Blue Earth County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Blue Earth County bail and bond: the Justice Center jail in Mankato
Adults arrested in Blue Earth County are held at the Blue Earth County Jail inside the Justice Center, 401 Carver Road in Mankato. The lobby is open 24 hours a day, every day. Look up your person with Blue Earth County Inmate Search to see custody, charges, and the bail set. The jail phone is 507-304-4830. Some bail comes with conditions that start only after the money is in, so read the questions on release delays below.
Is my relative in the Blue Earth County Jail?
Search the name on Blue Earth County Inmate Search. It shows whether the person is booked and what bail applies. Brand-new bookings can lag, so look again later.
The jail desk is 507-304-4830. For a shift supervisor, the on-duty jail sergeant is at 507-304-4841.
Where do I go to pay cash bail in Mankato?
Go to the Justice Center Jail Lobby at 401 Carver Road, Mankato, during business hours. After hours use the Release Lobby. The county says the lobby is open 24 hours, seven days a week.
Bring the exact cash amount, and ask the front desk or custody officer to walk you through the paperwork. You get a receipt.
Does the Blue Earth County Jail make change or take a card?
The county's bail page lists cash in the exact amount. It names no cards or checks for bail. Call 507-304-4830 if you only have a card or a check.
Why was bail paid but my son is still inside?
Some Blue Earth bail amounts come with conditions that start only after the money arrives. The county lists electronic home monitoring for alcohol or GPS, jail drug testing, a meeting with probation, and victim notification. Monitoring and drug testing cost extra.
A judge can order monitoring as a release condition. Call probation's monitoring line at 507-304-4750.
Can a judge pick between two bail options?
Yes. A state court handout from 2018 shows that a judge may order several choices at once, and the defendant picks. Its example is $1,000 with no conditions or $300 with conditions.
Ask the court or a lawyer whether your relative has more than one option before you pay.
How do I use a bail bondsman in Blue Earth County?
The county page says to find a licensed bondsman, meet them, and fill out the paperwork. The bondsman then hands it to the front desk or custody officer. The page suggests lists posted in jail lobbies, phone books, or online.
The bondsman's fee is the surety's filed rate, with a $100 minimum. Ask for the number in writing. Bondsmen may not solicit in the jail unless you ask.
Who runs the Blue Earth County Jail?
Jail Administrator Joslyn Lachmiller is at 507-304-4837, and Assistant Jail Administrator Darrin Ewert is at 507-304-4836. Administration is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The sheriff's main line is 507-304-4800.
The mailing address is P.O. Box 228, Mankato 56002-0228.
How soon does a Blue Earth County judge see a new case?
Within 36 hours of arrest, leaving out the arrest day, Sundays, and legal holidays. A judge must also find probable cause within 48 hours, counting weekends. If a misdemeanor suspect is not seen in time, the person goes out on a citation.
A judge starts from release without money unless safety or a missed court date is a worry.
Is there a bail chart for common Blue Earth County crimes?
None has been posted. Minnesota has no statewide schedule, and judicial policy tells courts not to rely on preset ones. The judge weighs the charge, record, work, and ties to the community.
The real number shows on Blue Earth County Inmate Search after a judge acts.
Can I put up land or a house in Blue Earth County?
Court rules allow security other than cash. The county jail page offers only cash and a bondsman. Ask the court which papers a judge would accept, and whether land outside the county counts. A bondsman cannot take a quitclaim deed as collateral and must return other collateral within 21 days of proof the case is over.
Why does the record show no bail in Mankato?
A judge may not have set bail. A hold from probation or another county also blocks release. Minnesota has no death penalty, so every person can have bail set, but a judge may add conditions or hold someone if release is a risk.
After a domestic assault arrest, the judge may order no contact and a firearms turn-in.
Where does a Blue Earth County teenager go?
The county's jail pages name no youth detention center. Youth cases are confidential, so you will not find a minor on the adult search. Call the jail at 507-304-4830 and ask where the youth is. Probation, 507-304-4750, can speak to the court process.
Who is the free lawyer in Blue Earth County?
People who qualify get a public defender from the court, and the family cannot pick the lawyer. Speak up at the first hearing, or start an application on the state public defender page. No district office phone is on the county pages, so ask the jail desk at 507-304-4830 for the court administration number.
What if a Blue Earth County defendant misses court?
Failing to appear lets the judge forfeit the bond and sign a warrant. Notice to the bondsman is due within 30 days. If your relative is wearing a monitor as a release condition, the missed hearing can also be reported by probation at 507-304-4750. Call a lawyer and the bondsman the same day, because a prompt call can sometimes get the date reset.
Who gets lobby cash back after a Blue Earth case?
Cash bail paid in the Mankato lobby is still the defendant's money. The court holds it until the case ends, and a judge may apply it to a fine or restitution. The rest goes to the defendant or a person named in writing. Keep the lobby receipt. Costs for monitoring or drug testing are separate and are not refunded by this process.
Who do I call if my son needs medical care in the Blue Earth County Jail?
The jail lists a nurse line at 507-304-4846. Use it to pass on medicines or health needs. For an emergency or a concern the nurse cannot settle, call the jail desk at 507-304-4830 and ask for the sergeant.
Bail paid at the lobby still starts any release conditions the court set, so mention health needs early.
Blue Earth County bail and bond contacts
- County jail
- Blue Earth County Jail, Justice Center, 401 Carver Road, Mankato, MN 56001; 507-304-4830
- Bond guide
- Blue Earth County jail and bond help
- Custody lookup
- Blue Earth County Inmate Search
- Lobby
- Jail Lobby in business hours; Release Lobby after hours; open 24 hours
- Jail administrator
- Joslyn Lachmiller, 507-304-4837; on-duty sergeant 507-304-4841
- Sheriff
- 507-304-4800
- Probation
- Electronic home monitoring, 507-304-4750
- P.O. Box 228, Mankato, MN 56002-0228
Conditions, costs, and numbers can change from case to case. Check with the jail desk before bringing cash or booking a bondsman.
Blue Earth County Jail
Address:
401 Carver Road
Mankato, MN 56002-0228
Phone:
507-304-4830
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Blue Earth County
Does Blue Earth County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Blue Earth County?
Who can set bail in Blue Earth County?
When is bail set in Blue Earth County Minnesota?
Does Blue Earth County have bail?
Yes, Blue Earth County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Blue Earth County?
Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth County Jail 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, Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth County have bail?
Yes, Blue Earth County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Blue Earth County?
Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth County Minnesota?
Yes, Blue Earth County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Blue Earth County Jail for more information about the jails in Blue Earth County.
What options are there to pay bail in Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth County Jail for more information about posting bail in Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth 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.