St. Charles County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
St. Charles County bail: the North Second Street jail and how release works
The city of St. Charles, on the Missouri River's north bank, is the seat of St. Charles County, one of the state's fastest-growing counties. O'Fallon, St. Peters, Wentzville, Lake Saint Louis, Cottleville, Portage des Sioux, and Augusta all fall within it, linked by I-70, I-64, and Highway 370. With a dozen city police departments, figuring out who holds the person is step one. Inmate search: St. Charles County Inmate Search.
1. The St. Charles County Jail
Anyone charged under state law in this county usually ends up at the St. Charles County Jail, 301 N. Second St., St. Charles, MO 63301, phone 636-949-3003. Up the block, the sheriff's office uses 201 N. Second St., Ste. 440, St. Charles, MO 63301, phone 636-949-7505.
2. The 11th Circuit clerk
Court files are kept by the circuit clerk at 300 N. Second St., Ste. 217, St. Charles, MO 63301, phone 636-949-3080. Ask there about St. Charles County hearing dates and filings.
3. Is the person on North Second?
Check the St. Charles County Inmate Search. If an O'Fallon or Wentzville arrest isn't listed, the person may still be in a city police holding cell, so call the arresting department as well as the county jail.
4. City lockup or county jail?
O'Fallon, St. Peters, St. Charles city, Wentzville, and other towns have their own police and, in some cases, short-term holding. A person arrested on a state charge is usually moved to the North Second jail; one arrested on a city ordinance may be released from the city station on that town's bail. Ask the arresting agency where the person is now.
5. Questions for North Second Street staff
- Which department arrested: a city, the county police, or the Highway Patrol on I-70 or I-64?
- Has the person been transferred from a city station yet?
- What state charge, and what bail and type?
- Any St. Louis County, St. Louis City, Lincoln, Warren, or Illinois holds?
- When is the first appearance?
6. No bail figure yet
After a warrantless arrest, a St. Charles officer can generally keep the person for a day while the county prosecutor's office looks over the file. Once a charge is filed, an 11th Circuit judge sets release. Warrants often list bail.
7. A one-county circuit
St. Charles County is the 11th Judicial Circuit by itself, with several associate and circuit judges in the downtown St. Charles courthouse complex. First appearances may happen by video from the jail.
8. How 11th Circuit judges set release
Under Rule 33.01, an 11th Circuit judge in St. Charles should order no more than what's reasonably needed to get the defendant to each hearing and to keep Cottleville, O'Fallon, and other neighborhoods safe. Money bail isn't presumed, and a judge must consider what an O'Fallon cashier or St. Peters contractor can actually pay before setting cash.
9. Released without paying
A judge may release a St. Charles County defendant on recognizance, often with terms like staying away from the complaining witness, an alcohol sensor, GPS, or pretrial supervision. A steady job at one of the county's warehouses or plants and a local address count.
10. St. Charles County bond types
- Recognizance with or without supervision.
- Full cash.
- A ten percent cash deposit, when allowed.
- Surety through a licensed agent.
- Real estate within Missouri.
- Electronic monitoring or alcohol sensors.
11. How fast court happens
A larger court means more frequent first appearances than in rural counties, but a weekend arrest can still mean a day or two on North Second. A Rule 33.05 motion lets defense counsel ask for bail review.
12. Bondsmen serving St. Charles County
Many agents near the courthouse and across the St. Louis area write bonds here. A St. Charles bondsman pledges the whole bail to the 11th Circuit and charges a fee, typically about a tenth, that you won't recover. Get the collateral terms, the co-signer's risk, and any weekly check-in rules in writing.
Agents need a Missouri DCI license. An Illinois bondsman can't post here, and Illinois no longer uses cash bail at all.
13. A property bond in St. Charles County
Equity in a St. Peters house or a Portage des Sioux lot may serve as security with an 11th Circuit judge's approval, and the Second Street clerk will needs a deed, lien information, and value proof.
14. Paying at North Second
Call 636-949-3003 and ask North Second which payment it can take when you'll get there, plus whether weekday cash goes to the clerk across the street. Bring government ID.
15. Cards for St. Charles County bail
Card acceptance and fees weren't verified. Ask by phone; a cashier's check or money order is a safe backup.
16. Who can post
Most adults showing government ID may post in St. Charles. The 11th Circuit generally refunds whoever the receipt names.
17. Walking out of North Second
Once St. Charles accepts the bond, jail staff search for any other agency's warrant, hand back belongings, and release the person near the Main Street riverfront. Downtown parking is tight, so pick a meeting spot ahead of time.
18. O'Fallon, St. Peters, and Wentzville city courts
O'Fallon, St. Peters, Wentzville, St. Charles city, Lake Saint Louis, and other towns run municipal courts. Ordinance cases there use their own bail and court dates, separate from the 11th Circuit. A defendant can owe bail in a city court and the county court at the same time.
19. Warrants from across the Missouri River
St. Charles bail covers only St. Charles charges. A warrant from St. Louis County, St. Louis City, Lincoln, or Warren keeps the person on North Second until that jurisdiction acts, and transfers across the river can take a day or more.
20. Illinois holds near Alton
Alton and the Illinois side lie a short drive away over the river bridges. An Illinois warrant can keep someone in the St. Charles jail after local bail, and Illinois may seek extradition. A St. Charles lawyer can explain the choices.
21. State and federal detainers in St. Charles
Missouri probation agents, out-of-state judges, and immigration officers can each place holds that a St. Charles bond doesn't remove.
22. St. Charles papers worth keeping
Every 11th Circuit date and rule appears on the release order, and the bond slip names who paid. Store the originals together and photograph both.
23. A St. Charles GPS violation
Picture a Wentzville man on GPS who drives into a no-go zone near his ex-wife's St. Peters home. St. Charles's prosecutor moves to revoke, and the judge can order him arrested, raise the bond, or deny release until trial. Report any confusing GPS boundary to the defense lawyer right away.
24. St. Charles bondsmen giving a client back
Agents near the courthouse usually keep the right to surrender a client to North Second and drop the guarantee when calls stop or a move to another state looks likely.
25. Asking an 11th Circuit judge for less
A St. Charles defense lawyer can file for a smaller bond or modified terms. Pay stubs from a county warehouse, a lease in O'Fallon, and children in local schools all help.
26. Searching St. Charles cases
On Case.net, choose the 11th Circuit. Since the circuit covers only this county, results are simpler, but municipal cases from O'Fallon or St. Peters may sit elsewhere or not appear.
27. St. Charles cash refunds
A St. Charles defendant who attended every hearing gets the bond discharged at the end, and the Second Street clerk then returns the deposit, typically to the person who paid, minus fines and court costs. Several weeks can pass, so give the clerk at 636-949-3080 any new address.
28. The St. Charles bondsman's fee
The premium is earned once the defendant leaves North Second. Pledged security comes back as the bail contract states after the 11th Circuit releases the bond.
29. Dropped St. Charles charges
A dismissal closes the bond, and a St. Charles cash deposit returns less lawful deductions. Keep the dismissal; the prosecutor can refile.
30. Missing an 11th Circuit hearing
A no-show in St. Charles usually triggers an arrest warrant and bond forfeiture. A St. Charles agent will probably search for the defendant and send the loss to the co-signer. If I-70 traffic or a sick child threatens a court time, call the lawyer immediately.
31. St. Charles County juveniles
Children go through the 11th Circuit's juvenile division rather than adult bail. A St. Charles teen who can't safely go home may be kept at the county juvenile detention center. St. Charles parents ought to reach the juvenile division the same day.
32. A St. Charles public defender
A St. Charles defendant who can't pay private fees can ask the 11th Circuit to appoint a public defender after filling out the state income form. Appointed counsel then argues for a St. Charles bond the household could actually afford.
33. Federal arrests in St. Charles County
Federal charges from St. Charles go across the river to the Eastern District's courthouse in downtown St. Louis. A magistrate there rules on release; the North Second jail has no say. The Eastern District site explains the process.
34. Call North Second first
Phone 636-949-3003 to make sure your relative has reached the St. Charles County Jail and isn't still at a city station. Ask the amount and form of bail, whether another agency holds them, and which payments work. The Second Street clerk handles court questions at 636-949-3080.
Keep a photo ID and the St. Charles booking number on hand. This page gives broad background only; a St. Charles defense attorney can speak to the actual charge.
How do Bail Bonds work at St. Charles County Jail
Posting Bond for an Inmate in the St. Charles County Jail
You can post bond for an inmate via the lobby ATM or online at the JailATM website.
If the case for which the inmate is incarcerated is a case within the St. Charles County Court System (11th Judicial Circuit), bond may also be posted at the St. Charles County Courthouse, which is located at:
300 N. Second St.
St. Charles, MO 63301
If you do decide to post at the courthouse, you will need to know which court division the case is out of.
St. Charles County Jail
Address:
301 N. Second St.
St. Charles, MO 63301
Phone:
636-949-3003
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in St. Charles County
Does St. Charles County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Charles County?
Who can set bail in St. Charles County?
When is bail set in St. Charles County Missouri?
Does St. Charles County have bail?
Yes, St. Charles County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Charles County?
The St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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, St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles County have bail?
Yes, St. Charles County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Charles County?
The St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles County Jail for more information about the jails in St. Charles County.
What options are there to pay bail in St. Charles County Missouri?
All St. Charles 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 St. Charles County Jail for more information about posting bail in St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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.