Koochiching County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Koochiching County bail and bond: the International Falls jail and court
The Koochiching County Jail at 715 Fourth Street in International Falls is run by the Koochiching County Sheriff's Office. Search the name in Koochiching County Inmate Search to see if the person is booked and what the bail is. The jail line is 218-283-4416. If you want to arrange bond, read the answers below first.
Can I check online whether someone is in the International Falls jail?
Yes. Type the name into Koochiching County Inmate Search. It lists people booked by the Koochiching County Sheriff's Office, and a bail figure when one is set. Give a new booking some time to show up.
The jail's phone, 218-283-4416, is the place to ask what the search leaves out.
Where is the Koochiching County Jail?
The Koochiching County Jail is at 715 Fourth Street, International Falls, MN 56649, the same street address as the courthouse. Sheriff Perryn Hedlund leads the office and Carrie Geiss is the jail administrator.
The state approved 40 beds in March 2026. A state inspection in August 2026 found a few record-keeping and safety items to fix, and the jail was ordered to correct them by the end of September.
Is bail the same for everyone charged with the same crime in Koochiching County?
No. A judge decides each case, and Minnesota has no statewide price list. Court policy tells judges to avoid preset lists. Release without money is the starting point unless the judge sees a danger to others or a real risk the person will not return.
When money is ordered, it should be the lowest amount that will do the job. Open Koochiching County Inmate Search to see what has been entered.
How and where do I pay bail in International Falls?
Call the jail at 218-283-4416 and ask about the bail window, the hours and the ID you need. The county does not post a public schedule.
Court administration shares the building and answers at 218-283-1160, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ask whether it can take bail on your case.
Do they take credit cards or only cash?
The jail can tell you. Koochiching County has not published its bail payment types, and a surprise at the window can mean another day in custody.
Never confuse money on an inmate account with bail. That money pays for canteen items and calls only.
Are there set amounts for DWI, drug or theft charges here?
Not that the county publishes. The judge picks a figure case by case.
State law does limit lesser crimes: cash bail on a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor can be no more than twice the top cash fine, with higher multiples for a few offenses (Minn. Stat. 629.471). There is no such formula for felonies.
How long can the jail keep someone before a court date?
A warrantless arrest requires a first appearance within 36 hours, leaving out the arrest day, Sundays and holidays. Probable cause must be reviewed within 48 hours, counting all days (Minn. R. Crim. P. 4.02, 4.03).
Court administration at 218-283-1160 can give the date.
What do bondsmen charge, and who oversees them?
The Department of Commerce licenses them, and the State Court Administrator must approve them too. Each uses its surety's filed premium rate, with a floor of $100 (Minn. Stat. 60M.02).
Collateral comes with a numbered receipt, and the agent must return it within 21 days after you show the bond has ended (Minn. Stat. 60M.03).
Can a house in the Falls area stand in for cash?
Another form of security can be accepted by a judge. Koochiching County has no posted property-bond steps, so ask the clerk at 218-283-1160.
Giving an agent a quitclaim deed as collateral is banned in Minnesota.
What court takes Koochiching County adult cases?
The Koochiching County District Court, Ninth Judicial District, 715 4th Street, International Falls. Lisa Havluck is the court administrator.
Felonies, misdemeanors and traffic offenses all start there. Minnesota has no municipal courts.
The record says the person is being held. Can I still pay?
Not until the hold is cleared. A hold may come from probation, a warrant in another county or a domestic-abuse arrest that needs a judge's review.
Since Minnesota has no death penalty, no one is held without bail on a capital charge. Ask the jail at 218-283-4416 which hold applies.
My 15-year-old was taken in. Where would he stay?
The county jail may hold a juvenile for at most 24 hours on weekdays, under its state approval. For longer secure detention, a state-published directory lists the Arrowhead Juvenile Center at 1918 Arlington Avenue North in Duluth as serving Koochiching County. Its number is 218-625-6700.
Juvenile files are private, so the adult search will not list him. Court administration at 218-283-1160 has hearing dates.
Who is the public defender for Koochiching County?
The judge appoints one if you cannot afford a lawyer. Ask at the first appearance and fill out the financial statement.
For the defender's office, call the court clerk at 218-283-1160.
What if the arrest is for a federal crime?
Federal cases are tried in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, and federal rules decide release.
Ask the jail at 218-283-4416 who has custody.
When will my bail money come back?
The court administrator keeps cash bail until the case closes, then pays it to the defendant or a person named in writing, after any fine or restitution (Minn. Stat. 629.53). A premium paid to an agent is not returned.
A missed court date can lead to default on the bond under chapter 629.
How do I steer clear of a bail scam?
Be suspicious of anyone who calls first and wants payment by gift card or app. Bondsmen may not call jail phones or deposit money for inmates. Verify by calling 218-283-4416.
Koochiching County bail contacts
- Jail
- Koochiching County Jail, 715 Fourth Street, International Falls, MN 56649; 218-283-4416
- Sheriff and jail staff
- Sheriff Perryn Hedlund; Jail Administrator Carrie Geiss
- Custody lookup
- Koochiching County Inmate Search
- Bond guide
- Koochiching County bail and bond help
- District court
- Koochiching County Courthouse, 715 4th Street, International Falls, MN 56649; 218-283-1160; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Public defender
- Ask court administration, 218-283-1160
- Juvenile
- Arrowhead Juvenile Center, 1918 Arlington Avenue North, Duluth, MN 55811; 218-625-6700
Treat every number and hour here as a starting point, since offices change them. Verify with the jail or court before you pay. This is a general explanation and not advice from an attorney.
Koochiching County Jail
Address:
715 4th St.
International Falls, MN 56649
Phone:
218-283-4416
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Koochiching County
Does Koochiching County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Koochiching County?
Who can set bail in Koochiching County?
When is bail set in Koochiching County Minnesota?
Does Koochiching County have bail?
Yes, Koochiching County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Koochiching County?
Koochiching 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 Koochiching 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 Koochiching 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 Koochiching 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 Koochiching 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 Koochiching 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, Koochiching 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 Koochiching 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 Koochiching County have bail?
Yes, Koochiching County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Koochiching County?
Koochiching 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 Koochiching 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 Koochiching County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Koochiching 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 Koochiching County Minnesota?
Yes, Koochiching County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Koochiching County Jail for more information about the jails in Koochiching County.
What options are there to pay bail in Koochiching 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 Koochiching County Jail for more information about posting bail in Koochiching 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 Koochiching 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 Koochiching 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.