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Home > Posting Bail in St. Louis, MO: 4 Things to Know

Posting Bail in St. Louis, MO: 4 Things to Know

Bail bond agents are regulated by the Missouri Department of Insurance, and no agent can work in the state of Missouri without a license. Under state law, an initial license is only given to agents who have completed at 24 hours of certified training and a licensing exam. After that, licenses are renewed every two years as long as 8 hours of continuing education is completed within that two-year period. The Department can waive the exam requirement, on a case-by-case basis, to someone with a license from another state.  If you are arrested in Los Angeles, here are 4 things you should know:

Bail process in St. Louis

When someone is arrested in St. Louis County, they are taken to the local Police Department and then often to the St. Louis County Jail in nearby Clayton. After the intake and booking process has been completed, defendants are given the opportunity to make a phone call to begin the jail release process. If the arrest was for a misdemeanor, the bail can usually be determined immediately from a county bail schedule. Any adult can act as co-signer for a defendant.

Types of jail release in St. Louis

  •   Personal recognizance. In relatively limited situations, a defendant will be released from jail based only on a promise to return for all scheduled court hearings in the case. Court officials have total discretion in deciding who qualifies for a release on personal recognizance, and in virtually all cases, it is someone with no previous criminal record who has been arrested for a relatively minor crime.

  •  Cash bond. All defendants have the right to post their own bond. However, this can only be done by paying the entire amount of the bail. The benefit to posting cash bond is that most of the money is returned at the end of the case, as long as all release stipulations have been met.

  •  10 percent bond. Courts can decide to allow a defendant to pay 10 percent of the bail amount to the court to be released from jail. This option is normally not given for serious crimes and allows a defendant to avoid the premium payment to a bail bond agent. Most of the money is return, minus some court fees and costs, at the end of the case – as long as the defendant doesn’t skip bail.

  •  Surety bond. Under a surety bond, a defendant hires a bail bond agent and pays 10 percent of the total amount of the bail to the agent. In return, the agent guarantees the entire amount to the court and the defendant is under the supervision of the bail bond agent.

  •     Property bond. This option is rarely seen because it is complicated and takes much longer than any other bail option. The defendant can only use property that is located in Missouri, and state law does not allow a defendant to pledge real estate he or she owns. The court requires a lien on the property and paperwork that proves both the ownership, value and the existence of sufficient equity to cover any bail obligations.


Co-signer obligations

Under the surety bail option, Missouri law says anyone 18 and older can be a co-signer for another person – whether they are related or not. It is not a legal requirement that a defendant have a co-signer in order to receive a surety bond. In practice, however, many St. Louis bail bond companies require a co-signer as protection in the event the defendant does not violates a condition of bail. In that case, the co-signer and defendant are both responsible to reimburse the bail bond company for the entire amount of the bail. Co-signers must have lived in the area for some time, have good credit, and generally will be asked to come up with collateral to guarantee the cost of bail.

Bond costs and options

There is no set premium rate in Missouri for bail bond companies. Instead, individual companies must file their bail schedules with the Department of Insurance, and then must follow that schedule fairly and evenly with all clients.  In practice, most St. Louis bail bond companies charge a 10 percent nonrefundable premium.

Common Questions

What is a bail hearing?

After a defendant is arrested, a bail hearing is scheduled to determine if the defendant is a flight risk and to set the amount of his or her bail or deny the bail and bonds altogether if the defendant is deemed a flight risk.

How long after an arrest does it take to set bail?

States have laws that specify when a bail hearing must take place after an arrest. For most states, the hearing must be held 48 to 72 hours after the arrest – but weekends and holidays will not count towards this time.

What is a bail bond?

A bail bond is a contractual guarantee, issued by a licensed bail bond agent, between the agent the defendant and the court, that promises the court the full bail payment if the defendant does not show up for his or her scheduled court hearing.

How quickly can a bail bond be issued?

Once defendants have received a bail amount at their bail hearing, and contacted a bail bond service, the bail and bonds are usually accomplished within 24 hours of the bail hearing.

What is the cost of a bail bond?

States set the fee for a bail bond, and in most states, the fee is 10 percent of the total bail. This fee is paid to the bond agent for the bond service, and it is a non-refundable fee.

Are there any alternatives to a bail bond?

Yes. Defendants may pay the full price of the bail, opt for a property bond or try to gain a release through their own recognizance.

What if a defendant cannot afford a bail bond?

Defendants who cannot afford a bail bond can try for a release on their own recognizance, search for a bail bond agent who offers a payment plan, or remain in jail until their court hearing.

What happens if a defendant flees?

If a defendant flees the full amount of the bail is due, the defendant will be charged with costs associated with their recovery and the amount of the bail is forever forfeit even after the defendant is recovered.

What type of collateral can be used for a bail bond?

Almost anything of value can be used as collateral for a bail bond, including retirement or private savings, property, or personal items of value such as jewelry or antique collections that belong to the defendant or to family members or friends who accept responsibility for the collateral.

When does the bail bond end?

The process for bail and bonds ends when defendants appear for their court hearing. Regardless of the outcome of their hearing, as long as they show up, the bonds are terminated.

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