Benton County Juvenile Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Benton County bail and bond: the Foley jail and what to do next
Adults arrested in Benton County are held at the Benton County Jail in Foley, run by Sheriff Troy Heck's office. Check Benton County Inmate Search to see whether your person is booked, the charges, and the bail. The sheriff's office line is 320-968-7201. A directory lists the 24-hour jail desk as 320-968-8180. Mail goes to P.O. Box 159, Foley.
Is my relative inside the Benton County Jail in Foley?
Type the full name into Benton County Inmate Search. It shows custody status and bail. A booking only minutes old may not appear yet.
For the rest, call the sheriff at 320-968-7201. One directory lists a 24-hour jail desk at 320-968-8180, so try it if the main line is busy.
What is the street address of the Benton County Jail?
The state corrections inspection lists the jail at 581 Highway 23 in Foley, 56329, with P.O. Box 159. One directory gives 615 Highway 23 East instead. The two do not match.
Before you drive, call 320-968-7201 and ask for the public entrance address. Sheriff Heck's office is the certificate holder for the jail.
How big is the Benton County Jail?
The state inspection approves 102 secure beds, and it counted 95 in use. It lists a six-hour hold for juveniles charged as delinquent, so a youth can wait there only briefly.
A full jail may mean people are moved. Ask the sheriff whether your person was transferred.
When does a Benton County judge decide on bail?
A first appearance is due within 36 hours of arrest, leaving out the arrest day, Sundays, and legal holidays. Saturdays count. Misdemeanor suspects not seen in that time go home on a citation.
A judge must also decide probable cause within 48 hours, and that count includes weekends.
Where do I pay cash bail in Foley?
Benton's pages read for this guide do not say where or when bail money is taken. Call 320-968-7201 and ask for the exact amount, the case number, and the window or office that takes payment that day. A directory says money can be brought to the jail, but that covers inmate accounts.
The judge orders accepted cash bail deposited with the court administrator. Keep the receipt.
What does a bail bond agent in Benton County cost?
The agent needs a Commerce license and court approval. The fee is the surety's filed rate with a $100 floor. No percentage is set in the statute.
Ask what you owe up front, what is due later, and what collateral they want. The law says collateral must be returned within 21 days of proof of discharge.
Can my farm or house back a Benton County bond?
Minnesota rules allow "other security," yet no Benton page gives steps. Ask the sheriff at 320-968-7201 which court office handles property, and whether land must lie inside the county. A bondsman may not use a quitclaim deed as collateral, and must return other collateral within 21 days of proof the case is closed. Read every paper before you sign.
Is there a bail chart for Benton County crimes?
No. Minnesota has no statewide bail schedule, and judicial policy discourages preset charts. The number depends on the judge, the charge, and your relative's record and ties.
A judge can order release with no bail. When money is set, Benton County Inmate Search lists it.
Why does a Benton County listing say no bail?
A judge may not have seen the case. A hold from probation or another county also stops release. Because Minnesota has no death penalty, every person can have bail set, though a judge may add conditions or keep someone in when release is a risk.
After a domestic assault arrest, a judge may order no contact.
Does money in an inmate account free my brother?
No. Cash or money orders put on an account buy phone calls and store items. Bail is paid on the case.
Mailed money for inmates should be a money order or cashier's check, never cash, according to one directory. Keep that apart from bail.
What if Sauk Rapids or another city police officer arrested him?
Ask the department for the case number and where the person was taken, then search Benton County Inmate Search. If the name is still missing, call the sheriff at 320-968-7201 and give the agency and date.
Who is the free lawyer for a Benton County case?
The court assigns a public defender to people who qualify, and the family cannot choose. You can ask the judge at the first hearing, or follow the steps on the state public defender page. A sworn financial statement is part of the request. No district office phone is posted on the pages read for Benton, so ask the sheriff's office at 320-968-7201 for court administration.
Where is a Benton County teenager held?
The jail can keep a delinquent youth for six hours only. After that the youth must be moved to a juvenile facility, and the pages read do not say which one Benton uses. Call the sheriff at 320-968-7201 and ask. A juvenile file is private, which is why the adult search leaves out minors.
What if a Benton County defendant misses court?
A missed date can lead to a forfeited bond and a warrant. The court must tell the bondsman within 30 days, and the paperwork on a bond left unpaid becomes late 90 days after the forfeiture order. Do not wait. Phone a lawyer and your bondsman before the day ends. Sheriff's dispatch at 320-968-7201 can check on a warrant.
How do I get cash bail back in Benton County?
The money belongs to the defendant, no matter who paid it. The court administrator holds cash bail until the case ends. A judge may take fines or restitution out first, and the rest is paid to the defendant or a person named in writing. Bondsman fees stay with the agent. Ask the court how the refund request works in Benton County.
Does Benton County post a list of warrants?
Yes. The sheriff's office keeps an active warrant listing online. A name there means an arrest could happen at any time, such as at a traffic stop.
If your relative has a warrant, call a lawyer first, then the sheriff at 320-968-7201 to ask how a voluntary surrender works and what bail would be.
Benton County bail and bond contacts
- County jail
- Benton County Jail, 581 Highway 23, Foley, MN 56329 (state inspection address); P.O. Box 159
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Benton County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Troy Heck; 320-968-7201
- 24-hour jail desk
- Listed in a directory: 320-968-8180
- Public defense
- Ask at the first hearing or call 320-968-7201
- Juvenile
- Six-hour hold at the jail only; ask the sheriff at 320-968-7201
Addresses and numbers for this jail differ between sources, and rules change. Call before you travel or send money.
Benton County Juvenile Detention Center
Address:
7565 4th Avenue
Lino Lakes, MN 55014
Phone:
651-783-3989
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Benton County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Benton County?
Who can set bail in Benton County?
When is bail set in Benton County Minnesota?
Does Benton County have bail?
Yes, Benton County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Benton County?
Benton County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Minnesota offers several types of pre-trial release including unconditional, conditional, or cash/surety bail.
Who can set bail in Benton County?
Depending on the charge(s) bail may be set according to a bail schedule or at the discretion of the judge.
When is bail set in Benton County Minnesota?
Bail is set at the defendant’s first court hearing, or arraignment. State law requires this hearing be scheduled within 48 hours of arrest, except for weekends or holidays.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Benton 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 Benton 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 Benton County Juvenile Detention Center 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, Benton 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 Benton 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.
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.
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 Benton County have bail?
Yes, Benton County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Benton County?
Benton County recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Minnesota offers several types of pre-trial release including unconditional, conditional, or cash/surety bail.
Who can set bail in Benton County?
Depending on the charge(s) bail may be set according to a bail schedule or at the discretion of the judge.
When is bail set in Minnesota?
Bail is set at the defendant’s first court hearing, or arraignment. State law requires this hearing be scheduled within 48 hours of arrest, except for weekends or holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Benton County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Benton County Minnesota, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be 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 Minnesota could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Benton County Minnesota?
Yes, Benton County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Benton County Juvenile Detention Center for more information about the jails in Benton County.
What options are there to pay bail in Benton County Minnesota?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Benton County Juvenile Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Benton County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Minnesota?
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 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 Benton 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 Minnesota?
The Benton County Juvenile Detention Center 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.