Lawrence County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lawrence County bail: getting answers about the Mount Vernon jail
Mount Vernon sits along Interstate 44 between Springfield and Joplin and serves as seat of Lawrence County, Missouri. Aurora is the county's largest town, and Marionville, Pierce City, Miller, and part of Monett are here too. State-charge arrests across the county generally lead to booking at the jail in Mount Vernon. Inmate search: Lawrence County Inmate Search.
Jail on Missouri Drive
Detainees are held at the Lawrence County Jail, 1525 Missouri Drive, Mount Vernon, MO 65712. Both the jail and the sheriff's office answer at 417-466-2131.
Sheriff's mail is addressed to 240 N. Main, PO Box 107, Mount Vernon.
Clerk of the circuit court
Lawrence County court files are kept at 240 N Main St Ste. 110, Mount Vernon, MO 65712. Phone 417-466-2471 during the week about filings, bonds, or refunds.
Online lookup
Run the name through the Lawrence County Inmate Search. Aurora police and Highway Patrol troopers may need some time to transport and book a person, so an absent entry isn't proof of release. A phone call to Missouri Drive, with a full name and birthday, fills the gap.
Notes for your first call
- Where the person is held right now.
- Each charge as booked.
- Bond type and dollar figure, if any.
- Holds from Barry, Greene, another state, or an agency.
- The booking number.
Why there's no number yet
A warrantless arrest starts a 24-hour clock in Missouri for charges to be filed, and bail usually waits for that step. If deputies served a warrant instead, the judge who signed it may have listed an amount already.
Barry, Lawrence, and Stone
Those three counties form the 39th Judicial Circuit. A Lawrence case usually begins with an associate judge in Mount Vernon, who holds the first appearance and picks the starting terms.
The rule behind every decision
Under Rule 33.01, Missouri judges select conditions no heavier than needed to secure attendance and safety. A good share of defendants are released without money. Where cash or surety is ordered, a judge should weigh the defendant's actual means.
Recognizance
A recognizance order lets someone go home on a signed pledge to appear. Typical add-ons in Mount Vernon include no contact with an alleged victim, sobriety, a curfew, and phone check-ins. A job in Aurora or Monett and family close by help.
The menu of release types
- Signature only.
- Cash covering everything.
- A partial deposit, if the judge permits.
- A bondsman's surety.
- A deed to property, upon approval.
- Pretrial supervision or GPS.
How long before a judge reviews it
A weekday booking may reach the bench fairly soon; one on Saturday may wait until Monday or later. When terms are unattainable, counsel can cite Rule 33.05 and get a speedy rehearing.
Bondsmen in southwest Missouri
Agencies from Mount Vernon, Aurora, Springfield, and Joplin all write bonds here. Each backs the full bail for a premium, usually a percentage, and keeps that fee. Before you sign, get the percentage, extra costs, collateral, and co-signing duties in writing.
Missouri's insurance regulator licenses bail agents; any agent should give you a license number to check.
Land or a house as bail
A Lawrence County judge can accept real estate if the equity is enough. Bring a deed, a loan payoff figure, and proof of value. Dairy farms and acreage common here can work, but documents take time.
Making payment
Phone 417-466-2131 first and ask which forms of money are accepted at that hour. During the business day, ask whether the clerk at 417-466-2471 should take it instead. Carry ID.
About cards
Card payments couldn't be confirmed. Ask, and keep a money order in reserve.
Who's eligible to post
An adult who brings identification. Because cash refunds follow the depositor, guard the receipt.
Once bail is paid
Staff on Missouri Drive finish paperwork, run a warrant search, and return property. Call to check progress, and line up a ride.
Warrants from Barry, Greene, Jasper, or Dade
Lawrence bail settles Lawrence charges only. Neighbors such as Barry, Greene, Jasper, Dade, Christian, and Stone often have warrants out, and any can keep your relative in Mount Vernon pending transport by that sheriff or payment of its separate bail. Ask which county is waiting.
Stops on Interstate 44
Troopers patrol I-44 through Mount Vernon heavily, and many people stopped live out of state. A Lawrence charge still requires coming back to Mount Vernon. Proof of a stable address and job can help a judge accept release for someone who lives far off.
Detainers
Holds may come from parole staff, courts elsewhere, or immigration officers. None vanish when Lawrence bail is posted.
Municipal tickets
Aurora, Mount Vernon, Pierce City, and Marionville may send ordinance violations to their own municipal judges, with bail apart from the 39th Circuit. Ask which charges are city charges.
Documents to hang onto
Mount Vernon will give you a bond document naming each hearing and rule, plus a payment receipt. Keep both somewhere safe and take pictures.
Breaking a condition
After a violation, a prosecutor can ask the 39th Circuit to revoke. Options include a new arrest order, a higher bail, or hold the defendant to trial. An unworkable rule should go back to the judge through the lawyer before it's broken.
When the bondsman returns a client
Contracts usually permit the agent to bring a client back to Missouri Drive and cancel the bond. Missed check-ins or signs of a move are the usual triggers.
Reducing the bond
A written motion from counsel can seek a lower figure or softer terms. Pay stubs from a Lawrence employer, a lease or deed, and proof of dependents strengthen it.
Case.net
Search Case.net under the 39th Circuit and Lawrence County. Since Barry and Stone share the circuit, check the county shown.
Getting the cash back
Provided the defendant made every Mount Vernon setting, the judge exonerates the bail when the case is over. The clerk on North Main then cuts a check, normally to the person who deposited the money, after any fines, court costs, or restitution the judge applies. That can take a few weeks, so the clerk needs an address that will still be good.
The premium
A bail agent's percentage is the price of the guarantee and is the company's from the moment it signs on, whether the case lasts a day or a year. Collateral such as a pickup title or a deed is another matter, and it comes home to you after the Mount Vernon judge closes out the bail.
Dismissals
If prosecutors drop a Lawrence case, the bail has nothing left to secure and is released. Money posted with the court goes back to the depositor minus whatever the judge assesses. Keep the receipt even so, because charges dismissed without prejudice may come back.
Skipped court
An empty seat at a Mount Vernon hearing usually leads to a warrant, and the court can declare the bail forfeited. Bondsmen who lose money that way often search for their client and press the co-signer for repayment. A breakdown on I-44 or an emergency room visit should be reported to the defense lawyer within hours.
Minors
A child under 18 is generally handled by the 39th Circuit's juvenile staff rather than through adult bail. Detained youths go to a juvenile facility, which may be outside Lawrence County. Parents should get in touch with the juvenile office right away to find the child and learn when a judge will review custody.
Public defender
The state's defender program supplies counsel to people who can't pay a lawyer. A Lawrence defendant asks at the first appearance and completes a short financial statement. Appointed counsel can then argue for a smaller bond or terms that fit the defendant's work and family.
Federal court
A federal charge from Lawrence County is heard in Joplin by the Western District of Missouri's Southwestern Division. A magistrate there decides pretrial release, and the Mount Vernon jail can't collect any money for it. The Western District website explains more.
Does an arrest in Monett belong to Lawrence or Barry County?
Monett straddles the Barry and Lawrence line, so the spot where the arrest happened decides the county. A Barry case goes to that county's jail and court in Cassville, while a Lawrence case stays in Mount Vernon. Before any trip, get the officer or a dispatcher to tell you which prosecutor has the file.
Can a farmworker or seasonal employee get released?
Steady work of any kind helps at a bail hearing, including dairy, poultry, or seasonal jobs. A letter from the employer and a local address show ties to the area. For a defendant who isn't a U.S. citizen, ask early about any immigration hold, since local bail won't resolve one.
Phone Mount Vernon first
Call 417-466-2131 before you leave home. Check that your relative is still on Missouri Drive, ask how much bail stands and what kind, look into Barry or Greene detainers, and learn which payments will be accepted when you arrive.
Pocket a license and a slip with the booking number. This page lays out Lawrence County bail in general; a lawyer can speak to the specific charge.
Lawrence County Jail
Address:
1525 Missouri Drive
Mt. Vernon, MO 65712
Phone:
417-466-2131
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lawrence County
Does Lawrence County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence County?
Who can set bail in Lawrence County?
When is bail set in Lawrence County Missouri?
Does Lawrence County have bail?
Yes, Lawrence County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence County?
The Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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, Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County have bail?
Yes, Lawrence County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lawrence County?
The Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Jail for more information about the jails in Lawrence County.
What options are there to pay bail in Lawrence County Missouri?
All Lawrence 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 Lawrence County Jail for more information about posting bail in Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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.