Lake County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Lake County

Minnesota • Lake County • Bail & bond help

Lake County bail and bond help from the Two Harbors jail

Lake County, Minnesota books adult arrests into the Lake County Jail at 613 Third Avenue in Two Harbors, a sheriff-run jail in the Law Enforcement Center. Use Lake County Inmate Search to see if someone is in custody and what the bail is. The Sheriff's Office answers at 218-834-8385. Every case is heard in the Lake County Courthouse next door, where the clerk's line is 218-595-5001.

Is my brother in the Two Harbors jail?

Type his name into Lake County Inmate Search. If he was booked by the Lake County Sheriff, the record should show it, along with any bail the court has set. The search can lag behind a new arrest. If nothing shows after a few hours, call the intake line at 218-834-8445 and give his full name and birth date.

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Where exactly is the jail in Lake County?

The state inspector lists the Lake County Jail at 613 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616, inside the Law Enforcement Center. The courthouse is a block away at 601 Third Avenue. The inspector's September 2025 report lets the jail keep a delinquent juvenile for up to 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays.

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Which phone number do I use for the sheriff?

The Sheriff's Office lists 218-834-8385 as its main voice line and 218-834-8445 as its intake line. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and dispatch never closes. The county's toll-free number, 800-450-8832, is a general county line, so use the sheriff's numbers for jail matters.

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Can I bring money to the jail to get someone out?

Call first. The county does not post its bail-window hours or the kinds of payment it takes, and a trip with the wrong form of payment can waste a day. Ask the intake desk at 218-834-8445 whether cash, a money order or a bondsman's paperwork is accepted, and ask for a receipt with the case number. Do not send money to anyone who contacts you by text.

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What can a judge do at the first hearing?

The Sixth Judicial District judge can release the person on a promise to return, set an unsecured bond, set money bail, or add conditions such as no contact, travel limits or alcohol rules. Minnesota's rule says the judge should choose the least strict option that still gets the person back to court. Several choices can be offered at once, and the person picks one.

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How long can police keep someone before a judge hears the case?

Thirty-six hours, but the clock skips the day of arrest, Sundays and holidays. A Saturday counts. Separately, a judge has 48 hours from arrest, weekends included, to find probable cause. If the deadline passes without it, the person has to be released. Court staff at 218-595-5001 can confirm the hearing date.

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Is there a standard bail price list for Lake County?

No. Minnesota has no statewide list, and the state judges' own policy tells courts not to depend on preset schedules. Two exceptions exist in law: for most misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, cash bail cannot be more than double the top cash fine, with higher limits for a few offenses such as drunk driving. Ask the clerk at 218-595-5001 about your charge.

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How much does a bondsman charge, and who checks them?

Bail agents need a state insurance license and approval from the State Court Administrator's Office. They must charge the premium their surety filed, and never less than $100. They cannot rebate part of it or pay jailers. They may not walk into a jail to find clients unless a family member asked for them. Any collateral must come with a numbered receipt.

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What if someone offers to take my cash for a bond?

Cash paid to the court as bond is not a fee. It belongs to the accused and comes back after the case, minus any fine or restitution the judge orders. A bondsman's premium is different: it is a fee and stays with the bondsman. Know which one you are paying, and ask for it in writing.

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Will they take my cabin or land as security?

The rules allow "other security," so a judge may consider property. Whether Lake County accepts land, which county it must be in, and how it is valued are decisions for the court administrator. Call 218-595-5001 before you gather any deeds. A bondsman cannot lawfully hold a quitclaim deed as your collateral.

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The record says no bail. Does that mean no way out?

Not always. No Minnesota charge is automatically beyond bail, because the state has no death penalty. A "no bail" note often means a judge has not yet set an amount, or a probation, tribal or other-county hold is in the way. In domestic cases a judge may require the victim's safety to be reviewed first. The court clerk can tell you the reason.

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My teenager was arrested in Silver Bay or Beaver Bay. Where does the youth go?

Lake County is listed among the counties served by the Arrowhead Juvenile Center, 1918 Arlington Avenue North, Duluth, MN 55811, phone 218-625-6700. A child's case is private, so Lake County Inmate Search will not show it. Call the court at 218-595-5001 for the hearing time.

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How do I get a public defender?

Say at the first hearing that you cannot afford a lawyer and fill out the financial form. The court appoints one if jail is possible, and the chief public defender picks which lawyer. The Lake County court at 601 Third Avenue handles the request, and its phone is 218-595-5001.

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What happens to the money if he misses a court date?

The judge can forfeit the bond and issue a warrant. The court has to give notice to the bondsman within 30 days, and the person still has a chance to come back. Call the clerk at 218-595-5001 the same day. Do not wait for the mail.

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How do I spot a fake jail call?

Real staff will not demand gift cards or phone-app payments. Hang up on any call that pressures you, then dial the sheriff yourself at 218-834-8385.

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Lake County bail contacts

County jail
Lake County Jail, 613 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616
Bond help
Lake County bail and bond pages
Sheriff's Office
Law Enforcement Center, 613 Third Avenue, Two Harbors; voice 218-834-8385; intake 218-834-8445; office 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
Custody lookup
Lake County Inmate Search
District court
Lake County Courthouse, 601 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616; 218-595-5001; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Judicial district
Sixth Judicial District
County line
800-450-8832
Public defender
Request at the first hearing; clerk 218-595-5001
Juvenile
Arrowhead Juvenile Center, 1918 Arlington Avenue North, Duluth, MN 55811; 218-625-6700

Hours, fees, and bail amounts are set by the people running each office and can shift without notice. Check with the sheriff or the clerk before paying. This guide explains how things usually work and does not replace a lawyer.

How do Bail Bonds work at Lake County Jail

To post bond, call the jail and find out the exact amount of bail including fees.  The Lake County Jail will only accept cash, no cashier check, money order or credit card.  If you are unable to pay the bail by cash, you can use a bond company but remember that you will not get the bondsman fee back even if you go to court.

Lake County Jail

Address:
613 3rd Ave.
Two Harbors, MN 55616
Phone:
218-834-8385

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lake County


Does Lake County have bail?

What kind of bonds are accepted in Lake County?

Who can set bail in Lake County?

When is bail set in Lake County Minnesota?

 

 

Does Lake County have bail?

Yes,  Lake County recognizes most types of bonds.

 

 

What kind of bonds are accepted in Lake County?

Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake 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, Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake County have bail?  

Yes,  Lake County recognizes most types of bonds.

What kind of bonds are accepted in Lake County? 

Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake County Minnesota? 

Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.

In Lake 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 Lake County Minnesota?

Yes, Lake County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Lake County Jail for more information about the jails in Lake County.

What options are there to pay bail in Lake 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 Lake County Jail for more information about posting bail in Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake 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.

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Lake County

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.