Montgomery County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Montgomery County

Missouri • Montgomery County • Bail & bond help

Montgomery County bail: the Montgomery City jail and release

Montgomery City is the seat of Montgomery County, Missouri, with New Florence, Jonesburg, High Hill, and Wellsville spread between I-70 and the Missouri River bluffs around Rhineland. Interstate traffic makes up a real share of arrests here, so many people asking about a Montgomery bond are travelers who never meant to stop. Inmate search: Montgomery County Inmate Search.

The jail

Montgomery County arrests are held at the Montgomery County Jail, 211 E. Third St., Montgomery City, MO 63361, phone 573-564-8084. The sheriff's office uses Suite 209 in the same building.

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The circuit clerk upstairs

Case files, weekday bonds, and refunds go through the circuit clerk at 211 E 3rd St, Suite 301, Montgomery City, MO 63361, phone 573-564-3341. Having the jail and court under one roof makes the paperwork shorter than in many counties.

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Search by name

Try the Montgomery County Inmate Search. When it comes up blank, phone the jail, giving the full name on the driver's license plus a birthday.

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Find out right away

  • Is the person in Montgomery City?
  • Did a trooper or a deputy make the arrest?
  • What bail is posted on the booking, and what kind?
  • Any holds from home or other counties?
  • The booking number?

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No amount yet

Missouri law lets someone arrested without a warrant be held a day while prosecutors decide. A judge sets terms after charges are filed. A Montgomery warrant generally includes a bond, and deputies can read the figure to you over the phone.

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Which circuit?

Montgomery belongs to the 12th Judicial Circuit with Audrain and Warren. Cases here usually begin with an associate judge in Montgomery City.

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How release is decided

Rule 33.01 directs judges to impose just the conditions reasonably needed so the person returns and others are protected. Money isn't required, and a dollar figure has to fit the defendant's paycheck and debts.

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Released on a signature

Montgomery defendants are sometimes released on recognizance with only a signed promise. A judge may also require no contact, sobriety, a curfew, or check-ins. A steady job and a local address carry weight.

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Forms a Montgomery release can take

  • A signed promise.
  • The whole amount in cash.
  • A share in cash, where the order permits.
  • A bondsman.
  • Property.
  • Supervision.

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Weekend arrests

An arrest late Friday may wait for the next court day. If the family simply can't reach the figure, a Rule 33.05 motion puts it back before a judge quickly.

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Bondsmen

Agents from Wentzville, Warrenton, Mexico, Fulton, and St. Charles may write Montgomery bonds. They guarantee the whole bail and keep a premium, often a percentage. Ask about travel fees to Montgomery City, collateral, and what co-signing means.

Missouri's insurance department licenses bail agents, and out-of-state licenses don't count here.

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Real property

A judge may accept home or farm equity as bail. A deed, a loan payoff statement, and a value estimate are typical.

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Paying

Call 573-564-8084 first to learn what payment works when you'll arrive. During office hours, the clerk in Suite 301 at 573-564-3341 may be the right place. Bring photo ID.

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Plastic

Montgomery City's stance on cards is unverified. Check during the call, and grab certified funds beforehand just in case.

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Who can bring the bond

Usually an adult relative or friend with identification. Hang on to the receipt, because the refund check typically goes to the depositor.

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Walking out on Third Street

Once bail is accepted, jail staff complete release forms, check for other warrants, and return property. Because the court and jail share a building, the wait can be short, but a call first still helps.

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Travelers stopped on I-70

Highway Patrol troopers handle much of the interstate traffic between Wentzville and Kingdom City, and an arrest on the Montgomery County stretch is filed in Montgomery City. Someone from Kansas City, St. Louis, or another state goes through the same bond steps as a local. A judge may want a working phone number and address, and relatives hundreds of miles off often line up a local bonding agent instead of driving across the state.

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Holds from Warren, Audrain, Callaway, Lincoln, or Gasconade

Montgomery bail resolves only Montgomery charges. A warrant from Warren, Audrain, Callaway, Lincoln, Pike, or Gasconade keeps the person in custody until that county acts.

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Detainers

A Missouri parole agent, a judge in Illinois or Kansas, or federal immigration officers can each file a hold with the jail. Paying the Montgomery bond leaves every one of those in place.

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Town courts

New Florence, Wellsville, Jonesburg, and Montgomery City may each send local ordinance tickets to a town judge, and that judge's bail is a separate bill. Learn which court issued each charge.

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Paper trail

Hold on to the release order listing each Montgomery City date and every condition, and the payment receipt. A picture of each on a phone makes a second copy.

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A broken condition

Say a New Florence defendant under a no-contact order keeps calling the other person. The prosecutor can ask a 12th Circuit judge to revoke, which may bring a new warrant, a higher bond, or jail until trial. If a rule makes a commute to St. Charles impossible, bring it to the lawyer before it's broken.

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The agent cancels the bond

Surety contracts generally let the company take the client back to the jail and stop guaranteeing the bond if contact breaks down or flight seems likely. Out-of-state defendants in particular should stay reachable.

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Reduction

The defense can ask the Montgomery City judge, in writing, to lower bail or ease terms. Pay stubs, a fixed address, and dependents help, as does a clean record of showing up for past court dates.

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Case.net

Use Case.net, pick the 12th Circuit and Montgomery County. Audrain and Warren dockets are mixed in, so the county column matters.

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Cash refunds

When the case concludes and the defendant made every hearing, the judge releases the bond. The clerk in Suite 301 then mails the deposit to the poster, after any fines, costs, or restitution on that case are taken out. Expect some weeks; tell the clerk promptly about a new address, particularly one in another state.

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Premium paid to the bondsman

Spent for the guarantee and not refundable. Collateral comes back under the contract after the Montgomery court releases the bond.

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Dropped charges

Bail ends with a dismissal, and cash returns minus court debts. Keep the papers in case of refiling.

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Missing a Montgomery City hearing

A no-show usually brings a warrant and forfeiture steps. A bonding company that pays can hunt for its client and seek repayment from the co-signer. Travelers who live hours away need to plan the trip back carefully and tell the lawyer immediately about any problem.

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Juveniles

A Montgomery teen arrested on I-70 or in town is usually routed to the 12th Circuit juvenile office instead of adult bond court. If the youth can't be released to a parent, placement is at a regional juvenile center. Calling that office promptly is how parents find out where the youth was taken.

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A free lawyer

Money for a private firm isn't required. At arraignment, a Montgomery defendant can ask for a state-paid defender, which leads to a short financial form. Appointed counsel can press for affordable bail as one of the first steps.

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What if the trooper towed the car?

After an I-70 arrest, the vehicle is often towed to a private lot, and daily storage fees build quickly. The Highway Patrol or the jail can tell you which company has it and whether there's a hold. Bailing out the car is its own errand; the tow yard will want the registered owner, a license, and the title or registration.

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Can an out-of-state defendant go home before trial?

Many judges allow it if the person returns for each Montgomery City date and the release order doesn't restrict travel. Certain orders forbid leaving the state without a judge's okay, so check the wording before crossing a state line. Missing court because of distance is treated like any other no-show.

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Do I need a lawyer licensed in Missouri?

A defense attorney appearing in a Montgomery County courtroom generally must be licensed in Missouri or get the court's permission. Families from other states often hire a Missouri lawyer for the case even if they have a lawyer back home.

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Federal cases

Federal charges from Montgomery County belong to Missouri's eastern federal court, whose Northern Division courthouse in Hannibal hears them, and a magistrate judge there controls release. Federal bail can't be paid on Third Street. More is posted on the Eastern District website.

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Call before you drive

Ring 573-564-8084 before getting on the highway. Ask if your relative is still in Montgomery City, the bail figure and whether it's cash or surety, any outside holds, and which payment methods the desk takes tonight.

Bring a license plus the booking number. Use this page as a rough Montgomery County map, and leave advice on the charge to counsel.

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How do Bail Bonds work at Montgomery County Jail

To post bail/bond, it is important to first find out the exact amount that is due, including any fees because change will not be given if paying by cash. Payment by credit card can be made through a site called Court Money.

Montgomery County Jail

Address:
211 E. Third St.
Montomery City, MO 63361
Phone:
573-564-8084

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Montgomery County


Does Montgomery County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Montgomery County?

Who can set bail in Montgomery County?

When is bail set in Montgomery County Missouri?

 

 

Does Montgomery County have bail?

Yes, Montgomery County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Montgomery County?

The Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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, Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County have bail?  

Yes, Montgomery County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Montgomery County? 

The Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County Jail for more information about the jails in Montgomery County.

What options are there to pay bail in Montgomery County Missouri? 

All Montgomery 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 Montgomery County Jail for more information about posting bail in Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Montgomery County

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