Mercer County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Mercer County bail: Princeton cases and where to start
Princeton is the seat of Mercer County, Missouri, home to only a few thousand residents, tucked against the Iowa line with Mercer and Ravanna as its other small communities. A county this size doesn't always keep people in a local cell, so the most useful first step is a call to the sheriff, who can say where a Mercer prisoner is actually sitting. Inmate search: Mercer County Inmate Search.
The Mercer County Jail in Princeton
Mercer arrests are booked at the Mercer County Jail, 802 East Main Street, Princeton, MO 64673, phone 660-748-3165. The sheriff's office shares that address and number. Deputies can confirm an arrest, tell you where the person is being held, and say whether a bond has been entered.
Where a Mercer prisoner may be held
The Princeton jail is small, about 12 beds, and doesn't run continuously as a long-term holding jail. When it's closed or full, Mercer arrestees are usually moved to a neighboring jail, often the Harrison County Jail, 1501 Central Street, Bethany, MO 64424, phone 660-425-3199. Call Princeton first to learn which jail has your relative before you drive.
Court office
A phone number for the Mercer circuit clerk wasn't verified here. The sheriff can point you to the court, and Case.net carries Mercer case records.
Searching online
Try the Mercer County Inmate Search. If the person is lodged in another county, that jail's roster may be more current. When nothing appears, phone Princeton and spell the legal name, adding a birthday.
A list for the first call
- Where is the person physically held right now?
- Is it a Mercer charge?
- Has bail been set, and of which type?
- Any holds from Iowa or other counties?
- What booking number should you use?
Housing elsewhere doesn't move the case
If a Mercer prisoner sleeps in another county's jail, the case still belongs to Mercer. A Princeton judge sets terms, and Mercer's court handles the file and any refund. The housing jail simply releases the person once Mercer's conditions are met.
Before a bond exists
After a warrantless arrest, Missouri law allows 24 hours for prosecutors to file or release. Then a judge sets conditions. A Mercer warrant may already carry a bond figure.
The 3rd Circuit
Mercer is grouped in the 3rd Judicial Circuit alongside Grundy, Harrison, and Putnam counties. Court in Princeton isn't held every day, and an associate judge typically handles first appearances.
What guides the judge
Missouri Rule 33.01 points the court to the lightest terms adequate to bring the person back to Princeton and protect neighbors. Money is optional, and an amount should fit the person's finances.
Release on recognizance
With a signature and a promise to return, some Mercer defendants go home without paying. Conditions such as staying away from someone, no alcohol, a curfew, or checking in may come with it. A farm or job in the county and family close by help.
Release forms
- Signature.
- Full cash.
- Partial cash, if ordered.
- Surety through an agent.
- Property, if approved.
- Supervision.
Waiting for court
Since Princeton's docket is limited, an arrest near a weekend or between court days can mean a few nights in custody. Terms that can't be met can be raised again through a Rule 33.05 motion.
Bondsmen
Agents in Trenton, Bethany, Chillicothe, or Kirksville may take Mercer bonds. They back the full amount for a premium, often a percentage, that is theirs to keep. Ask about any charge for driving to wherever the person is held, about collateral, and about co-signer duties.
Bail agents in Missouri carry a state insurance license. Iowa licenses don't count for a Missouri bond.
Farmland or a house
A Mercer judge can accept property equity as bail. Plan on a deed, a loan payoff number, and a value estimate. It's slower than an agent.
Paying
Because the person may be in another county, call the Princeton sheriff at 660-748-3165 before paying and ask exactly where a Mercer bond is accepted and in what form. Bring photo ID.
Card payments
Nobody confirmed for this guide whether a debit or credit card works for a Mercer bond. Raise it during the call, and carry a money order too.
Who posts
An adult with ID. Keep the receipt, since the refund usually follows the name on it.
Leaving the housing jail
If your relative is held outside Mercer, release happens at that jail once Mercer's terms are met. Ask the sheriff where and when, and plan the ride; Bethany is a fair drive from Princeton, and other jails may be farther.
Iowa warrants
The Iowa line sits just north of Princeton, and Lineville and Leon are nearby. An Iowa warrant can keep someone in custody after the Mercer bond is paid, and Iowa may seek extradition. Counsel can lay out the choice between waiving and contesting.
Warrants from Grundy, Harrison, Putnam, or Sullivan
A Mercer bond covers only Mercer charges. Holds from Grundy, Harrison, Putnam, Sullivan, or Linn counties keep the person jailed until those are dealt with.
Probation and immigration holds
Missouri probation and parole, out-of-state judges, and immigration officers can all ask that someone stay jailed. Mercer bail doesn't touch those requests.
Princeton city matters
Small towns may send ordinance tickets to a municipal judge with separate bail. Learn which court issued each ticket before you spend anything.
Keep your copies
Save the release sheet listing Princeton court dates and every rule, along with the payment slip. A phone photo of each is a free backup.
A broken rule
Say a Ravanna defendant under a no-contact order shows up at the other person's farm. The prosecutor can go to a 3rd Circuit judge, who might send deputies, raise the bond, or order detention until trial. If a condition interferes with harvest or a job across the line in Iowa, the lawyer should ask for a change early.
Surety surrender
Bonding companies generally may return their client to custody and drop the bond when contact stops or a move looks likely. Keep the agent informed.
Getting bail reduced
Defense counsel can file a written request to lower bail or ease terms. Farm records, pay stubs, a Mercer mailbox, and relatives counting on the defendant's income all strengthen the request.
Case.net
Case.net lists Mercer files under the 3rd Circuit. Choose Mercer in the county menu, since Grundy, Harrison, and Putnam files appear there too.
Cash refunds
Once a Mercer case closes with perfect attendance at every setting, the judge discharges bail and the court mails back the deposit, usually to whoever posted. Amounts owed on the case can be withheld. Expect weeks, not days, and keep the court updated on your address so the check doesn't bounce back to Princeton.
Bondsman fees
The premium paid for the guarantee stays with the agency. Collateral returns under the contract after the Mercer court lets the bond go.
Dismissals
Dropped charges end the bail, and posted cash comes back less any deductions. Keep the records, in case of a refiling.
Missing a Princeton date
A skipped hearing typically brings an arrest order and forfeiture steps. A bonding company that loses money will look for its client and turn to whoever co-signed. With long rural drives, plan transportation, and call the lawyer the same day if something prevents attending.
Teens
Mercer youths are usually handled by the 3rd Circuit juvenile office, with procedures different from adult bail. A child who must be held is placed at a youth facility, likely outside the county. Parents should phone that office right away.
Appointed counsel
A Mercer defendant without money for a private lawyer can ask the Princeton judge for a public defender and fill out an income form. Appointed attorneys regularly argue for workable bail.
Federal charges
Mercer County is in Missouri's Western District, and federal cases are heard in St. Joseph, where a magistrate rules on release. Local jails don't accept federal bail money. The Western District website explains more.
What if a Mercer resident is arrested in Trenton or Bethany?
An arrest in Grundy or Harrison County is filed there, not in Princeton, and that county's judge decides bail even for a lifelong Mercer resident. Call the arresting agency to learn which jail and court are involved before trying to pay.
Can the Harrison County Jail tell me about a Mercer bond?
It may confirm whether someone is housed there, but the bond itself is set by the Mercer court. For the amount, the conditions, or where to pay, the Princeton sheriff at 660-748-3165 is the better source.
Phone Princeton before you drive
Call the sheriff at 660-748-3165 first. Ask where your relative is held tonight, the bail amount and type, any Iowa or county holds, and where payment is taken.
Bring your ID and the booking number. This is a broad picture of Mercer County bail; an attorney can speak to the particular charge.
Mercer County Jail
Address:
Harrison County Jail
1501 Central Street
Bethany, MO 64424
Phone:
660-425-3199
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Mercer County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Mercer County?
Who can set bail in Mercer County?
When is bail set in Mercer County Missouri?
Does Mercer County have bail?
Yes, Mercer County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Mercer County?
The Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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, Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer County have bail?
Yes, Mercer County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Mercer County?
The Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer County Jail for more information about the jails in Mercer County.
What options are there to pay bail in Mercer County Missouri?
All Mercer 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 Mercer County Jail for more information about posting bail in Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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.