Washington County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Washington County bail: the Potosi jail and release
Potosi is the seat of Washington County, an old lead and barite mining county in the eastern Ozarks. Mineral Point, Irondale, Caledonia, Richwoods, Cadet, and Old Mines are scattered along Highways 21, 8, and 185. Here's how bail works in this Washington County, which shouldn't be confused with Washington, the Franklin County city. Inmate search: Washington County Inmate Search.
West High Street, Potosi
Someone arrested in Washington County is usually booked into the Washington County Jail, 116 West High Street, Potosi, MO 63664, phone 573-438-5478. The sheriff's office lists that same address and number.
Potosi's circuit clerk
Mail goes to PO Box 216, Potosi, MO 63664; the office itself is at 102 N Missouri Ste D, Potosi, MO 63664, phone 573-438-6111. Suite D handles hearing dates and daytime bond posting.
Is the person in Potosi?
Look at the Washington County Inmate Search. If a Richwoods or Caledonia arrest isn't listed, phone West High with the legal name and birthdate.
The city of Washington is elsewhere
Washington, Missouri, the river city, sits in Franklin County, and its arrests go to Union. Potosi handles only Washington County cases. Check the county before you drive.
Questions for West High Street
- Did a Washington County deputy, Potosi police, or a trooper on Highway 21 make the arrest?
- What Potosi charge is filed?
- Is a bond set, and can a bondsman cover it?
- Jefferson, Franklin, Crawford, Iron, or St. Francois holds?
- When is the first Potosi hearing?
Potosi's first day
If Potosi officers arrest someone with no warrant, state law permits about one day for the Potosi prosecutor to file a Washington County charge or release the person. After filing, a 24th Circuit judge rules on bond, and an existing warrant may already list a figure.
The 24th Circuit
Washington County is one of four counties in the 24th Judicial Circuit, along with St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, and Madison. Potosi cases typically begin in Washington County associate court.
How Potosi judges set terms
Under Rule 33.01, the judge in Potosi should pick the mildest release likely to return a Washington County defendant and protect Mineral Point or Old Mines neighbors safe. Mining, timber, and prison jobs pay modestly, which should factor into any cash figure.
Release on a promise in Potosi
Washington County judges can free a defendant on a signature. The order might forbid contact with an accuser, require sobriety, set home hours, or call for phone reports. Family ties in Potosi weigh heavily.
Paths to Potosi release
- A signature bond.
- Cash covering the whole Washington County figure.
- A ten-percent deposit, if the judge allows.
- A licensed agent's surety.
- Washington County land.
- Supervision or an ankle monitor.
Weekends at the Potosi jail
24th Circuit judges rotate among Farmington, Ste. Genevieve, Fredericktown, and Potosi. A Saturday Highway 21 arrest may leave someone on West High until a judge reviews bail. Rule 33.05 offers Potosi attorneys a route to quicker reconsideration.
Agents who write Potosi bonds
Bondsmen in Potosi, Farmington, Park Hills, and Hillsboro cover Washington County. The agent pledges the full bond and keeps about a tenth as a fee. Ask for a written list of what collateral is being held.
Bail agents in Potosi need a Missouri DCI license.
Washington County land behind a bond
A Potosi home or rural acreage may secure bail if a 24th Circuit judge approves. Suite D usually asks for the deed, lien balance, and an appraisal.
Paying at West High Street
Ring 573-438-5478 before the trip. Ask which payments the Potosi jail takes overnight and whether a weekday Washington County bond should go to Suite D. Photo ID is required.
Cards at the Potosi jail
Card payment at West High wasn't confirmed. A money order from a Potosi bank or store is the safer bet.
Who may post Washington County bail
Any adult with ID can usually pay. Suite D refunds the person whose name appears on the Potosi receipt.
Out the Potosi jail door
When the Washington County bond is approved, staff make one more warrant check and return booking items before the person steps onto West High. Irondale and Caledonia are a long drive, so arrange a pickup.
Highway 21 and Highway 8 traffic
Highway 21 carries traffic between Potosi and the St. Louis area, and Highway 8 runs west to Steelville. Troopers make many stops on both. A driver booked in Potosi can leave after posting, yet Potosi will expect that person at every Washington County setting.
Old Mines and Richwoods
Old Mines and Richwoods are rural, with long gravel roads. When a hearing date arrives, families there should plan transport early, since a missed Potosi date can lead to a warrant.
Holds from Jefferson, Franklin, or St. Francois
Washington County bail clears only the Potosi case. Warrants from Jefferson, Franklin, Crawford, Iron, St. Francois, or elsewhere need separate handling.
Out-of-state warrants
A warrant from Illinois or another state can hold someone on West High after Potosi bail, and extradition might follow. A Washington County lawyer can explain the choices.
Other holds in Potosi
Parole officers, federal agents, or immigration may keep a person in the Washington County jail even after bond clears.
Potosi city tickets
Potosi's town court, and any others in the county, deal with local code tickets on bail that is separate from the 24th Circuit. The ticket says which court.
Paperwork from Potosi
Keep the Washington County release order, which lists court dates and rules, and the receipt naming the payer. Take photos as backup.
A Potosi bail violation scenario
Picture a Cadet man on bond for meth possession who must take drug tests, then tests positive at a Potosi check-in. The Washington County prosecutor could ask to revoke, and the 24th Circuit judge might send him back to West High, raise bond, or order treatment. Asking counsel about a treatment program before a slip often helps.
Surrender by a Potosi bondsman
If a Washington County client stops answering, a Farmington or Potosi agent may return the person to West High and cancel the bond.
Seeking lower bail in Potosi
A Washington County lawyer can ask the judge to lower bail by showing a Potosi home, local work, and children.
Washington County on Case.net
Open Case.net for the 24th Circuit and choose Washington. St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, and Madison files share it.
Getting Potosi bail back
Once a Washington County case ends and every Potosi date was kept, the judge discharges bond. Suite D then mails the deposit to the receipt's payer, less what the court is owed. Expect a wait of weeks, and tell 573-438-6111 about any move.
What happens to the bondsman's fee
The premium paid to a Potosi agent isn't refunded. Pledged collateral comes back under the contract when the Washington County bond ends.
A dismissed Potosi case
If the Washington County prosecutor drops a case, bail is over and Suite D repays what's left after permitted costs. Keep the dismissal; charges sometimes come back.
Missing a Potosi hearing
A missed Washington County date often produces a warrant and forfeiture, and the bondsman will want help from the co-signer to find the client. If a ride falls through, call the Potosi lawyer that morning.
Washington County juveniles
Potosi minors go to the 24th Circuit's juvenile officer, not adult court. Potosi parents needing a placement for their child should reach that officer right away.
A Washington County public defender
A Washington County resident who can't pay counsel may ask Missouri's defender office in the area for help. The attorney assigned may push for bail the family can afford.
Federal cases from Washington County
Federal charges here go to St. Louis, in the Eastern Division of Missouri's Eastern District. Release is decided by a federal magistrate, not Potosi. See the Eastern District site.
Bail for a prison employee in Potosi
A state prison near Potosi employs many residents. Corrections staff facing a Potosi charge can run into employment trouble separate from bond. Ask counsel how bond terms and employer rules fit together.
Washington County bail and a mining or plant shift
Barite mining and local plants run shifts that can start before dawn. If a Potosi curfew or reporting time conflicts with that work, bring the schedule to counsel, who may ask the judge for adjusted terms.
Ring Potosi before driving
Call 573-438-5478. Ask whether West High still holds your relative, the Washington County bail amount and type, any outside holds, and how to pay. Suite D answers at 573-438-6111.
Bring ID and the Potosi booking number. This page is a general Washington County overview; a defense lawyer can speak to the specific case.
Washington County Jail
Address:
116 West High Street
Potosi, MO 63664
Phone:
573-438-5478
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Washington County
Does Washington County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Washington County?
Who can set bail in Washington County?
When is bail set in Washington County Missouri?
Does Washington County have bail?
Yes, Washington County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Washington County?
The Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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, Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County have bail?
Yes, Washington County recognizes most types of bonds and bail conditions.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Washington County?
The Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County Jail for more information about the jails in Washington County.
What options are there to pay bail in Washington County Missouri?
All Washington 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 Washington County Jail for more information about posting bail in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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.