St. Louis County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
St. Louis County bail: the Clayton Justice Center, municipal courts, and release
Clayton is the seat of St. Louis County, Missouri's most populous county, which wraps around the independent City of St. Louis and holds Florissant, Ferguson, Hazelwood, Chesterfield, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, University City, Maryland Heights, Affton, Lemay, and Oakville. With around ninety cities and many police departments, the first job is figuring out who holds the person and which court has the case. Inmate search: St. Louis County Inmate Search.
Clayton, not the city
A St. Louis County case is run from Clayton by the 21st Circuit. The City of St. Louis, with Soulard and downtown, is a separate 22nd Circuit with its own jail on Tucker. If the arrest address is in Kirkwood or Florissant, it's a county matter; if it's in Dutchtown or the Central West End, it's the city's.
The Clayton Justice Center
County prisoners go to the St. Louis County Justice Center, 100 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105, phone 314-615-5080. The county sheriff, who mainly serves the courts, sits at 7900 Carondelet Ave Rm 551, Clayton, MO 63105, phone 314-615-4724.
The 21st Circuit clerk on Carondelet
County court files are handled at 7900 Carondelet Ave 5th Fl, Clayton, MO 63105, phone 314-615-8006. Ask there about Clayton courtroom assignments, filings, and posting bail during business hours.
Searching the Clayton roster
Try the St. Louis County Inmate Search. Someone picked up by Florissant or Chesterfield police may still be sitting in that city's holding cells, not Clayton, so call both the arresting department and South Central Avenue.
Five questions for Clayton
- Which department arrested: county police, a city force like Ferguson or Kirkwood, or the Highway Patrol on I-270 or I-64?
- Is the person in a municipal lockup or already at the Justice Center?
- State charge, municipal ordinance, or both?
- How much is the Clayton bond, and is it cash-only?
- Any holds from the City of St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin, or Illinois?
Ninety cities, many courts
Florissant, Hazelwood, Maryland Heights, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, Chesterfield, and dozens of other county towns run municipal courts for ordinance cases. Unincorporated areas like Affton, Lemay, and Oakville use the county's own municipal court. Ordinance bail and dates are separate from the 21st Circuit, and one stop in Bridgeton might lead to a Bridgeton ticket alongside a Clayton felony.
Waiting for a county charge
County police can generally keep someone arrested without a warrant for a day as the St. Louis County prosecutor's warrant office reviews the case. A filed charge goes to a Clayton judge for release terms; an arrest on a 21st Circuit warrant may already carry bail.
The 21st Circuit
St. Louis County is the 21st Judicial Circuit by itself, with many judges in the Clayton courts building. First appearances and bond settings often happen by video from the Justice Center.
What Clayton judges weigh
Rule 33.01 directs a 21st Circuit judge to set the least restrictive terms that will reasonably bring a defendant back to Clayton and protect people in Ferguson, Oakville, or wherever the case arose. Cash isn't presumed, and the judge must consider whether a Hazelwood warehouse worker can pay before keeping them in on a money bond.
County release without cash
Recognizance is common. A Clayton judge may add a no-contact order, GPS, an alcohol sensor, drug testing, or county pretrial supervision. A steady job and a stable address in the county help.
Ways to satisfy county bail
- Recognizance, with or without supervision.
- Cash for the full amount.
- Ten percent cash, where the judge permits.
- A Clayton bondsman's surety.
- Missouri real estate.
- GPS or alcohol monitoring.
How fast Clayton reviews bail
A full-time court means bond settings usually come quickly, though weekend and holiday arrests may wait a day or two at South Central Avenue. Rule 33.05 lets a defense lawyer seek review of a bond a family in University City or Affton can't reach.
Bondsmen near the Clayton courts
Many agents work within a few blocks of the Justice Center. A bondsman pledges the whole county bail and keeps a fee, often about ten percent, that's never returned. Get collateral terms, co-signer exposure, and check-in rules in writing.
Each agent needs a Missouri DCI license; agents licensed only in Illinois can't write Clayton bonds.
A Webster Groves house as bail
Equity in a county home may back bail with a 21st Circuit judge's approval. The Carondelet clerk will want deed records, the mortgage balance, and value proof.
Paying at South Central Avenue
Call 314-615-5080 and ask which payment Clayton takes when you'll arrive, and whether daytime bonds go to the Carondelet clerk. Bring government photo ID.
Cards for St. Louis County bail
The Justice Center's card policy and fees weren't confirmed. Ask on the phone; bring a Clayton-bound money order in case.
Posting in Clayton
Most adults with photo ID can. The 21st Circuit generally refunds the person named on the Clayton receipt.
Release from the Justice Center
Once a county bond clears, Clayton staff check for city, municipal, and out-of-state holds, return property, and release the person on South Central. Releases happen at all hours, so arrange a ride; MetroLink stops in Clayton but service varies late at night.
Municipal warrants after county bail
A big trap in this county: someone can post Clayton bail and still be held on unpaid tickets from Ferguson, Bellefontaine Neighbors, or another town. Each city's warrant needs its own bond or court date. Ask the Justice Center to list every hold before you pay.
City of St. Louis holds
If the person also has a 22nd Circuit warrant from downtown, county bail doesn't clear it. Moving someone from Clayton to Tucker Boulevard may add a day.
Metro East warrants
Belleville, Collinsville, and Granite City sit across the Mississippi from the county. If Illinois wants the person, they may stay on South Central after Clayton bail, pending extradition. A Clayton lawyer can explain the choices.
Detainers in Clayton
A Clayton bond leaves untouched any parole detainer, federal warrant, or immigration request.
Clayton documents worth saving
The 21st Circuit release order lists each courtroom date and condition, and the receipt names who paid. Keep originals and take photos.
A county GPS violation, illustrated
Imagine a Florissant woman on GPS who enters an exclusion zone near the protected person's Hazelwood apartment. The county prosecutor moves to revoke, and a Clayton judge may have her picked up, hike the Clayton bond, or hold her pending trial. Report every device problem to pretrial services and your lawyer at once.
Clayton agents surrendering a client
Clayton bondsmen can typically put a county client back into South Central Avenue and void the county guarantee once a Florissant or Oakville client goes silent.
Lowering county bail
A defense lawyer can ask a 21st Circuit judge for less money or lighter terms, with proof of a county lease, a Chesterfield job, or children in local schools.
Finding 21st Circuit cases
On Case.net, choose the 21st Circuit (St. Louis County). Don't confuse it with the 22nd, which is the city. Many municipal cases won't appear there.
Getting county cash back
When a Clayton defendant has attended every hearing and the case closes, the 21st Circuit judge discharges bail and the Carondelet clerk refunds the deposit, normally to whoever posted, after fines and costs. Allow weeks; tell the clerk at 314-615-8006 if you move.
The county premium
A Clayton bondsman earns the fee at release. Pledged security returns under the contract after the 21st Circuit discharges the bond.
Dismissed county charges
A dismissal ends bail, and a county deposit comes back less lawful deductions. Keep the order, because the prosecutor can refile.
Missing a Clayton date
A skipped 21st Circuit hearing usually means a capias warrant and forfeiture, and the Clayton agent will look for the client and seek repayment from whoever co-signed. If a bus from North County runs late, call the lawyer before the hearing time.
County juveniles
County teenagers go to the 21st Circuit's juvenile court in Clayton rather than adult bail, and that court operates its own detention unit. Call its staff early.
A county public defender
The state public defender has St. Louis County offices. A defendant who can't hire counsel may apply with the state income form, and appointed counsel can argue for a reachable Clayton bond.
Federal arrests in the county
Federal charges from the county are heard downtown by an Eastern District magistrate; South Central Avenue has no role in that bond. See the Eastern District site.
Call Clayton before you go
Ring 314-615-5080. Confirm the person is at the Justice Center and not a city lockup, whether the case is county, city, or municipal, the bail and whether an agent can post, every hold including municipal tickets, and what Clayton takes as payment. The Carondelet clerk handles court scheduling at 314-615-8006.
Keep ID and the county booking number with you. This is general background on Clayton bail; a county defense lawyer can advise on the real charge.
How do Bail Bonds work at St. Louis County Jail
The Bail & Bond Office is in St. Louis County Justice Center Building
- The address is 100 South Central Ave in downtown Clayton.
- It's open year round, 24 hours a day.
- With the exception of Recognizance Bonds there is a $20 fee per each case number that has a bond amount set.
- You can pay a Cash Bond with cash, money order or cashier's check.
- No credit cards or personal checks are accepted. When the case is closed, the inmate (or arrested party) gets the refund, not you.
- To obtain a refund of bond money after the case is closed, the arrested party must take the bond receipt to the second floor, Room 206, in the County Courthouse if it is a State case. For Municipal cases, once the case is disposed of, the defendant will receive a refund in the mail within two weeks minus any fees or court costs.
- Approval for the posting of 10% cash bonds must be obtained from the court. Contact your attorney for court approval of 10% cash bonds. 10% cash bonds are not automatic.
- You can also call a bail bondsman to have them put up the bond.
St. Louis County Jail
Address:
100 South Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105
Phone:
314-615-5080
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in St. Louis County
Does St. Louis County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Louis County?
Who can set bail in St. Louis County?
When is bail set in St. Louis County Missouri?
Does St. Louis County have bail?
Yes, St. Louis County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Louis County?
The St. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis County have bail?
Yes, St. Louis County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Louis County?
The St. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis County Jail for more information about the jails in St. Louis County.
What options are there to pay bail in St. Louis County Missouri?
All St. Louis 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. Louis County Jail for more information about posting bail in St. Louis 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. Louis 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. Louis 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.