Bail Bonds & Jail Info: Kent County, MI

Friday, April 8, 2011
Kent County Jail
703 Ball Avenue Northeast
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1396
(616) 632-6401 ‎

If you or someone you know has been arrested in Kent County and is in need of being released from jail, please see below.

An arrest does not mean that the inmate has been convicted of a crime or a civil infraction.

Procedure for Posting Bail:
A person who has been arrested and charged with a crime may be required to post a bail bond before being released from jail. A bond is insurance to guarantee an arrestee will appear in court for trial. If that person fails to appear for a court date, the bond money is forfeited. A bond may be posted in cash, by an arrestee or by someone on his/her behalf.

Most crimes are bondable offenses, except capital crimes (those crimes for which the death penalty may be asked). The amount of a bond is determined by a judge or from an established schedule.

To post a bond, first make sure the person is, in fact, in a Kent County Jail Facility. Please call (616) 632-6301 or visit the accounting window, open 24 hours daily, located in the lobby adjacent to the visitor entrance. You can also obtain information about an arrestee's charge(s) and bond amount.

There are two ways to post a bond:

Cash Bond: the total amount of the bond, in cash, is placed with the county to guarantee the arrestee will appear at the next court hearing. If the arrestee does not appear after posting a cash bond, the money will be forfeited. If a not guilty verdict is rendered or the case is dismissed, or at the conclusion of the trial proceedings, bond money will be refunded minus any fines and / or court costs.

Cash, credit cards, cashier's checks or money orders are the only accepted methods of payment for bail. When posting bail, cashier's checks and money orders must be made payable to the Kent County Sheriff Department. Personal checks are not accepted. A fee may be charged ranging from 8-20 percent when posting a bond by credit card. Check with your provider for specific details.

Surety bond: A bonding company posts a bond that guarantees an arrestee will appear at the next court date. Kent County and/or the Kent County Sheriff does not participate in the contract between an arrestee and the bonding company. The bonding company normally charges a fee for each bond posted.
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