest asset, and a judge may accept it as bond. Expect to document title and equity with a deed, a loan balance, and an estimate of value; it moves slower than cash. Some bail agents, separately, will hold a deed or title as security.
Where to pay
Phone Pattonsburg at 660-367-2200 to ask whether bail on a Gentry case can be posted there and what forms of payment are accepted. You can also call the Albany sheriff's office at 660-726-3721 and ask whether bond can be paid in Gentry County. A couple of calls can spare a long drive in the wrong direction.
Cards
We couldn't confirm card payment. Bring cash or a money order unless told otherwise, and ask about any surcharge if a card service exists.
Who's allowed to post?
Generally any adult with photo ID, related or not. Refunds follow the payer, so the receipt should stay with you.
Knowing when release is near
After the bond is posted, call Pattonsburg and ask how it's going. Staff complete paperwork, run a final warrant check, and return property. Line up a driver ahead of time, since the jail sits a county away from Albany.
Warrants from Nodaway, Worth, or Harrison
Bail on the Gentry case covers only that case. A warrant from Nodaway, Worth, Harrison, DeKalb, Andrew, or another county may leave your relative waiting in Pattonsburg for that agency or its own bail. If DeKalb or Daviess has a case, it's being handled in the same building but still needs separate bail. Ask staff which agencies have holds.
Other holds
Warrants aren't the only thing that can block a release. A state parole or probation officer, a court across the Iowa line or elsewhere, and federal immigration agents can each send a "do not release" request to Pattonsburg. Gentry bail can't override any of them, which is why the hold question belongs on your very first call.
Town ordinance cases
Albany and Stanberry have their own officers. If one wrote a ticket under a city ordinance instead of state law, the matter may sit with a municipal judge whose bail process runs apart from the 4th Circuit. Have deputies sort out which charges are city and which are state.
Hold on to the paperwork
Two papers come out of this: the bond form, naming the Albany dates and each condition, and the receipt, which records who paid and how much. Slip them into one envelope at home. Your relative will need the first for every hearing, and you'll need the second when it's time for a refund.
When a rule gets broken
A broken condition lets the prosecutor seek to pull the release. The Gentry judge can answer with a warrant, a bigger bond, or an order to keep the defendant jailed, and for a Gentry prisoner that almost surely means going back to Pattonsburg. Read each term aloud together on the drive home. If a rule can't be kept, a lawyer can ask to modify it.
An agent ending the bond
Surety paperwork usually lets the bondsman return a client to custody and walk away from the obligation. It's most likely when the agent can't reach the client or suspects a plan to skip. Keep the agent updated on any new phone number or address, and never miss a check-in.
Asking for a lower amount
A defense attorney can file a motion with the 4th Circuit. Rural judges respond to specifics, so collect pay stubs or farm income records, a deed or lease showing a Gentry County home, and letters from family who rely on the defendant. The court can cut the figure, allow a partial deposit, or swap money for supervision.
Checking dates
Go to Case.net, select the 4th Circuit, pick Gentry County, and search the defendant's name. Since five counties share the circuit, confirm the case is a Gentry filing and note the courtroom for each setting.
When cash comes back
Assuming no hearing was missed, the clerk sends cash bail back once the Gentry case closes, usually to the depositor. Before that happens, the court may deduct costs or a fine. The check can take a number of weeks, so keep the court informed of your mailing address.
Premium
Whatever you paid a bondsman as the premium is the agency's to keep; it covers the risk the agent took on. Collateral like a truck title or deed is a separate matter and gets returned after the court closes out the bond, per the contract.
Dismissal
A dismissed case releases the bond. Money you deposited goes back through the clerk after court-assessed amounts. Keep your copies, since a prosecutor can sometimes refile.
Missed court
Missing a Gentry hearing generally means a warrant, and the bail can be forfeited. Where a surety signed on, recovery work may start and the co-signer could owe. If a breakdown on a rural road or an illness caused it, tell a lawyer immediately so the court hears why.
Juveniles
Anyone under 18 is usually handled by the 4th Circuit's juvenile office rather than through adult bail, and a child may not be held in Pattonsburg at all. Parents should call that office the same day to learn where their son or daughter is and when the detention hearing is set.
Public defender
Missouri's public defender system appoints attorneys for defendants who can't pay for one. Ask at the first appearance in Albany, where a financial form will be filled out. Your appointed attorney is also the one to argue the bond down.
Federal arrests
When federal agents bring charges, the case heads to St. Joseph and the Western District's division there. A U.S. magistrate decides pretrial release, and neither Albany nor Pattonsburg can accept money toward it. The Western District website has the details.
Does Daviess or DeKalb have any say over a Gentry bond?
Their jail simply houses the prisoner. The bond amount and every condition come from the 4th Circuit judge on the Gentry case, and only that court can change them. A figure quoted by Pattonsburg staff is the one Gentry's court set.
Call Pattonsburg first
Before you set out, dial 660-367-2200. Confirm your relative is held on a Gentry case, double-check the bond figure, check on holds, and see which forms of money work tonight.
Have identification with you and the booking number on paper. This page offers general background on bail; for advice about the charge, talk to a lawyer.
Gentry County Jail
Address:
Gentry County Jail
Albany, MO
Phone:
660-663-2031
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Gentry County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Gentry County?
Who can set bail in Gentry County?
When is bail set in Gentry County Missouri?
Does Gentry County have bail?
Yes, Gentry County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Gentry County?
The Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry 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, Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry County have bail?
Yes, Gentry County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Gentry County?
The Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry County Jail for more information about the jails in Gentry County.
What options are there to pay bail in Gentry County Missouri?
All Gentry 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 Gentry County Jail for more information about posting bail in Gentry 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 Gentry 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 Gentry 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.