Chisago County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Chisago County bail and bond: the Center City jail on Per Road
The Chisago County Jail is run by the Sheriff's Office Corrections Division at 15230 Per Road, Center City. Before you call, type the name into Chisago County Inmate Search to see whether the person is booked and what bail was set. The jail desk is 651-257-2931. The county's own facility page is one source, and the jail listing adds general help.
A judge sets bail. Staff at the jail handle intake, money for inmates, and release after bail is accepted.
1. Can I see if someone is inside the Per Road jail without calling?
Yes. Open Chisago County Inmate Search and enter the name. The county also runs its own inmate locator on its website. If a name is missing, the booking may still be in progress. Try again later, then call 651-257-2931.
2. Which Chisago County number answers at midnight?
The Sheriff's Office lists service every day around the clock. The main voice line is 651-213-6300, intake is 651-257-4100, and after hours the number is 651-213-6341. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. For custody status, the jail itself is 651-257-2931.
3. Who runs the jail, and who do I ask about a complaint?
Jail Administrator Jonathan Gray can be reached at 651-213-5765, and Assistant Jail Administrator Richard Benson at 651-213-5763. They manage the facility. They do not set bail and cannot lower it. For a bail question about a specific person, start with the desk at 651-257-2931.
4. What is a booking order, and why does the jail want an appointment?
Someone who is not in custody but is ordered to be booked must call 651-257-2931 to make an appointment. The person must bring a valid government photo ID. A juvenile without ID must come with a parent or guardian who has valid ID. Showing up without an appointment can waste a trip.
5. Where do I pay bail in Chisago County?
The facility page we read does not describe a bail window, its hours, or accepted payment. Call 651-257-2931 and ask which entrance to use, when payment is taken, and whether cash, money order, or card is allowed. The county offices at 313 N. Main Street, 651-257-1300, may help with court fees but ask the jail first for bail.
6. What are pay-for-stay fees, and are they part of bail?
Pay-for-stay is a charge for time spent in jail, and the county offers a waiver application. It is not bail and does not buy release. Ask the jail desk whether any stay fee is attached to your person's booking and how a waiver is requested.
7. Is a canteen deposit the same as posting bail?
No. Canteen accounts, run by a vendor named on the county page, pay for store items. Online visits and phone time also cost money. None of these frees the person. Keep deposits and bail separate, and save every receipt.
8. How much will bail be for a Chisago County charge?
Minnesota has no statewide bail schedule, and Policy 524 asks courts not to rely on preset ones. We found no Chisago County list of amounts. A judge sets the figure at the first hearing, within the rule that bail should be the lowest amount needed to ensure return to court. See the amount on Chisago County Inmate Search or ask the jail desk.
9. When will he see the judge?
A person who stays in custody must appear within 36 hours after arrest, leaving out the day of arrest, Sundays, and legal holidays. A misdemeanor suspect not seen in time must be released on citation. A separate probable-cause check comes within 48 hours, counting every day.
10. How is bail different if the charge is domestic assault?
The judge reviews the arrest facts and, in crimes against a person, hears the victim's account first. Release can come with no-contact limits, a firearms surrender, or money bail. The court may order a pretrial bail evaluation from local corrections for certain violent, domestic, or harassment charges. Ask the jail what orders apply before you arrange a ride home.
11. What does a Minnesota bail bond agent charge?
State law requires a license from the Department of Commerce, approval by the State Court Administrator, and charging the filed rate with a $100 minimum premium. Agents must give a numbered receipt for collateral and must return it within 21 days after you show written proof the bond ended. They cannot solicit inside the jail.
12. Can property in Chisago County secure a bond?
A judge may accept security besides cash, but no Chisago County property rule was found, and we did not confirm county or state limits. Ask the court administrator for the district court in Center City before you pledge a home or lake lot.
13. What if my son is under 18 and was arrested?
A parent or guardian with valid ID must come to the jail for a juvenile booking appointment. We did not confirm which youth detention center the county uses. Ask the jail at 651-257-2931 and the court which facility holds the juvenile and when the detention hearing is.
14. How do I get a lawyer I cannot pay for?
Ask the judge at the first appearance, or use the Online PD Application from the Minnesota courts. The court appoints the lawyer and you cannot choose. A Chisago County public defender line was not confirmed, so call the jail at 651-257-2931 for the court date.
15. What if he misses court after we paid?
The judge may forfeit the money or bond and order his arrest. For a bond from an agent, the court must notify the surety within 30 days. Hire a lawyer fast, since a court may forgive the penalty in some cases.
16. Is the text about releasing my brother for a payment real?
No court or jail asks for a payment app, gift card, or wire to a person. Hang up and call 651-257-2931 yourself.
Chisago County bail contacts
- County jail
- Chisago County Jail, 15230 Per Road, Center City, MN 55012; 651-257-2931; jail listing
- Sheriff's Office
- Same address; main 651-213-6300; intake 651-257-4100; after hours 651-213-6341
- Jail administrator
- Jonathan Gray, 651-213-5765; assistant, Richard Benson, 651-213-5763
- County offices
- 313 N. Main Street, Center City; 651-257-1300
- Custody lookup
- Chisago County Inmate Search
- Public defender
- Ask the judge at first appearance or apply online through the Minnesota courts
- Juvenile
- Ask the jail at 651-257-2931 which youth facility holds the juvenile
Visiting hours, fees, and desk numbers are updated by the county, not by this page, so recheck them before travel. Questions about a charge belong with a licensed Minnesota attorney.
Chisago County Jail
Address:
15230 Per Road
Center City, MN 55012
Phone:
651-257-2931
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Chisago County
Does Chisago County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Chisago County?
Who can set bail in Chisago County?
When is bail set in Chisago County Minnesota?
Does Chisago County have bail?
Yes, Chisago County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Chisago County?
Chisago 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 Chisago 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 Chisago 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 Chisago 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 Chisago 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 Chisago 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, Chisago 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 Chisago 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 Chisago County have bail?
Yes, Chisago County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Chisago County?
Chisago 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 Chisago 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 Chisago County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Chisago 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 Chisago County Minnesota?
Yes, Chisago County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Chisago County Jail for more information about the jails in Chisago County.
What options are there to pay bail in Chisago 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 Chisago County Jail for more information about posting bail in Chisago 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 Chisago 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 Chisago 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.