New Madrid County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
New Madrid County bail: the jail on Courthouse Square and release
The river town of New Madrid, best known for the great earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, is the seat of New Madrid County, Missouri, and Portageville, Lilbourn, Marston, Matthews, Risco, and Parma fill out the Bootheel farm country around it. I-55 runs through the county and the Mississippi bends past Kentucky and Tennessee, so bookings here often mix local charges with travelers and out-of-state warrants. Inmate search: New Madrid County Inmate Search.
1. The county jail
New Madrid County arrests are held at the New Madrid County Jail, 2 Courthouse Square, New Madrid, MO 63869. Call 573-748-2516 to ask whether someone is booked and if a bond is listed.
2. The clerk on Main Street
The circuit clerk keeps case files, handles bond postings on weekdays, and processes refunds. The office is at 450 Main St, 2nd Floor, New Madrid, MO 63869, phone 573-748-2228.
3. Looking up a booking
The New Madrid County Inmate Search may show recent arrests. Someone stopped near Portageville could also be on a Pemiscot County roster, depending on which side of the line it happened, so call if nothing appears.
4. On your first call, learn
- Is the person on Courthouse Square, or in Caruthersville or Sikeston?
- Which agency arrested them?
- What bond, and of what kind?
- Holds from Tennessee, Kentucky, or Arkansas?
- Booking number?
5. Before a bond is set
Missouri allows a warrantless arrestee to sit for a day while prosecutors consider charges. Once a charge is filed, a judge sets terms. New Madrid warrants usually carry a bond.
6. Courts in the 34th Circuit
New Madrid and Pemiscot make up the 34th Judicial Circuit. A New Madrid case usually begins in the county seat before an associate judge.
7. What the judge must consider
Under Rule 33.01, a judge should choose only the terms reasonably necessary for the defendant to return and for others to be safe. Cash is optional, and any amount must weigh the person's ability to pay.
8. Release on a signature
Recognizance lets a defendant leave after signing, sometimes with conditions like no contact, no alcohol, a curfew, or reporting. Farm or plant work around Portageville and family nearby help.
9. How a New Madrid judge may release someone
- On a signed promise alone.
- After every dollar is paid in cash.
- With a cash deposit of a portion, when the order permits.
- Through a surety company's guarantee.
- Backed by pledged real estate.
- Under an officer's supervision or with an ankle device.
10. Weekend timing
A weekend arrest may wait for court on a weekday. If the bond is out of reach, the defense can file for a Rule 33.05 review, which Missouri wants handled promptly.
11. Bail agents in the Bootheel
Agencies in Sikeston, New Madrid, Portageville, Kennett, and Cape Girardeau may write New Madrid bonds. Any one of them will guarantee the court the entire bond in return for a fee, typically a fixed share of the total, that the agency keeps. Ask about posting fees, collateral, and co-signer duties up front.
Bondsmen need a Missouri insurance license. Tennessee and Kentucky licenses don't cover a Missouri bond.
12. Farmland as bail
With approval, equity in cropland or a house can back a bond. Expect requests for the recorded deed, a bank payoff letter, and an appraisal or assessor's figure, all of which take days to round up.
13. Where and how to pay
Ring Courthouse Square at 573-748-2516 ahead of the trip. Staff can say what money they'll take when you show up, and during weekday hours whether the Main Street clerk at 573-748-2228 is the better stop. A photo ID is required.
14. Cards
A card policy for New Madrid wasn't confirmed. Ask during the call and have a money order ready.
15. Who can post
Most adults with ID. Refunds usually follow the receipt name.
16. Once the bond is in
New Madrid staff complete discharge papers, search for warrants from other agencies, and return the belongings bagged at booking. A short call tells you when to pull up.
17. Tennessee and Kentucky warrants
Tiptonville, Tennessee, and the Kentucky Bend sit just across the river, and I-155 crosses into Tennessee nearby. A warrant from either state can keep someone on Courthouse Square even with the local bond satisfied, and those states may start the extradition process. Ask the lawyer about waiving versus contesting.
18. Pemiscot, Scott, Stoddard, and Dunklin holds
Bail on a New Madrid case leaves other Missouri counties' warrants untouched. A hold from Pemiscot, Scott, Stoddard, Dunklin, or Mississippi County keeps the person in until that county acts.
19. Agency detainers
State parole officers, out-of-state judges, and immigration authorities may each file a hold. A New Madrid bond doesn't affect them.
20. Portageville and New Madrid city cases
Portageville, New Madrid, and other towns may keep town courts for local tickets, and their judges price bail independently. Ask which court issued each charge.
21. Two papers to keep
The release sheet lists every hearing in New Madrid and each rule. The receipt shows the amount and the depositor. Keep both, and take pictures.
22. If a condition is broken
Picture a Lilbourn defendant under a curfew who's stopped at a gas station at 2 a.m. The prosecutor may ask a 34th Circuit judge to revoke, and the judge can respond with an arrest order, a bigger bond, or detention until trial. Harvest-season hours that clash with a curfew are worth raising with counsel before fall.
23. When the surety surrenders
Bonding contracts usually permit the agency to deliver its client to Courthouse Square and end the guarantee if check-ins lapse or flight seems likely. Keep the agency informed of any move.
24. Bringing the amount down
Defense counsel can ask the New Madrid judge for a smaller bond or gentler rules. Paychecks, a county address, and relatives who need the defendant home give the judge something to weigh.
25. Case.net
On Case.net, pick the 34th Circuit and New Madrid County. Pemiscot cases sit in the same circuit; check the county on each entry.
26. Refund of a cash deposit
When a New Madrid case ends with no missed dates, the judge exonerates bail and the Main Street clerk mails back the deposit in the poster's name, minus anything owed in that case. Several weeks is typical. Keep your address current with the clerk.
27. Bondsman's premium
The fee is the price of the guarantee and isn't returned. Pledged property comes back under the contract after the court lets the bond go.
28. A dismissal
Dropped charges end bail. Posted money returns after court deductions. Keep all copies in case of a refiling.
29. Missing court in New Madrid
Failing to appear typically leads to a warrant and the start of forfeiture. A bonding company that pays the court goes hunting for its client and bills whoever co-signed. If a crop job or a breakdown on I-55 interferes, call the lawyer that same day.
30. Bootheel teens
Youths are usually handled by the 34th Circuit's juvenile staff, under a separate process from adult bail. A teen who can't be released goes to a juvenile center, possibly outside the county. A quick call from a parent to the juvenile office gets the location and hearing time.
31. Appointed lawyer
A New Madrid defendant who can't pay private counsel may request a state public defender at arraignment and fill out the court's income form. Appointed counsel can seek a lower bond.
32. Travelers arrested on I-55
Interstate stops between Sikeston and the Arkansas line usually involve state troopers, and a case from the New Madrid stretch is filed here. An out-of-state driver follows the same bail steps, and relatives far away may prefer to hire a local bondsman.
33. Federal charges
New Madrid County falls under the Eastern District of Missouri. Federal arrests here are heard at the Southeastern Division in Cape Girardeau, and a magistrate judge decides release. Federal bail isn't handled on Courthouse Square. Visit the Eastern District website.
34. Arrests along the river levees and boat ramps
Fishing, hunting, and river-access arrests can involve conservation agents, troopers, or deputies. The case goes to the county where it happened, so a stop on the New Madrid side lands here. Ask the arresting agency which court has the charge before trying to pay.
35. Can a Tennessee resident be released on a New Madrid bond?
Often, yes, if the judge is satisfied the person will return. Expect questions about a home address, work, and transportation across the river. Some orders restrict leaving Missouri without permission, so read the conditions before going home.
36. Call Courthouse Square first
Phone 573-748-2516 before you drive. Confirm your relative is still held, the bond amount and type, any out-of-state holds, and how payment is taken.
A driver's license and the booking number should go with you. Everything here sketches New Madrid County bail in broad strokes, and an attorney can tell you how it applies to the charge your family is facing.
New Madrid County Jail
Address:
New Madrid County Jail
New Madrid, MO
Phone:
573-683-2111
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in New Madrid County
Does New Madrid County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in New Madrid County?
Who can set bail in New Madrid County?
When is bail set in New Madrid County Missouri?
Does New Madrid County have bail?
Yes, New Madrid County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in New Madrid County?
The New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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, New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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 New Madrid County have bail?
Yes, New Madrid County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in New Madrid County?
The New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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 New Madrid County Jail for more information about the jails in New Madrid County.
What options are there to pay bail in New Madrid County Missouri?
All New Madrid 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 New Madrid County Jail for more information about posting bail in New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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 New Madrid 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.