Lyon County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lyon County bail and bond: the Marshall jail on West Main
My nephew was picked up in Marshall. Is he in the Lyon County Jail?
Look him up at Lyon County Inmate Search. The sheriff's jail on West Main Street in the city of Marshall holds adults arrested in Lyon County, and its record includes charges and bail when they are set. The search may trail a new booking by a few hours. Reception staff can fill gaps at 507-929-6623 during business hours.
Does the jail ever close?
No. The county says the Lyon County Jail runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Jail Reception and Jail Records answer during business hours. For the late-night desk, dial 507-929-6623 and ask for the deputy in charge.
How large is the Lyon County Jail, and who else is held there?
Its design capacity is 87 beds. Lyon also takes prisoners from other counties: Murray County, which has only a two-cell facility, sends inmates here at $75 a day, according to a September 2026 news report, with the rate planned to rise in 2027. If your family member lives in Murray County, the person may be in Marshall even though the arrest happened elsewhere.
Is Marshall, Minnesota the same place as Marshall County?
No, and the mix-up costs families time. The city of Marshall is the seat of Lyon County in southwest Minnesota. Marshall County is a different county near the North Dakota line, with its own sheriff in Warren. Use the Lyon County search for this page: Lyon County Inmate Search.
Who runs the jail, and who answers questions about how it works?
The Sheriff's Office runs it. The county names Brad Marks as Jail Administrator for questions about current jail operations, and his line is 507-929-6647. Use him for rules and housing; use the main line at 507-929-6623 for a specific person.
How do I pay bail in Lyon County?
The county's pages do not list a bail window or accepted payments, so call 507-929-6623 first and ask about both. Then ask whether the court clerk at 607 West Main handles payment during the day, at 507-706-7050. Get a receipt that shows the name, case number and amount.
When will a judge decide on release?
At the first appearance, no later than 36 hours after arrest, with the day of arrest, Sundays and legal holidays not counted. Fifth Judicial District judges hear cases in the Lyon County Courthouse. A misdemeanor suspect who is not brought in time must be released on a citation. Call the clerk at 507-706-7050 for the date.
What goes into a judge's decision?
Thirteen things, including the charge, the strength of the evidence, family, work, income, time in the community, past convictions, past missed court dates, and the safety of the victim and others. Minnesota starts with release on a promise or unsecured bond, and then asks for the mildest rule that works. Money bail is just one of the tools.
Does Lyon County have a bail chart?
The county and district have not published one on its public pages, and Minnesota has no statewide chart. The judges' own policy says courts should not rely on preset schedules. Most misdemeanor cash bail is capped at twice the highest cash fine under state law. For your case, see the amount in Lyon County Inmate Search.
Which rules protect me when I hire a bondsman?
The company must be licensed and approved by the state court office. The premium must match the surety's filed rate, with a $100 minimum. Rebates are banned. Agents cannot deposit money in an inmate's jail account or sign up clients inside a jail unless the family asked. Collateral must be written up and returned within 21 days after the case ends.
How does cash bond work if I am not the defendant?
Cash belongs to the accused even when you put it up. The court holds it until the case is over. A judge can use it toward a fine or restitution, and the rest goes to the defendant or whoever is named in writing. Ask the clerk at 507-706-7050 how that written request is filed.
Can I put up real estate?
Possibly. The rule lists "other security," yet the court sets the value test and filing steps. Phone the clerk at 507-706-7050 and ask whether property outside Lyon County is accepted. Never sign a quitclaim deed for a bondsman; Minnesota bars that as collateral.
Why does the roster say he has no bail?
Most often no judge has set a number. Minnesota has no death penalty, so no charge is barred from bail by law. Holds from probation or another county can also stop release. A judge may order detention for safety or flight risk. The clerk at 507-706-7050 can say which one applies.
Where is the public defender in Marshall?
The Fifth Judicial District public defender office is at 601 Jewett Street, Suite A, Marshall, MN 56258, phone 507-537-6062. You normally ask the judge for an appointment at the first hearing and fill out a financial form. The office assigns the lawyer; you cannot choose.
What if a young person is arrested?
Youth cases are private, and Lyon County Inmate Search will not list a minor. Call the court at 507-706-7050 and ask which youth facility holds Lyon County juveniles and when the detention hearing is.
What if he does not appear?
The judge may order the bond forfeited and issue a warrant. The court must tell the bondsman within 30 days, and a quick return may allow the judge to cancel some of the penalty. Call the clerk at 507-706-7050 and a lawyer that day.
Lyon County bail contacts
- County jail
- Lyon County Jail, 611 West Main Street, Marshall, MN 56258; 507-929-6623; open 24 hours
- Bond help
- Lyon County bail and bond pages
- Jail administrator
- Brad Marks, 507-929-6647, for questions about jail operations
- Custody lookup
- Lyon County Inmate Search
- District court
- Lyon County Courthouse, 607 West Main, Marshall, MN 56258; 507-706-7050; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Judicial district
- Fifth Judicial District
- Public defender
- 601 Jewett Street, Suite A, Marshall, MN 56258; 507-537-6062
- Juvenile
- Ask the court clerk 507-706-7050 which youth facility is used
Jail rules, county contracts and costs shift from year to year. Call the jail or the clerk to check your facts before paying. A lawyer can tell you what applies to your own case.
How do Bail Bonds work at Lyon County Jail
Bail may be posted by coming to the front lobby of the Jail after normal business hours. Between the hours of 8:00 and 4:30 bail is to be posted at the Court Administrator’s office on the 3rd floor of the courthouse. When posting bail at the Jail request to speak with the on duty Sergeant or Correctional Officer and they will then begin the process of paperwork. No personal checks will be accepted for bail purposes. You may also utilize a bail bondsman, if that is an option allowed by court order.
Lyon County Jail
Address:
611 West Main Street
Marshall, MN 56258
Phone:
507-537-7666
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lyon County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lyon County?
Who can set bail in Lyon County?
When is bail set in Lyon County Minnesota?
Does Lyon County have bail?
Yes, Lyon County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lyon County?
Lyon 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 Lyon 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 Lyon 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 Lyon 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 Lyon 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 Lyon 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, Lyon 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 Lyon 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 Lyon County have bail?
Yes, Lyon County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lyon County?
Lyon 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 Lyon 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 Lyon County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Lyon 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 Lyon County Minnesota?
Yes, Lyon County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Lyon County Jail for more information about the jails in Lyon County.
What options are there to pay bail in Lyon 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 Lyon County Jail for more information about posting bail in Lyon 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 Lyon 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 Lyon 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.