St. Clair County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
St. Clair County bail: the Osceola jail and release by Truman Lake
Osceola, on the Osage River where Truman Lake begins, is the seat of St. Clair County, Missouri. Appleton City, Lowry City, Collins, and Roscoe make up the rest of this rural county along Highways 13 and 82. Don't confuse it with St. Clair County, Illinois, across from St. Louis, or the town of St. Clair in Franklin County. Inmate search: St. Clair County Inmate Search.
1. Making sure it's the right St. Clair
Missouri's St. Clair County is centered on Osceola. St. Clair County, Illinois, includes Belleville and East St. Louis and has its own Illinois system. The city of St. Clair, Missouri, is in Franklin County, so an arrest there is booked in Union. Confirm the location before driving.
2. The Osceola jail
Osceola holds prisoners at the St. Clair County Jail, 360 Chestnut Street, Osceola, MO 64776; the jail answers at 417-646-7704. The sheriff's office takes calls at 417-646-2565 and mail at PO Box 546, Osceola, MO 64776.
3. Osceola's circuit clerk
The clerk uses PO Box 493, Osceola, MO 64776 for mail and answers at 417-646-2226. Ask that office about Osceola court settings and filings.
4. Looking up a Chestnut Street inmate
Search the St. Clair County Inmate Search. A Lowry City or Appleton City arrest may post late, so call Osceola giving the person's legal name and birth date.
5. Questions to put to Osceola
- Who arrested: a St. Clair deputy, city officers, a Water Patrol boat, or a Highway 13 trooper?
- Which St. Clair charge?
- Is bail set, and can a bondsman post it?
- Any Henry, Bates, Cedar, Hickory, Vernon, or Benton holds?
- When does a judge first hear the St. Clair case?
6. Truman Lake and Osage River arrests
Boaters, anglers, and campers bring summer arrests around Osceola and the lake arms. Water Patrol troopers or St. Clair deputies may make them. Much of the lake also reaches into Benton, Henry, and Hickory counties, so ask which county filed before posting in Osceola.
7. A St. Clair hold awaiting charges
Missouri lets officers keep a warrantless arrestee about a day while the St. Clair prosecutor reviews the file. After a filing, an Osceola judge sets release; an arrest on a St. Clair warrant may already have bail listed.
8. The 27th Circuit
St. Clair shares the 27th Judicial Circuit with Bates and Henry. Osceola cases usually begin in associate court, with judges covering all three counties.
9. Weighing release in Osceola
Under Missouri's Rule 33.01, an Osceola judge picks the mildest terms likely to bring a St. Clair defendant back to Osceola and protect Collins or Roscoe residents. Cash isn't presumed, and a figure should fit a rural household's means.
10. A St. Clair signature release
An Osceola judge may free someone on a written promise and add terms like avoiding a named person, no drinking on the lake, a curfew, or calls to a supervising officer. A job in Osceola or a farm near Appleton City weighs in favor.
11. How St. Clair bail can be met
- A recognizance bond.
- Full cash in Osceola.
- Ten percent down if the order allows.
- A bondsman's surety.
- St. Clair real estate.
- Monitoring or supervision.
12. Osceola court days
Because 27th Circuit judges travel between Butler, Clinton, and Osceola, a weekend lake arrest may sit at Chestnut Street for several days. Rule 33.05 lets counsel ask for an earlier look at unaffordable St. Clair bail.
13. Bondsmen who come to Osceola
St. Clair has very few local agents, so bondsmen from Clinton, Bolivar, Nevada, and Warsaw may cover St. Clair. Each pledges the full bail and charges a fee, usually close to a tenth, that stays with them. Ask about mileage charges, security, and a co-signer's risk.
Missouri's DCI licenses bail agents; check any agent before paying.
14. Using St. Clair land as security
A lake lot or Lowry City house may back bail with court approval. Bring the Osceola clerk proof of ownership, any mortgage balance, and a recent value.
15. How to pay in Osceola
Phone 417-646-7704 and ask what payment Chestnut Street takes when you'll arrive, and whether the Osceola clerk handles postings on weekdays. Bring photo ID.
16. Cards and St. Clair bail
The Osceola jail's card policy wasn't confirmed. Ask before driving, and carry a money order from Clinton or Bolivar.
17. Posting for a St. Clair defendant
An adult with ID generally can. The Osceola court typically sends any refund to the name on the St. Clair receipt.
18. Leaving Chestnut Street
When bail is accepted, Chestnut Street deputies check that no other agency wants the St. Clair defendant, hand over personal items, and open the door. Arrange a ride, since Osceola has no transit.
19. Highway 13 arrests
Highway 13 carries traffic from Kansas City toward Springfield straight through St. Clair. Troopers and deputies make frequent stops near Osceola and Lowry City, and an out-of-town driver who posts St. Clair bail still owes the Osceola court an appearance at every setting unless excused.
20. Henry, Bates, and Cedar holds
A St. Clair bond settles only St. Clair charges. A Henry, Bates, Cedar, Hickory, Vernon, or Benton warrant keeps the person at Chestnut Street until that county acts.
21. Out-of-state warrants in Osceola
Kansas lies roughly an hour west of Osceola. An out-of-state warrant found at an Osceola booking can keep someone held after St. Clair bail, and that state may seek extradition. Ask a lawyer before waiving.
22. Detainers a St. Clair bond leaves alone
Holds from state probation, faraway courts, or immigration officials stay in place after Osceola bail is posted.
23. Appleton City and Osceola city tickets
Osceola or Appleton City could handle city ordinance tickets locally with bail separate from St. Clair's; the citation shows which court.
24. St. Clair papers to keep
The Osceola release order shows every court day and rule; the receipt names the payer. Store both and take pictures.
25. A St. Clair violation example
Suppose a Roscoe man under a no-alcohol term is arrested for boating while intoxicated near Osceola. The St. Clair prosecutor asks to revoke, and a 27th Circuit judge may have him picked up, raise his bond, or keep him jailed until trial. Ask counsel about lake-season conditions before Memorial Day.
26. Agents surrendering a St. Clair client
Bondsmen writing Osceola bonds usually may return a client to Chestnut Street and void the bond if calls stop or the person seems ready to leave.
27. Reducing St. Clair bail
Defense counsel can ask the Osceola court to lower bail or ease terms, pointing to a St. Clair home, work, and family.
28. Searching St. Clair cases
Use Case.net, picking the 27th Circuit and St. Clair County. Bates and Henry files share that circuit, so confirm the county.
29. St. Clair refunds
After a St. Clair case closes with no missed dates, the judge discharges the bond and the Osceola clerk returns cash, usually to the poster, minus fines or costs. Weeks may pass; keep your address current at 417-646-2226.
30. The Osceola bondsman's fee
That premium is earned at release and isn't returned. Security comes back under the bail contract after the St. Clair bond ends.
31. Dropped St. Clair charges
Once a St. Clair charge is dismissed, bail is finished and the Osceola deposit comes back minus what the law permits. Save the paperwork, since Osceola prosecutors may refile.
32. Missing Osceola court
Skip an Osceola hearing and the St. Clair judge will likely order an arrest and start forfeiting the bond, while the bondsman chases the client and leans on whoever co-signed. Call the lawyer early if something goes wrong on the long drive.
33. St. Clair minors
A St. Clair teenager usually goes before the juvenile officer for Bates, Henry, and St. Clair, not the adult bail process. If the Osceola home isn't safe, that office can find a regional bed, so call it early.
34. Appointed lawyers for St. Clair
A St. Clair defendant who can't hire counsel can fill out the state's financial form and request appointed counsel in Osceola. The appointed Osceola attorney may then seek a St. Clair amount the family can manage.
35. Federal cases from St. Clair
Federal charges from Osceola go north to the Kansas City federal courthouse. A magistrate there decides federal release; Chestnut Street doesn't. See the Western District site.
36. Bail for a St. Clair fishing or game ticket
Conservation agents patrol the Osage arms and the woods around Osceola. Many fish and game citations carry a fixed fine or bond rather than a jail stay. Ask the agent or the Osceola clerk what's owed and by when.
37. Call Osceola before you drive
Ring 417-646-7704 to confirm your relative is at the St. Clair County Jail, the bail and whether a bondsman can post, any holds, and payment accepted. Court questions go to the clerk at 417-646-2226.
Bring ID and the St. Clair booking number. This page is general background; an Osceola defense lawyer can speak to the actual charge.
St. Clair County Jail
Address:
360 Chestnut Street
Osceola, MO 64776
Phone:
417-646-7704
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in St. Clair County
Does St. Clair County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Clair County?
Who can set bail in St. Clair County?
When is bail set in St. Clair County Missouri?
Does St. Clair County have bail?
Yes, St. Clair County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Clair County?
The St. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair County have bail?
Yes, St. Clair County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Clair County?
The St. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair County Jail for more information about the jails in St. Clair County.
What options are there to pay bail in St. Clair County Missouri?
All St. Clair 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. Clair County Jail for more information about posting bail in St. Clair 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. Clair 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. Clair 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.