Howard County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Howard County bail: steps for families when someone is jailed in Fayette
Fayette, a college town north of the Missouri River, is the seat of Howard County, Missouri. Glasgow, New Franklin, and Armstrong also lie within the county, which sits between Columbia and the river towns to the west. State-law arrests made anywhere in the county typically lead to the county jail in Fayette. Inmate search: Howard County Inmate Search.
Finding the jail in Fayette
The Howard County Jail is at 100 N Mulberry St, Fayette, MO 65248, a short walk from the courthouse square. Call 660-248-2477 to ask about anyone held there.
Getting in touch with the court
We didn't locate a verified phone listing for the Howard County circuit clerk. The jail can usually tell you what court a case is in, and once a charge is filed, Case.net will show the docket and any bond entries.
Checking whether someone was booked
Try the Howard County Inmate Search first. A small jail may take some time to post a new booking, so if the name isn't showing, dial Mulberry Street and give the full name and birthday.
What to learn from the deputy
- Whether your relative is in the Fayette jail.
- The charges as written at booking.
- The bail amount and type, if set.
- Whether a detainer exists from another county, state, or agency.
- The booking number for future calls.
Why the jail may not have a bail figure
In many cases, charges haven't been filed yet. Missouri allows authorities 24 hours after an arrest without a warrant to file or release, and bail is usually set after that step. When deputies serve an existing warrant, the bond is often printed on it, and staff can share that number.
The court that decides
Howard County shares the 14th Judicial Circuit with Randolph County. The defendant's first appearance normally takes place in Fayette before an associate circuit judge, who sets initial release terms.
What the law asks of judges
Missouri's Rule 33.01 tells a judge to impose only the conditions needed to make a return to court reasonably likely and to keep the community safe. Money isn't always required. If cash or a surety bond is ordered, the court is supposed to consider what the defendant can afford, so poverty doesn't decide who stays in jail.
Release on recognizance
Some defendants walk out after signing a promise to appear. A judge can attach conditions to that promise, such as avoiding a particular person, staying sober, keeping a curfew, or checking in with a supervisor. Ties to Fayette or Glasgow, steady work, and little criminal history make this more likely.
Types of release in the 14th Circuit
- A signature bond with no money.
- The full amount paid in cash.
- A partial deposit, where the judge writes that in.
- A surety bond from a licensed agent.
- Land or a home pledged as security.
- GPS, alcohol monitoring, or supervised release.
How soon a judge may act
Court schedules in Fayette are limited, so timing depends on when the arrest happened. An arrest on a Friday night can mean a wait until the next session. When the amount is out of reach, a lawyer can ask for Rule 33.05 review, which state rules say should happen promptly.
The cost of a bail bondsman
A surety agent posts the full bond and earns a premium, figured as a share of the bond, which the agency keeps whatever happens in the case. Agencies serving Fayette are often based in Columbia, Boonville, or Moberly. Ask about the percentage, extra fees, collateral, and what a co-signer would owe, and have every detail written into the contract before you sign.
Missouri requires bail agents to be licensed through its insurance regulator. Ask for the license number and check it.
Putting up property
Equity in Howard County real estate can sometimes stand in for cash, at the judge's discretion. Plan to bring the deed, a recent mortgage statement, and some proof of value. Pulling those together takes time, so families sometimes hire an agent first and pursue property later if needed.
Bringing the money
Before heading to Fayette, phone 660-248-2477 and ask what kind of payment the jail accepts at that hour and whether daytime bonds go to the court instead. Bring a government photo ID.
Plastic or paper?
We couldn't confirm that cards are taken. Ask during your call, and tuck a postal money order in your bag so a "no" doesn't stall you.
Who is allowed to post bail
Generally any adult with valid identification may post. Refund checks are written to the depositor, so if it's your money, make sure your name is on the receipt.
From payment to release
After the bond is posted, ask the jail how long release should take. Deputies complete the paperwork, look for other warrants, and return personal property. A hold from another agency will stop everything until it's resolved.
Warrants from Boone, Randolph, Cooper, or Saline
Howard bail covers Howard charges only. With Columbia so close, warrants from Boone County come up often, along with ones from Randolph, Cooper, Saline, Chariton, and Callaway. Any of those can keep the person in Fayette until the other county takes custody or its own bail is posted. Learn which county wants the person and contact its sheriff.
Holds from other agencies
A state parole officer, a court in another state, or immigration authorities can file a detainer asking the Fayette jail to keep someone. Posting Howard bail doesn't remove it, so ask about holds on your first call.
Municipal court charges
Fayette and Glasgow may hear city ordinance violations in their own municipal courts. A city charge follows that court's bail process, separate from the 14th Circuit. Have the deputy sort city from state before you hand over money.
Keeping the bond paperwork
Two documents matter most: the bond or release form, which lists each Fayette court date and every condition, and the receipt showing who paid and how much. Keep them together and take photos of each in case one goes missing.
When a release rule is broken
If the defendant violates a condition, the prosecutor may move to revoke release. Possible results include an arrest, a bigger bail, or an order keeping the defendant in jail until the case ends. If a condition is unrealistic, the defense lawyer can ask to modify it before a violation happens.
The bondsman ending the bond
Most surety contracts let the agent surrender the client to the Fayette jail and get off the bond. Agents tend to do that when they can't reach the client or suspect the client plans to leave. Answer calls, keep check-ins, and tell the agency about any change of address.
Asking to reduce bail
Through a written motion, counsel can petition the 14th Circuit asking for a lower amount or lighter conditions. Proof of a job, a lease or deed in Howard County, school or medical obligations, and family who depend on the defendant all help make the case.
Looking up the case
Search Case.net by name or case number, selecting the 14th Circuit and Howard County. Randolph shares the circuit, so confirm the county before relying on any date.
Getting a cash bond back
Provided no hearing was skipped, the judge discharges the bond at the close of the case and a check goes out, typically in the depositor's name. Fines, court costs, or restitution may be deducted first. Refunds can take several weeks, so keep your mailing address up to date with the court.
Whether the premium comes back
Expect to lose that money; a premium pays the company for its exposure from day one, regardless of the outcome. Pledged collateral, by contrast, ought to come back when Fayette's court closes out the bail, per your paperwork.
When charges are dropped
A dismissal releases the bail, since there's no case left to guarantee. Deposited money is returned by the court less any assessments. Hold onto the receipt anyway; Howard prosecutors could refile later.
Missing a court date
An absence in Fayette court commonly results in an arrest order and a forfeiture of the posted money. Bail companies whose bonds are forfeited go looking for their clients and can bill co-signers. Flood-closed river roads or a trip to the hospital are reasons a judge may hear out, but only if the lawyer reports them quickly.
Arrests of people under 18
A teenager's case is generally run by the circuit's juvenile staff, and adult bond rules don't apply. Youths are often placed in a juvenile center rather than on Mulberry Street. A parent who calls that office early can learn the placement and the hearing schedule.
Getting a public defender
Missouri funds a statewide defender office for people without the means to hire counsel. Request one when the defendant first sees the Fayette judge, then complete the income paperwork. An appointed attorney can also argue for a lower bond or workable conditions.
Federal cases from Howard County
When federal agents file charges, the case moves to Jefferson City, home of the Western District's Central Division. A magistrate there handles pretrial release under federal law, and Fayette can't take bail money for it. Visit the Western District website for specifics.
Does a Central Methodist student get treated differently?
Being a college student in Fayette isn't a legal category for bail, but the facts around it can matter. A judge may look at whether the student lives locally during the term, has family elsewhere, and will be around for hearings over breaks. Parents from out of town should be ready to explain how the student will make every court date.
A last phone call to Fayette
Ring 660-248-2477 before you leave the house. Ask if your relative is still on Mulberry Street, have the deputy repeat the bond figure and type, check on Boone or other holds, and find out what payment will be accepted when you walk in.
Take a license or state ID and the booking number. This explains Howard County bail broadly; for advice on the charge, see an attorney.
Howard County Jail
Address:
100 N Mulberry St
Fayette, MO 65248
Phone:
660-248-2477
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Howard County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Howard County?
Who can set bail in Howard County?
When is bail set in Howard County Missouri?
Does Howard County have bail?
Yes, Howard County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Howard County?
The Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard 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, Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard County have bail?
Yes, Howard County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Howard County?
The Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard County Jail for more information about the jails in Howard County.
What options are there to pay bail in Howard County Missouri?
All Howard 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 Howard County Jail for more information about posting bail in Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard 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.