Mississippi County Juvenile Detention Inmate Bail & Bonds
Mississippi County bail: the Charleston detention center and release
Charleston is the seat of Mississippi County, Missouri, a Bootheel farm county where East Prairie, Bertrand, Wyatt, and Anniston dot the flat cotton and soybean ground. The Mississippi River wraps the east side, and Cairo, Illinois, and the Kentucky shore are close, which is why out-of-state warrants come up often here. Inmate search: Mississippi County Inmate Search.
The detention center
Mississippi County arrestees are housed at the Mississippi County Detention Center, 200 W. Commercial Street, Charleston, MO 63834. Call 573-683-2111. Staff can confirm a booking and whether bail appears on it.
Court records in Charleston
The circuit clerk handles Mississippi County files, weekday bond posting, and refunds. Write to PO Box 369, Charleston, MO 63834, or phone 573-683-2146.
Online search
The Mississippi County Inmate Search may show who is booked. Federal or out-of-county holds can also be housed in a detention center like this one, so confirm with staff which case your relative is on.
Get these answers
- Is your relative at the Charleston center, and on whose charge?
- What offense?
- How much bail, and what type?
- Holds from Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, or another county?
- Booking number?
Why there may be no amount yet
When officers make an arrest on the spot, Missouri gives prosecutors a day to act. A judge sets terms once a charge is filed. A Mississippi County warrant usually spells out its bond.
The 33rd Circuit
Mississippi and Scott counties make up the 33rd Judicial Circuit. A Mississippi County case usually opens in Charleston before an associate judge who handles early bail.
Rule 33.01 in plain words
A judge here must stick with whatever conditions are reasonably needed for the person to come back and for others to stay safe. Money is one choice among several, and a figure has to reflect the defendant's means.
Signature release
Recognizance lets someone leave after signing. Conditions might include no contact, staying sober, a curfew, or calling in. Farm work, a job in Sikeston, or long roots in East Prairie help.
Bond choices
- Signature.
- Cash in full.
- Part cash, if ordered.
- Surety.
- Property.
- Supervision or monitor.
How quickly
A late-week arrest may wait for a weekday judge. When terms can't be met, the defense may file under Rule 33.05 for a prompt review.
Bonding agents
Agencies in Sikeston, Charleston, Cape Girardeau, and New Madrid may cover Mississippi County bonds. They guarantee the full figure and keep a premium, generally a percentage, as their fee. Ask about a charge to post in Charleston, collateral, and what co-signing means.
Every Missouri bondsman holds a state insurance license; Illinois has no commercial bail agents, and a Kentucky license doesn't work here.
Pledging land
With approval, equity in farmland or a home can serve as bail. A deed, a loan statement, and a valuation are usually needed. It's slower than an agent.
Paying
Call 573-683-2111 before you go and ask what payment the center will take when you'll arrive, and whether during business days you should go to the clerk at 573-683-2146. Have photo ID.
Card use
This guide didn't confirm a card policy. Raise it with staff, and keep a money order in your pocket.
Who can post
An adult with ID usually can. Keep the receipt; refunds follow it.
Walking out of the center
After posting, Charleston staff complete discharge forms, search for any other outstanding orders, and return what was taken at intake. Call ahead to time the pickup.
Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee holds
Cairo sits across the river, Wickliffe, Kentucky, is a short bridge away, and Tennessee isn't far south. A warrant from any of those states can keep someone at the center after the Mississippi County bond is paid, and extradition papers may follow. A lawyer can advise on whether to waive.
Scott, New Madrid, and Cape Girardeau warrants
Neighboring Missouri counties issue warrants too. A hold from Scott, New Madrid, or Cape Girardeau County isn't cleared by Mississippi County bail.
Parole, federal, and immigration detainers
State probation officers, federal agencies, and immigration officials can each lodge a hold. Paying county bail doesn't remove any of them.
Town courts
Charleston and East Prairie may run municipal courts for ordinance tickets, and those set separate bail. Find out which court each charge came from.
Paperwork
Save the release order, which lists each Charleston court date and condition, and the receipt showing the payer. A photo on your phone protects against loss.
Breaking a condition
Picture an East Prairie defendant under a curfew who is stopped downtown after midnight. The prosecutor can ask a 33rd Circuit judge to revoke, which might lead to a new warrant, a higher amount, or detention until trial. Seasonal farm hours that conflict with a curfew are worth raising with the lawyer before harvest.
When the bondsman backs out
Surety agreements commonly let the company hand the client back to the detention center and stop guaranteeing the bond if calls go unanswered or flight looks likely. Answer the agency's calls and texts.
Lower bail
The defense can file asking the Charleston judge to reduce the figure or relax terms. Pay records, a Mississippi County lease or deed, and children who depend on the defendant support the request.
Case.net
Find Mississippi County files on Case.net under the 33rd Circuit. Scott County is in the same circuit, so read the county field.
Getting the deposit back
When the case closes without a missed appearance, the judge exonerates bail and the Charleston clerk refunds the money to the person who posted it, minus whatever the defendant owes the court in that case. Several weeks is typical; update your address if you move.
Bondsman fees
The premium bought a service and isn't returned. Pledged property comes back according to the contract after the court frees the bond.
Charges dropped
Dismissal ends the bail, and a cash deposit is refunded after deductions. Keep records in case the case is refiled.
Missing a Charleston date
Expect a warrant and a forfeiture process. A surety that pays can pursue its client and the co-signer. If illness or a breakdown on I-57 gets in the way, tell the lawyer right then.
Juveniles
Bootheel teens arrested here are usually handled by the 33rd Circuit juvenile office, outside the adult bail system. Youths who must be held are placed in a juvenile center. A parent should phone that office quickly for details.
Free lawyer
A defendant who can't afford private counsel may ask the Charleston judge for a state public defender and complete an income form. Assigned attorneys regularly seek bond changes.
Can someone held on an Illinois warrant also get Missouri bail?
Yes, a Mississippi County judge can set bail on the local charge, but the person may still stay jailed on the Illinois hold. Pay attention to whether the out-of-state warrant has its own bond or requires extradition. Paying Missouri bail first can sometimes leave the person waiting for Illinois to act.
How long can a hold last?
Missouri law sets time limits for another state to pick someone up on a fugitive warrant, often measured in weeks. A defense lawyer can track those deadlines and ask the court to act if they pass.
Federal charges
The Bootheel falls under the Eastern District of Missouri. A federal arrest in Mississippi County goes up the road to the Southeastern Division in Cape Girardeau, and there a magistrate judge sets release conditions. The Charleston center doesn't accept federal bail. More at the Eastern District website.
Travelers stopped on I-57 near Charleston
Interstate arrests are often made by the Highway Patrol and charged locally. An out-of-state driver from another state booked in Charleston follows the same bail steps as a local, though a judge may want a solid out-of-state address and phone. Family far away can hire a Missouri-licensed bondsman to post rather than driving in.
Can a Kentucky or Illinois relative co-sign a bond?
Usually a bonding company decides who it accepts as a co-signer, and some want a Missouri address or more collateral from out-of-state signers. Ask the agency what it requires before the paperwork starts, and remember that a co-signer living in another state may still be pursued for the money if the defendant runs.
Call the center first
Phone 573-683-2111 before driving to Commercial Street. Ask whether your relative is still there, the bail figure and form, any out-of-state holds, and which payments work.
Take your ID and the booking number. This page offers a general look at Mississippi County bail; consult a lawyer about a specific charge.
Mississippi County Juvenile Detention
Address:
200 West Commercial Street
Charleston, MO 63834
Phone:
573-683-2976
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Mississippi County
Does Mississippi County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Mississippi County?
Who can set bail in Mississippi County?
When is bail set in Mississippi County Missouri?
Does Mississippi County have bail?
Yes, Mississippi County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Mississippi County?
The Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi County Juvenile Detention 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, Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi County have bail?
Yes, Mississippi County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Mississippi County?
The Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi County Juvenile Detention for more information about the jails in Mississippi County.
What options are there to pay bail in Mississippi County Missouri?
All Mississippi 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 Mississippi County Juvenile Detention for more information about posting bail in Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi County Juvenile Detention 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.