Address:
1400 Main Street
Sturgis, SD 57785-1444
Phone:
605-720-6632
What kind of bonds are accepted in Meade County?
Who can set bail in Meade County?
When is bail set in Meade County South Dakota?
Yes, Meade County recognizes most types of bonds.
In South Dakota, it is up to the defendant to bear the burden of proof as to why they will not, or do not have the ability to flee prosecution.
Bail is usually established in cases where a felony or Class I misdemeanor has occurred.
People arrested on Class II misdemeanors are usually released on recognizance meaning that if the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee, they are released on their own promise, or recognizance without having to pay bail.
In Meade County, once bail is set a defendant must pay the required amount of bail set by the court to be released from temporary holding (typically the county jail). If the person cannot afford the amount of bail required by the court, they must seek a bond from a licensed bondsperson to cover the amount. The bondsperson will charge 10% and can offer a surety or property bond.
The magistrate judge is given the ability to consider various factors in determining bail. Judges in South Dakota rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.
Typically, some of the biggest factors considered are the nature of the offense, the amount of credible evidence against the defendant, the defendant’s criminal history, their location, their income, and their ability to afford to attempt to escape prosecution.
The South Dakota Courts can set conditions for the release of a defendant on bail. These conditions can include many factors such as not leaving a certain area, not consuming drugs or alcohol, not hanging out with certain people, and receiving mental health counseling. If these conditions are not met the person will be taken back into custody.
Bail for minor, non-violent offense are set via a phone call with the on duty judge between 8:00 am – 9:00 pm.
If the arrest occurs after 9:00 pm you will need to wait until 8:00 am the next day.
More serious offenses require a hearing in front of a judge, which will be scheduled according to the court calendar. This will generally occur the next day, not including weekends or holidays.
Bail is what the arrested in Meade 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 Meade 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 detained in a jail or prison 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.
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.
In South Dakota, once bail is set a defendant must pay the required amount of bail set by the court to be released from temporary holding (typically the county jail). If the person cannot afford the amount of bail required by the court, they must seek a bond from a licensed bondsperson to cover the amount.
Before rushing into contacting a bond company, consider the following:
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title to secure the bond back. 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.
In South Dakota, if you do not have cash to pay for bail, a bondsperson can be used. (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.)
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.
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 might be several options available through a bond company, one is a surety bond, and another option is a property bond 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 2 times the amount of the bond.
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.
Yes, Meade County recognizes most types of bonds.
In South Dakota, it is up to the defendant to bear the burden of proof as to why they will not, or do not have the ability to flee prosecution.
Bail is usually established in cases where a felony or Class I misdemeanor has occurred.
People arrested on Class II misdemeanors are usually released on recognizance meaning that if the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee, they are released on their own promise, or recognizance without having to pay bail.
In Meade County, once bail is set a defendant must pay the required amount of bail set by the court to be released from temporary holding (typically the county jail). If the person cannot afford the amount of bail required by the court, they must seek a bond from a licensed bondsperson to cover the amount. The bondsperson will charge 10% and can offer a surety or property bond.
The magistrate judge is given the ability to consider various factors in determining bail. Judges in South Dakota rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.
Typically, some of the biggest factors considered are the nature of the offense, the amount of credible evidence against the defendant, the defendant’s criminal history, their location, their income, and their ability to afford to attempt to escape prosecution.
The South Dakota Courts can set conditions for the release of a defendant on bail. These conditions can include many factors such as not leaving a certain area, not consuming drugs or alcohol, not hanging out with certain people, and receiving mental health counseling. If these conditions are not met the person will be taken back into custody.
Bail for minor, non-violent offense are set via a phone call with the on duty judge between 8:00 am – 9:00 pm.
If the arrest occurs after 9:00 pm you will need to wait until 8:00 am the next day.
More serious offenses require a hearing in front of a judge, which will be scheduled according to the court calendar. This will generally occur the next day, not including weekends or holidays.
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
The person posting bail could be the defendant, a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of South Dakota could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
South Dakota counties do not currently process online payments for bail.
Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Meade County Jail for more information about the jails in Meade County.
Most South Dakota courts only accept cash or surety issued by bail bond agent. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Meade County Jail for more information about posting bail in Meade County.
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. 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 bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
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.
The Meade 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.
It’s important to contact Meade County Jail at 605-720-6632 or the court where the defendant was charged as soon as possible since bail bond procedures may vary by jurisdiction. Confirming details with the Municipal or District Court will ensure you have the most up-to-date information.
Ask Meade County Jail or the Meade County Court Clerk the following:
If the bail amount seems high, consult a lawyer or public defender to see if a reduction is possible. Starting the process quickly will help expedite the defendant’s release.
A criminal attorney or bail agent can handle the process for you, making it faster and easier.
Option 1 - How to Post Cash Bail at Meade County Jail
The first option is to pay the full bail amount in cash, cashier’s check, or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.
Depending on the charge, the amount may range from $100 to $75,000 or more.
You can post a cash bond at Meade County Jail or the court where the bail hearing took place. Going directly to the jail will speed up the process, as the paperwork from the court must be transferred to the jail.
Cashier’s checks and money orders should be made out to Meade County Jail, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office, or the Meade County Court.
Money orders can be obtained at Western Union, Moneygram, or any Post Office.
Option 2 - How to Post a Surety Bond for a Defendant at Meade County Jail
If you don’t have the full bail amount, a surety bond is an option. A bail agent posts the bail for you, and you pay a premium, which is usually 10-15% of the total bail amount.
For instance, if bail is set at $5,000, the premium will be approximately $500 to $750.
The bail agent may ask for collateral, such as property or valuables, to secure the bond if the defendant fails to appear in court.
By signing with a bail agent, you agree to pay the full amount if the defendant skips their court date.
Option 3 - How to Post a Property Bond for a Defendant at Meade County Jail
If you own property in Meade County, you may be able to post a property bond using your real estate as collateral. All property owners must be present to sign the bond agreement.
To use property located outside Meade County, contact a local bail agent or defense lawyer for advice.
Click here for more information about posting bail at Meade County Jail.
Anyone over the age of 18 who can produce a valid government-issued photo ID can post bail. Accepted forms of ID include a Photo Driver's License, Passport, or Motor Vehicle issued ID.
In many circumstances, if the defendant has the resources, they can post their own cash bail from jail.
Surety Bonds are arranged by a third party, typically a South Dakota state licensed Bail Bond firm.
Juveniles may only be bailed or bonded out of custody by a parent or legal guardian.
