St. Louis City Justice Center Annex Inmate Bail & Bonds
St. Louis City bail: the Tucker Boulevard Justice Center and getting released
The City of St. Louis is an independent city, not part of any county. Soulard, Dutchtown, Carondelet, Tower Grove, the Central West End, North City, and downtown all fall under city courts and the city jail on Tucker. St. Louis County, with Clayton, Ferguson, and Florissant, is a completely separate system. Inmate search: St. Louis City Inmate Search.
City or County?
This trips up more families than anything else. If the arrest happened inside city limits, the case belongs to the 22nd Circuit downtown. If it happened in University City, Kirkwood, Ferguson, or anywhere else in St. Louis County, it's a 21st Circuit case handled in Clayton. Ask the arresting officer, or check the address, before you go anywhere.
The City Justice Center
Anyone booked on a city charge lands in the St. Louis City Justice Center, 200 South Tucker Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63102, phone 314-621-5848. Separate numbers for the city sheriff and the 22nd Circuit clerk weren't verified, so Tucker's line comes first.
Reaching the 22nd Circuit clerk
A current circuit clerk number wasn't verified here. Ask Justice Center staff how to reach the downtown court, or search Case.net.
Is the person on Tucker?
Try the St. Louis City Inmate Search. A new arrest may still be at a district police station or in processing, so call Tucker and spell the arrestee's legal name and birthdate.
Questions to ask downtown
- Did city police (SLMPD), Metro transit police, or another agency make the arrest?
- Is the person at the Justice Center yet, or still at a district station?
- Was a Missouri statute charged, or only a city ordinance?
- What bail and type: cash only, ten percent, or surety?
- Any St. Louis County, St. Charles, or Illinois holds?
State charge or city ordinance?
State charges go to the 22nd Circuit. Ordinance violations, such as some traffic, noise, and peace disturbance tickets, go to the City of St. Louis Municipal Court, which has its own bail and dates. Some arrests involve both, so ask which court set each bail.
No bail set yet
After a warrantless arrest, city officers may hold the arrestee roughly 24 hours as the Circuit Attorney's warrant office reads the report. Once charges are filed, a 22nd Circuit judge sets release. Arrests on warrants may already show bail.
A one-city circuit
The 22nd Judicial Circuit covers only the City of St. Louis. It has many judges, and bond hearings are usually held soon after charges, often by video from the Justice Center.
How city judges decide release
Rule 33.01 limits a 22nd Circuit judge to the lightest terms that would still bring a city defendant back downtown and keep Tower Grove or North City neighbors safe. Money isn't presumed, and a Dutchtown warehouse worker or a Soulard server shouldn't be held simply for being unable to pay.
Release without money downtown
Recognizance is common for many charges. A city judge may add a no-contact order, GPS, alcohol monitoring, or pretrial supervision. Stable housing in the city and a job help.
City bail forms
- Recognizance with or without supervision.
- Cash.
- A ten percent deposit, when allowed.
- A surety from a licensed agent.
- Missouri real estate.
- GPS or other monitoring.
How quickly bond review happens
With a busy, full-time court, first bond review often comes within a day or two, though weekends and holidays slow things. Rule 33.05 lets a defense lawyer ask for review of unaffordable bail.
St. Louis bail bondsmen
Many agents operate near the downtown courts. A bondsman pledges the full bail and keeps a premium, often about ten percent and nonrefundable. Read the contract on collateral, co-signer exposure, and check-in rules.
All agents need a Missouri DCI license. An agent from Illinois can't post here, and Illinois has ended cash bail.
Property bonds in the city
A south city rowhouse or other Missouri real estate may secure bail with court approval. Expect to show a deed, mortgage balance, and value.
Paying at Tucker Boulevard
Call 314-621-5848 to learn what the Justice Center accepts at your arrival time and where daytime bonds should be posted. Bring government photo ID.
Cards and city bail
Card acceptance and any fees weren't confirmed. Ask, and have a cashier's check or money order as backup.
Who can post city bail
Usually any adult with ID. The refund generally follows the name on the receipt.
Leaving the Justice Center
After bail is accepted, staff check for other warrants and holds, return property, and release the person downtown. Releases can happen late at night, so plan a safe ride; MetroLink and buses run nearby but hours vary.
Holds from St. Louis County and St. Charles
City bail covers city charges only. A hold from St. Louis County, St. Charles, Jefferson, or a county municipal court keeps the person in custody until that jurisdiction acts. Transfers between the city and Clayton can take time.
Illinois warrants across the river
East St. Louis, Belleville, and the rest of the Metro East lie across the Mississippi bridges. An Illinois warrant found at booking can keep someone on Tucker after city bail is posted, and Illinois may seek extradition. A defense lawyer can explain the options.
Probation, parole, and immigration holds
Missouri probation and parole, federal agencies, and immigration officials may each lodge detainers the city bond doesn't clear.
City papers to keep
The release order lists each courtroom and condition; the receipt shows the payer. Save them and take photos.
Breaking a release condition in the city
Say a Carondelet man on GPS lets the device die and misses a pretrial check-in. The Circuit Attorney may move to revoke, and the 22nd Circuit judge can issue a warrant, raise bail, or hold him until trial. Report any equipment problem to pretrial services and the lawyer at once.
A city bondsman's surrender
Downtown bondsmen can generally walk a client back into Tucker and end their guarantee once phone calls go unanswered or a move out of the metro looks planned.
Seeking lower bail downtown
A defense attorney can ask the court to reduce bail or ease conditions. A city lease, a job, and children at home support the request.
Finding a 22nd Circuit case
Search Case.net, choose the 22nd Circuit (City of St. Louis). Make sure you're not looking at the 21st Circuit, which is St. Louis County. Municipal court cases may not appear there.
City cash refunds
When a 22nd Circuit case ends with all dates kept, the downtown judge discharges bail and the city court sends back the cash, generally to whoever posted it, net of fines and costs. Refunds can take weeks; keep your address current with the clerk.
The bondsman's premium in the city
The fee is earned at release. Collateral returns under the contract after the bond is discharged.
A dismissed city case
When the Circuit Attorney dismisses, the city bond closes and posted cash returns minus legal deductions. File that dismissal away; the Circuit Attorney may refile.
Missing a court date downtown
Miss a 22nd Circuit setting and expect a capias warrant plus forfeiture, while the downtown agent hunts for the client and bills the co-signer. If a bus is late or a child gets sick, call the lawyer immediately.
City juveniles
Youths are handled by the 22nd Circuit's family court juvenile division, which runs its own detention center. Parents of a city teen should contact juvenile staff as soon as possible.
Public defenders in the city
The state public defender has a large St. Louis City office. City defendants who can't hire a lawyer can apply for one with the state income form, and that attorney can push for a bond a south city family can actually post.
Federal cases in St. Louis
The city is home to the Eastern District of Missouri's main federal courthouse downtown. Federal arrests are decided by a magistrate there, not at the Justice Center. See the Eastern District site.
Arrests at games, concerts, and downtown events
Ballgames, concerts, and festivals bring big crowds downtown and to Forest Park. Many event arrests are ordinance cases that go to the city municipal court and may be resolved with a citation or small bond, while assaults or weapons cases go to the 22nd Circuit. Ask which court the officer wrote before paying anything.
Visitors from out of town arrested in the city
A traveler arrested in the city can post bail through a downtown bondsman by phone, or a friend can bring cash to Tucker. The release order may require returning for each courtroom date, so a visitor should ask a city lawyer whether some hearings can be handled without travel.
Call Tucker Boulevard first
Dial 314-621-5848 before heading downtown. Ask whether Tucker has your relative or the person is still at a district station, whether the charge is city or county, the bail figure and whether an agent can post it, if Clayton or Illinois holds exist, and what payments the Justice Center takes.
Keep a photo ID and the city booking number with you. This page explains St. Louis City bail broadly; a defense attorney who practices downtown can advise on the actual charge.
How do Bail Bonds work at St. Louis City Justice Center Annex
First, find out if a person is being held on bond by calling either:
City Justice Center
Phone: (314) 621-5848
or
Medium Security Institution
Phone: (314) 389-4790
Second, find out the bond amount by determining if the individual is held on:
- City Charges call (314) 622-3231
- State Charges call (314) 641-8214
Note: To find out the amount of the bond provide first and last name and date of birth of the person needing the bond.
*For Arrestees who are in police custody, confined 24 hours or less, bond may be posted 24 hours a day at:
1st Floor of the City Justice Center(CJC), 200 South Tucker Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63102
Hours: 24/7
Phone: 314-241-8339
Pay the Bond at the Bond Commissioner's Office located at the City Justice Center for arrestees still in the police custody, incarcerated for less then 24hrs. The Police Bond Window only accepts St. Louis City ordinance warrants and fugitive warrants up to a misdemeanor.
*For Inmates confined at CJC or MSI for less than 24 hours, bond may be posted at:
The Carnahan Courthouse Room 108, 114 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm
Phone: 314-622-3340
or
The 2nd Floor of the City Justice Center (CJC), 200 South Tucker Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63102
Hours: Monday-Friday, 5pm-midnight.
Open 24/7 on Court Holidays, Saturday and Sunday
Phone: 314-641-8214
*For Inmates confined at CJC or MSI and incarcerated for more than 24 hours, bond may be posted at:
Municipal Courthouse, 1520 Market Suite #1120, Saint Louis, MO 63103
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (314) 622-4941
Note: The Court Bond Window only accepts traffic warrants.
St. Louis City Justice Center Annex
Address:
7600 Hall Street
St. Louis, MO 63147
Phone:
314-389-4790
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in St. Louis City
Does St. Louis City have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Louis City?
Who can set bail in St. Louis City?
When is bail set in St. Louis City Missouri?
Does St. Louis City have bail?
Yes, St. Louis City recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Louis City?
The St. Louis City 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. Louis City?
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. Louis City 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. Louis City 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. Louis City 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. Louis City Justice Center Annex 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. Louis City 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. Louis City?
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. Louis City have bail?
Yes, St. Louis City recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Louis City?
The St. Louis City 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. Louis City?
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. Louis City 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. Louis City 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. Louis City 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. Louis City Justice Center Annex for more information about the jails in St. Louis City.
What options are there to pay bail in St. Louis City Missouri?
All St. Louis City 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. Louis City Justice Center Annex for more information about posting bail in St. Louis City.
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. Louis City?
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. Louis City Justice Center Annex 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.