Lewis County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lewis County bail: a Monticello jail guide for families
Monticello, a tiny town in the middle of the county, is the seat of Lewis County, Missouri. Most residents live in Canton and La Grange along the Mississippi River or in Ewing and Lewistown farther west. People charged under state law here are generally jailed in Monticello. Inmate search: Lewis County Inmate Search.
Monticello's jail
The Lewis County Jail is found at 107 S. Washington St., Monticello, MO 63457. The jail and the sheriff share one number, 573-767-5287.
The clerk's office
Write to the Lewis County circuit clerk at PO Box 8, Monticello, MO 63457, or call 573-767-5352 on weekdays. Bond records, court settings, and refunds are managed there.
Is the person in custody?
Start with the Lewis County Inmate Search. An arrest in Canton or La Grange means a drive inland to Monticello, and posting can lag. If you strike out online, call Washington Street with the person's full name and birthday.
Facts to gather by phone
- That your relative is jailed in Monticello.
- Every charge on the booking.
- The bond, if set, and whether cash or surety.
- Whether Illinois, Iowa, or some agency wants the person held.
- An inmate number you can quote next time.
A blank where the bond should be
That's typical before charges are filed. Missouri gives authorities a day after a warrantless arrest to charge or release, and the judge sets terms once a charge exists. A warrant arrest may already carry an amount written by the issuing judge.
Lewis County's circuit
Adair, Knox, and Lewis make up the 2nd Judicial Circuit. In Monticello an associate judge typically meets new defendants first and fixes their opening terms. Court isn't in session every day in a county this size.
Missouri's bail rule
Rule 33.01 asks judges to use the gentlest conditions that still make a return to court likely and keep people safe. Cash isn't mandatory. When it's ordered, the judge should consider whether the defendant can raise the money.
Going home on a signed pledge
Recognizance means no deposit, only a signed promise. A Monticello judge may attach rules like staying away from a particular person, sobriety, or a curfew. Family farms, river-town jobs, and decades of local roots help a defendant here.
Types of release
- A promise with no money.
- Full cash.
- A partial cash amount, if allowed by the order.
- A surety bond from a licensed bondsman.
- Real estate equity, when approved.
- Supervision or a monitor.
When the first hearing comes
With limited court days in Monticello, an arrest late in the week may mean days in custody. If the terms are out of reach, the defense can ask for reconsideration under Rule 33.05, which Missouri wants handled quickly.
Bondsman fees
A bail agent puts up the whole bond and keeps a percentage as the premium. Agencies serving Lewis County may come from Hannibal, Quincy, or Kirksville. Ask about rates, any extra charges, collateral, and co-signer duties, and compare the answers with the written contract.
A bondsman without a current Missouri license can't write your bond, so ask to see one.
River-bottom land and farms as bail
If the judge accepts it, equity in farmland or a house can back the bond. Bring the deed, the loan balance, and a value estimate. Land in the Mississippi bottoms may need extra documentation if it's been flooded.
How payment works
Phone 573-767-5287 first to see which kinds of money Washington Street can take tonight, and whether a weekday bond belongs with the clerk at 573-767-5352. Bring a photo ID.
Cards
Card acceptance couldn't be verified. Ask, and bring a money order just in case.
Who can post
Most adults with identification. Since the refund follows whoever paid, hold onto your slip.
Release after paying
Before release, staff sign off on forms, search other agencies' records, and give back property. Call ahead to see when your relative will be ready, and plan the drive out of Monticello.
Warrants from Illinois, Iowa, or nearby counties
Lewis bail only covers Lewis charges. Across the Mississippi, Adams and Hancock counties in Illinois are close by, and Iowa is a short drive north. Warrants from those states, or from Marion, Clark, Knox, Shelby, or Scotland counties, can keep your relative in Monticello. An Illinois or Iowa warrant can mean an extradition hearing or waiver, and counsel should advise on it.
Other holds
Parole officers, out-of-state judges, and immigration officers may ask the jail to keep someone. Local bail doesn't touch those requests.
Canton and La Grange city cases
River towns like Canton and La Grange may handle ordinance violations in their own municipal courts. Bail there is separate from the 2nd Circuit, so ask which court has each charge.
Paperwork
Keep the bond form, which lists Monticello court dates and every condition, plus your receipt. Photograph both.
Violations
If a condition is broken, the prosecutor can ask a 2nd Circuit judge to revoke. Outcomes include an arrest order, higher bail, or detention through trial. A condition that clashes with farm work or a job should be raised with the lawyer early.
Agent surrender
Bail contracts let the bondsman bring a client back to Monticello and end the bond, usually after lost contact or signs of flight. Answer the agent's calls.
Asking for a reduction
Counsel can file a motion seeking a smaller figure or lighter rules. Farm or job income records, a Lewis County address, and proof of dependents help.
Court dates
Case.net shows the docket under the 2nd Circuit. Pick Lewis County and confirm it isn't an Adair or Knox case.
Refund of a cash bond
When a Lewis case closes with every appearance kept, the judge discharges the bail and a check goes to the person who paid. Before that, the judge can apply some of it to fines, court costs, or restitution. Checks from small counties may take several weeks, and an outdated address slows things further, so let the clerk know if you move.
The bondsman's cut
A premium is the agency's pay for standing behind the bond, and it stays with them even if charges vanish in a week. Collateral works differently. Titles, deeds, or deposits you pledged should come back when the Monticello judge releases the bond, as the contract describes.
If charges are dropped
A dismissal leaves the bail with nothing to secure, so it's released. Posted money returns by way of the clerk, minus whatever the court assesses. Save every receipt in case prosecutors decide to refile later.
Missing a hearing
A defendant who doesn't show up in Monticello can expect a warrant, and the court may forfeit the bail. If a bondsman wrote the bond, the company has every reason to locate its client quickly and may ask the co-signer to cover the loss. Ice on rural roads, a flooded river crossing, or a medical emergency should be explained to the defense attorney right away.
When the arrested person is a minor
Under-18 cases normally go to the 2nd Circuit juvenile officer instead of the adult bond system. A youth who must be held usually goes to a juvenile center, not the Monticello jail, and that center may be some distance away. Parents should call the juvenile office to learn the location and the date of the custody hearing.
Appointed lawyers
For defendants who can't afford counsel, Missouri's public defender system may provide one. Ask the Monticello judge at the opening hearing, and expect to list income and debts on a form. An assigned attorney may then argue the bail down.
Federal arrests
For federal purposes Lewis belongs to Missouri's Eastern District, and its cases travel to the Northern Division in Hannibal, where a magistrate judge decides pretrial release. Washington Street staff have no role in federal bail. Read more on the Eastern District website.
An arrest over in Quincy or Keokuk
Those cities are in Illinois and Iowa, so an arrest there is handled by that state's courts and bail rules. If Lewis County also has a warrant, the person may need to resolve the out-of-state case first and then be returned to Missouri. A lawyer in each state can explain the timing.
Where do Canton arrests end up?
State-charge prisoners from Canton are generally held at the county jail in Monticello. A Canton or La Grange police arrest may start at a local office, but people held on state charges generally end up in Monticello. Ask the arresting department where your relative was taken.
Can bail rules stop someone from crossing into Illinois for work?
Many Lewis County residents commute across the bridges to jobs in Quincy or elsewhere in Illinois. A judge can restrict out-of-state travel as a condition, which could cut off that work. The defense lawyer should raise the commute at the hearing and ask for an exception, with proof of the job.
Call Monticello before you drive
Ring 573-767-5287 first. Check that your relative is still there, confirm the bond amount and kind, ask about holds from Illinois, Iowa, or neighboring counties, and learn which payment the jail will accept when you arrive.
Pack a driver's license and write the booking number on your hand if you need to. This page gives a general outline of Lewis County bail; a lawyer can address the actual charges.
Lewis County Jail
Address:
107 S. Washington St.
Monticello, MO 63457
Phone:
573-767-5287
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lewis County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lewis County?
Who can set bail in Lewis County?
When is bail set in Lewis County Missouri?
Does Lewis County have bail?
Yes, Lewis County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lewis County?
The Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis 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, Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis County have bail?
Yes, Lewis County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lewis County?
The Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis County Jail for more information about the jails in Lewis County.
What options are there to pay bail in Lewis County Missouri?
All Lewis 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 Lewis County Jail for more information about posting bail in Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis 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.