Benton County Jail – Warsaw, MO

Benton County Jail is in Benton County, Missouri and is the primary jail for this region. Know someone in Benton County Jail? This guide tells you all about anything you might want to know about Benton County Jail,such as: Learn how to locate an inmate. Find mugshots and inmate photos. The jail’s phone number and address. Bailing out of jail. Intake procedures and booking. Court information. And much more…

The prospect of getting arrested and going to jail is a scary and stressful situation, not only for the person who goes to jail, but also that person’s family and friends. This guide is designed to offer advice and information that you need to make helping a friend or family member get out of jail a lot easier. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask it, and also any tips or comments that might be a benefit to other people in the same situation is welcome.

Do you have a family member or friend that is incarcerated and want to contact them?

Has a family member or friend who has been arrested and you need to find out what jail they’re in?

To search who is in jail at Benton County Jail you need to click on their web site and use the inmate lookup.

The Benton County Jail Inmate Lookup has information on persons currently in custody, which includes current status, bail amount, and visiting schedule. Also, you are able to find information on anyone arrested and processed or discharged in the past 24 hours. Inmates are listed in alphabetical order by last name. You’ll be able to locate their inmate information faster if you have the arrestee’s full name, date of birth, or arrest number.

If the inmate you are looking for may be locked up at a different jail you can look here, too: Missouri County Jails Listing

A mugshot, or jail processing photo, is the picture that the jail takes during jail intake processing. A mugshot is make of one frontal photo and a side photo. Your full name and booking number will be on the mugshot, and they will be stored at the jail.

Mugshots can be viewed on the Benton County Jail website, or you can go in person to the Benton County Jail. When viewing mugshots online you will need to enter their name, and the booking date, if you have one.

Are you trying to get your mugshot taken off of the Benton County Jail website? This may not be possible, since your mugshot is a matter of public record. You need to file a ‘Petition to Expunge’. What this means is that your arrest record would be sealed, so no one will be able to see them. Depending on your situation, this may be a longshot.

Read our in-depth tutorial about getting your mugshot removed, the different mugshot websites, and the mugshot removal services: Mugshot Removal

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Obviously, once you are in jail, your only thought is about getting out. After booking, your bail will be decided by the magistrate. If there is no bail set this might mean that you will either be released on your ‘own recognizance’ until your court date, or you are kept in jail until your court date.

If you do bail out you are required to promise to show up for court, and until that day you can’t leave the county.

In most cases, an inmate at Benton County Jail will earn time off for good behavior when they respect the rules and don’t cause any problems while they are in jail.

If you follow the rules, you may be allowed to do work release. You will have to stay jail at the end of the day when you’re finished at your job, or you might be allowed to move to a halfway house when you are not working.

Bail is the amount of money that you have to pay to the courts in order to be released from jail until your trial. The amount of bail that is set is determined by how serious your charges are. You or someone you know will have to put up 10 percent of the total amount that was determined before you can bail out of jail. If you don’t go to your court appearance, that person will not get their money back.

In order to find out how much someone’s bail is, you will have to call the Benton County Jail. If you’ve got the person’s info, like name, address and date of birth, they’ll let you know what their bail is set at. Also, you can check their bail amount and status on the Benton County Jail site.

Posting bail to get out of jail is never a fun thing, but thankfully, it is really easy. To start with, figure out if it is a Cash Only Bond situation. If this is the case, you will not be able to get a bondsman. Cash only – the jail won’t take a check. Once you have paid the bond, the prisoner will be released. If they don’t violate the terms of their bail, you’ll get the bail money back.

If bail is set too high, or you just can’t afford it, you should try a bail bondsman. They generally charge a fee of 10-15% of the total bail amount, and usually charge a minimum charge of $100. The money you pay to the bail bondsman will not be returned to you and must be paid in cash. If their bail has been set particularly high, the bondsman will in most cases require that they use your assets as collateral for the bond in addition to their charges.

To contact a local bail bondsman go to: Bail bondsman

Have you ever hired a bondsman because you or someone you know got arrested? If so, leave a comment below and tell your story, and let us know how it worked out.

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• Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release
• Released For Time Served
• Pre-Trial Release Programs
• Get Released on House Arrest
• Get Released on Your Own Recognizance

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The intake process is made up of each of these steps:

• You will be placed in a waiting area or cell. If the jail is really busy, you will have to wait a while to get processed.
• The first step is that you will have to answer a number of questions, such as what your legal name is, your address, date of birth and an emergency contact.
• They’ll also ask about your medical and mental history.
• You will be issued an inmate number.
• You will get fingerprinted.
• You will have a front and profile photo taken for your mugshot.
• All of your personal property will be taken away from you and stored until you are discharged.
• You will get to make a telephone call in order to get in touch with a family member, friend, or bail bondsman.
• If you are expected to be released shortly, you might be allowed to keep wearing your own clothes, if not you will have to change into a jail uniform.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through processing at jail? If so, please share your experience. How long did it take to get processed? What was your treatment like? Do you know any tips that might help other people make it through jail intake?

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When you pay your bail, you will be allowed to leave jail. Getting discharged may take anywhere between 15 minutes to many hours. Or, simply, the faster you can pay your bail, the quicker you can get released from jail. It also depends on whether you’ve been given a cash bond or if a judge still needs to determine your bail amount. For minor charges, you will get booked and then released on your recognizance without having to pay bail. When you have completed your jail sentence and know the date of your release, you should plan to get released between 9am and noon.

out against you, or if you need to start your sentence, it is highly recommended that you follow the rules and turn yourself in. If it is for a warrant, go to the jail processing area, and tell the intake officer that you think they might have a warrant out for your arrest. The officer will verify that you have an outstanding arrest warrant, and if you do, they will ask that you surrender yourself and you will be taken into custody. If it is for a jail sentence, go down to the jail on the date and time that the sentence order requires you to. Ensure that you aren’t late. Make sure that you only bring allowed items when you go to jail, such as a driver’s license or even photo ID, prescription medication, as well as the sentencing order from court.

The inmate must give each visitor’s name to the jail. Your visitor’s information will be entered in a Visiting log as an authorized visitor. Every visitor has to provide a photo ID when visiting. Visitors showing up late or that is not an approved visitor will not be allowed to visit the inmate.
Visitation procedures can change, so make sure that you check the official Benton County Jail jail site before you go to visitation.

Phone calls that inmates are allowed to make from jail are collect calls or through a pre-paid phone account. These phone calls are typically more expensive than phone calls made outside of jail. There are certain restrictions about when and how often you can use the phone, but you should keep in mind that a long line can form at the phones, because everyone wants to use the phone, too. If you break the rules and are disciplined, an inmate’s ability to use the phone might get cut back or forbidden completely.

The Benton County Jail phone number is: (660) 438-6135

All inmate mail must be sent using the actual US Postal Service. You must not use any other method of delivery. You should write the inmate’s name, inmate number, and jail address on the letter. Don’t send a box, envelope with padding or insulation, plastic bag, or an envelope with metal inside. All mail sent to inmates gets opened and examined and read by the staff, and will get sent back if it can’t be delivered.

Use this address when sending a letter to someone incarcerated at Benton County Jail:

Benton County Jail
174 W. Washington Street
Warsaw, MO 65355

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Benton County Jail
174 W. Washington Street
Warsaw, MO 65355

The mail policy changes, so you should double check the official website when you send a letter to an inmate there.

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If you have been arrested, you have rights, and an important one is that you have the right to request a lawyer. You don’t get to make many phone calls when you get arrested, so make sure you have a friend or family member locate a lawyer when you talk to them. You might be thinking ‘but do I really need an attorney’ You’re not required to have an attorney in all cases, a criminal defense attorney can advise you of your rights, help protect your interests and show you the way through the criminal justice system in Benton County. The faster you hire an attorney to represent you and work on your charges, the better off you’ll be.

For more information about the benefits of and how to hire an attorney, go to: How to Find a Lawyer in Benton County

If you’ve been arrested and don’t have the money to hire a lawyer, the courts will assign you a public defender, which is a free lawyer. The Public Defender’s Office is staffed by independent investigators, crime scene and forensics experts as well as social case workers. You should be reassured that Public Defenders are actual attorneys that are members of the Missouri State Bar and are fully licensed to practice law and represent you in court.

Have you or someone you know had to use a court appointed attorney? Do you think that they did a good job of defending you?

Benton County court records are public records. They contain a court case file containing a docket and all motions, documents, and evidence filed in the case. You can access your court records via the Benton County website, or at the Clerk of Court’s office where the case was filed.

The Clerk of Court is an officer and clerk of the court that manages court records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath when court is in session, and also read the verdict when delivered by the jury. All records associated with your case are kept and available to you at the office of the Clerk of Court.

Court costs and court fees are the fees and charges associated with your court case, for example filing fees, motion and claim fees, and court charges. If you can’t afford to pay these fees and have been assigned a Public Defender, you may get out of having to pay them.

The Benton County court magistrate is the judge who presides over your case. They do many different things, like determining how much your bail will be, issuing warrants, and overseeing initial court appearances and detention proceedings.

A pre-sentencing report is put together with information about the arrestee’s background and information about the defendant’s life, which the magistrate will review and take into consideration when decide your sentence. Information and personal details will be collected from the person on trial, the defendant’s family, and if necessary the victim in the crime. Remember that you should ask to have a copy of this report prior to sentencing, so you have the opportunity to review it for accuracy and completeness, and correct any mistakes.

When you are convicted of a crime, you will be sentenced. There are a number of different options, which include community service to probation, to prison or jail time. Depending on the particulars of your trial, the severity of your crime, and any sentencing guidelines that they judge will use, you might get taken into custody immediately, or you could receive a date that you must go to jail to serve out your sentence.

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Do you need to find out if someone is currently in jail, or has ever been in jail?

To do so, just go to the jail’s website, and do a search using:

• Name.
• Birthdate.
• Approximate booking date.
• and their jail ID.

If you’re not sure if this person is in jail or not, you can call the jail get confirmation.

If you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you can check arrest warrants inquiry on the website or you are able to call the court directly. You have to have their first and last name. Or, you can just go the jail in person and ask them. Bear in mind that there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest, they will take you into custody immediately.

If you know the person’s name, and their arrest date, contact the Benton County jail, by phone, in person, or check online. Arrest records are public record and this is accessible by the public.

Civil processes are when you are served with legal papers, which can be a court order. You can access civil process orders by contacting the Sheriff’s office, online or by phone.

All registered sex offenders have to be registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people listed on these databases have been tried by jury and convicted in a court of law of a sex crime. You are able to view this information on the website, but you should know that you won’t get the actual address, rather the neighborhood block that they live on.

Court Records are considered public records, so they are accessible to anyone who requests them. These records include a case file that contains a docket and any of the documents filed in your court case. You are able to access your court records on the internet, or at the Benton County Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed.

Each state maintains records of their state citizen’s criminal background. These state databases are all connected so you can track criminal backgrounds from any other state. You are able to go to the courthouse and check in person or you can check the website. It is helpful to know the county, and if the crime was in a different state entirely, you may have to pay a fee for a more complete search.

When you look up a person’s criminal records you will be able to get a report detailing any arrests, charges, or convictions that may be on a person’s record for crimes, which include:

• DUI.
• Drug Possession.
• Kidnapping.
• Rape or other sexual assault.
• Violent crimes including assault, battery and murder.
• Theft, breaking and entering.

If you do a criminal records check, you will not be able to see if that person has had any:

• Speeding or reckless driving.
• Lost their driver’s license or license revoked or suspended.
• Traffic accidents.
• Other moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To get this kind of information, you will have to do a search for their driving record.

Have you ever needed to find criminal records? Was it easy? Did you search online or did you have to call the local courthouse? Was it correct? There are plenty of reasons that folks search for criminal records and backgrounds, and your comments might help other people that are in the same situation.

Click here to tell your story

Most Wanted

The FBI maintains a list of the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Benton County, the Benton County Sheriff maintains their own list of the top most wanted criminals in the county.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List: External Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

While the prospect of getting locked up in the Benton County jail is no fun, soon you will get accustomed to the routine that is set for you in jail. You will get an alarm to wake up at about 6:00AM, and then roll call. After roll call you will get breakfast. When you finish eating breakfast you will be required to work in the program that has been assigned to you. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Benton County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Benton County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The rules for sending money to someone in jail can change, so it would be best to review the site when you send funds to an inmate there.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Benton County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Benton County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Benton County Jail

Requirements:

• You must be over the age of 21.
• You must possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You must be a US Citizen.
• You must pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You must pass a drug test.
• You must have a good level of fitness.
• You must be in good health.
• You must have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

Click here to post a comment


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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• Victims have the right to protection from the accused.
• Victims have the right to notification.
• Victims have the right to attend proceedings.
• Victims have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• Victims have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• Victims have the right to restitution.
• Victims have the right to a speedy trial.
• Victims have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

Click here to tell about all about it

Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever spent any time in Benton County Jail? Do you have a family member or friend that spent time there? Have you ever been to visit a prisoner at Benton County Jail?

If yes, then you should write your review about it. Tell us about your experience so that other people can learn what to expect.

Things you could include in your comment:

• Conditions in Benton County Jail.
• Jail, yard and pod layout and facility
• Jail staff and Guards
• Jail food and commissary
• Visitors
• The other inmates.
• Prisoner safety
• Gang activity
• Programs and activities


Let Everyone Know

Tell Your Story

Everbody that’s been incarcerated has a story to tell. How’d you get locked up? Were you fairly treated? How was day to day life at Benton County Jail? What about the other inmates? How did it affect you to go to jail?

Tell Your Story

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you make friends in jail? Are you trying to talk to a friend from jail? Write your message below.

Say Hello


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