Livingston County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Livingston County bail: Chillicothe cases and the Kingston detention center
Chillicothe, the "Home of Sliced Bread," is the seat of Livingston County, Missouri, with Chula, Wheeling, Dawn, and Utica nearby. Livingston arrests are booked here but the people are held at a detention center one county west in Kingston, so a bond question often needs two phone calls. Inmate search: Livingston County Inmate Search.
Which jail holds Livingston prisoners?
Livingston County prisoners are generally kept at the Caldwell County Detention Center, 280 W. Main Street, Kingston, MO 64650, phone 816-586-5245. Kingston lies west of Chillicothe, so plan on a drive of the better part of an hour. Kingston has custody; Chillicothe still owns the case. A few Livingston prisoners may instead be held at the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail in Pattonsburg, phone 660-367-2200.
Reaching the Livingston sheriff
The sheriff's office sits at 901 Webster St, Chillicothe, MO 64601. Its number is 660-646-0515. Deputies there can tell you whether a Livingston warrant or arrest exists and if a bond figure has been entered.
The Chillicothe clerk
Paperwork for Livingston cases, including bonds and refunds, runs through the circuit clerk at 700 Webster St, Suite 11, Chillicothe, MO 64601. Call 660-646-8000 during weekday office hours.
Looking someone up
Start with the Livingston County Inmate Search. Since the body is in Kingston, Caldwell's roster could list the person first. If both come up empty, the Chillicothe sheriff can check by full name and birth date.
A short checklist for the first call
- Is the person in Kingston on a Livingston charge?
- Which offenses were booked?
- Has bail been entered, and is it cash, surety, or signature?
- Are there holds from anywhere else?
- What's the booking number?
Why two counties are involved
Caldwell County simply rents bed space. It has no say over a Livingston bond. A Chillicothe judge sets the amount and terms, and the Livingston clerk keeps the file and handles any money returned. Kingston lets the person go after Livingston's requirements are met.
Before any bail exists
A newly arrested person without a warrant may have no bond for a while. Missouri lets police hold someone 24 hours while prosecutors decide on charges, and a judge sets release terms once they do. A served Livingston warrant often lists bail already.
Courts in the 43rd Circuit
Livingston belongs to the 43rd Judicial Circuit along with Caldwell, Clinton, DeKalb, and Daviess. First appearances on Livingston charges are usually held in Chillicothe before an associate circuit judge.
Rules for setting bail
Missouri's Rule 33.01 makes judges choose the lightest conditions that still bring the person to court and protect others. Money is one tool, not a requirement, and an amount must take what the defendant can pay into account.
Release on a promise
Some Livingston defendants are released on their own recognizance, with only a signature. Judges may add terms like no contact, sobriety, a nightly curfew, or reporting. Steady work in Chillicothe, a Livingston lease, and family nearby help.
Bond forms used here
- Recognizance, no money.
- Cash in full.
- Partial cash, when the judge allows it.
- Surety through a licensed agent.
- Real estate, if approved.
- Supervision or electronic monitoring.
How long it can take
Weekend arrests may wait for a judge on Monday. If the terms can't be met, a lawyer can request a Rule 33.05 review, something Missouri requires to happen promptly.
Bondsmen for Livingston cases
Agents in Chillicothe, Cameron, Trenton, or Kansas City may cover a Livingston bond. They promise the court the full amount and keep a nonrefundable fee, usually a percentage. Ask about travel fees for posting in Kingston, any collateral, and co-signer duties. Get the terms on paper.
Missouri insurance regulators license bail agents. Request the agent's number and verify it online.
Using a home or land
With the judge's okay, property equity can secure a Livingston bond. You'll likely need the deed, current loan balance, and a valuation. It's slower than a bondsman.
Paying a Livingston bond
Call first, since the jail and court are in separate towns. The Livingston sheriff at 660-646-0515 or the Kingston center at 816-586-5245 can say where to pay and what forms of money work right now. On weekdays the Chillicothe clerk at 660-646-8000 may handle it. Have ID with you.
Debit or credit
Card rules for Livingston bonds went unconfirmed in our research. Ask on the phone and bring a money order in case.
Who may post the money
Any adult with ID can normally post. Refunds usually go to the person named on the receipt, so hold on to it.
Release from Kingston
Once paid, Caldwell's officers handle discharge, run a warrant search, and hand back personal items. Ask what time and arrange transportation back to Chillicothe.
Holds from neighboring counties
A Livingston bond doesn't clear charges from Linn, Grundy, Carroll, Caldwell, Daviess, or other counties. Each one can stall a release. Ask the jail what holds exist.
Parole, federal, and immigration holds
State probation officers, other states' courts, and immigration agents can each lodge a detainer. Livingston bail has no effect on them.
Chillicothe municipal tickets
The city of Chillicothe has a municipal court for city ordinance cases, and its bail runs separately from the county's. Find out whether a charge is city or county before paying.
Paperwork you'll receive
Save the release order with each Chillicothe court date and every condition, plus the money receipt. A phone photo is a good backup, and the defendant should know hearings are in Chillicothe, not Kingston.
Breaking a condition
If a term is violated, the prosecutor may ask a 43rd Circuit judge to revoke release. That could mean a new warrant, a higher bond, or detention in Kingston until trial. A lawyer can request a change if a rule clashes with work hours.
Surrender by the bail agent
Surety contracts typically allow the company to hand its client back to jail and cancel the bond when check-ins stop or flight seems likely. Answer the agent's calls.
Reducing bail
A defense lawyer can ask the Chillicothe judge to lower the amount or ease terms. Show income, a Livingston address, and dependents.
Case.net
On Case.net, pick the 43rd Circuit and Livingston County. Five counties share this circuit, so confirm the county on each case you find.
Getting cash bail returned
After a case ends with all hearings attended, the court discharges bail, and the Livingston clerk sends the deposit back, usually to the poster. The court may first subtract what the defendant owes. Allow several weeks and tell the clerk if you move.
Bondsman fees
The premium isn't refunded. Collateral you put up comes back as the agreement spells out, after the Livingston judge discharges the bond.
If the case is dismissed
A dismissal ends the bond, and cash posted is returned after any court deductions. Keep your records in case of a refiling.
Skipping court in Chillicothe
Missing a hearing typically leads to a warrant and may forfeit the bail. A surety may pursue its client and bill whoever co-signed. Car trouble or illness should be reported to the lawyer the same day.
Juveniles
Livingston youths are generally handled by the 43rd Circuit juvenile office under separate rules, not adult bail. Detained youths are held at juvenile facilities. Parents should phone the juvenile office early.
Public defender
Defendants who can't afford counsel can ask for a state public defender at the first appearance and complete a financial form. An appointed lawyer may seek lower bail.
Federal cases
Livingston is in Missouri's Western District. Federal cases go to the St. Joseph Division, and a magistrate decides release. The sheriff and Kingston center don't handle federal release. Details are on the Western District website.
What if someone from Livingston is picked up on Highway 36 in another county?
US-36 runs through Livingston, Linn, and Caldwell counties. An arrest just over the line becomes that county's case, with its own bond and court, even if the person lives in Chillicothe. Ask the arresting agency which county is charging.
Can a Kansas City bondsman post in Kingston?
Possibly. Any Missouri-licensed agent can write the bond, but some charge extra to drive to Kingston. Compare the full cost, including mileage, and ask how fast they can get there. An agent based in Chillicothe or Cameron may be closer than one in the city, which can mean a quicker release from Kingston.
Call ahead
Before driving, call the sheriff at 660-646-0515 or the Kingston center at 816-586-5245. Confirm where the person is, the bond and type, any holds, and where to pay.
Bring ID and the booking number. This page gives general Livingston County bail information; a lawyer can advise on a specific charge.
Livingston County Jail
Address:
Livingston County Jail
Chillicothe, MO
Phone:
816-586-5245
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Livingston County
Does Livingston County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Livingston County?
Who can set bail in Livingston County?
When is bail set in Livingston County Missouri?
Does Livingston County have bail?
Yes, Livingston County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Livingston County?
The Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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, Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston County have bail?
Yes, Livingston County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Livingston County?
The Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston County Jail for more information about the jails in Livingston County.
What options are there to pay bail in Livingston County Missouri?
All Livingston 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 Livingston County Jail for more information about posting bail in Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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.