Martin County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Martin County bail and bond: the Fairmont jail on Lake Avenue
My brother was arrested near Sherburn. Is he on the Fairmont roster?
Search his name on Martin County Inmate Search. Martin County's jail takes adult arrests from across the county, and the record shows the booking and any bail. Allow a few hours for it to update. If it stays blank, the county lists several numbers for the sheriff, among them 507-238-3150 and 507-238-3151, and dispatch is staffed all day and night.
Where is the jail, and how many people can it hold?
The Martin County Jail is at 201 Lake Avenue, Fairmont, MN 56031, the same address as the Sheriff's Office. State inspectors approve 32 secure beds for men and women, with an everyday working limit near 25, and they last visited on March 25, 2026. When the jail is full, a person can be sent to another county.
Which phone number should I try?
The county's sheriff page gives five lines without labeling them: 507-238-3150, 507-238-3151, 507-238-4481, 507-238-3124 and 507-320-1163. Try the first two, then the others. The front office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and dispatch never closes.
Where do I hand over bail money in Fairmont?
Start with a call, because the county has not posted a bail window, hours or accepted payment types. Ask a dispatcher which door at 201 Lake Avenue to use and whether cash, a money order or a bondsman's paper is taken. Keep a receipt that has the case number on it.
How is putting money on an inmate's account different from bail?
The sheriff's page lists a fee for depositing money into an inmate's account. That money buys phone time and store items, not freedom. Bail goes to the court or to a bondsman, and only that releases a person. Never pay an account deposit hoping it will count toward release.
When must a judge hear the case?
No later than 36 hours after arrest, with the arrest day, Sundays and holidays not counted. A weekend arrest might not be heard until Monday or Tuesday, depending on holidays. A different rule gives the court 48 hours, weekends included, to find probable cause. If that is missed, the person must be released.
How is the amount decided?
The judge decides. The first step in Minnesota is a promise to appear or an unsecured bond. If that does not seem safe enough, the judge picks the lightest rule that will work. Options include a named adult who watches the person, travel limits, or money bail. Everything is written in an order that the jail receives.
Does Martin County publish a bail schedule?
Not on the pages for the sheriff or the court that I read, and Minnesota has no statewide one. State judges are told not to depend on fixed schedules. A law does cap cash bail for many misdemeanors at twice the highest cash fine. The amount set in your case shows in Martin County Inmate Search.
Who regulates bondsmen, and what can they charge?
Licensed agents are regulated by the state Department of Commerce and approved by the court system. Premium equals the surety's filed rate, not less than $100, with no rebates. For a bond of $10,000 or less, half the premium must be collected before posting, and the rest can be a note with interest up to 6 percent a year.
How do I get cash bond back?
Cash paid to the court stays the accused's property. After the case, the judge may subtract a fine or restitution, and the rest is paid to the defendant or to a person named in writing. Ask the court clerk how to submit that form.
Can my family farm count as security?
It might. The rules list "other security," and the judge or court administrator sets the test for value and ownership. Ask before you gather papers. A quitclaim deed to a bondsman is not an allowed form of collateral.
What if the roster says no bail?
The likeliest reason is that no judge has set a number yet. A probation hold or a warrant from elsewhere can also block release. Minnesota has no death penalty, so no charge is barred by law. A judge may still order detention for public safety.
Where would a youth from Martin County be held?
The Martin County Jail is approved to hold a delinquent juvenile for no more than 6 hours. After that, the youth must move to a juvenile facility. Ask the Fairmont dispatchers which one the county uses. A child's case is private, and Martin County Inmate Search will not show it.
Is there a public defender office in Fairmont?
The Fifth Judicial District has a public defender office in Fairmont. You ask the judge for one at your first appearance and fill out a financial form. The office assigns the lawyer. Ask the sheriff's staff for the court clerk's direct number.
What if he misses the court date?
After a no-show, the court may issue a warrant and take the bond. The court has 30 days to notify the bondsman. A lawyer may ask the judge to forgive some of the penalty if he returns.
What does a bail scam look like?
A call or text that demands a gift card, a transfer app or crypto. Hang up and ring 507-238-3150 yourself.
Martin County bail contacts
- County jail
- Martin County Jail, 201 Lake Avenue, Fairmont, MN 56031
- Bond help
- Martin County bail and bond pages
- Sheriff's Office
- Suite 199, 201 Lake Avenue, Fairmont; lines listed by the county: 507-238-3150, 507-238-3151, 507-238-4481, 507-238-3124, 507-320-1163; office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday; dispatch 24 hours
- Custody lookup
- Martin County Inmate Search
- Public defender
- Fifth Judicial District office in Fairmont; ask for appointment at the first hearing
- Juvenile
- 6-hour hold at the jail; ask the sheriff which youth facility takes over
Numbers, fees and rules change, and a judge can alter a release order at any hearing. Verify with the sheriff or the court clerk before sending money. This overview is not a substitute for a lawyer.
Martin County Jail
Address:
201 Lake Ave.
Fairmont, MN 56031
Phone:
507-238-3150
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Martin County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Martin County?
Who can set bail in Martin County?
When is bail set in Martin County Minnesota?
Does Martin County have bail?
Yes, Martin County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Martin County?
Martin 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 Martin 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 Martin 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 Martin 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 Martin 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 Martin 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, Martin 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 Martin 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 Martin County have bail?
Yes, Martin County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Martin County?
Martin 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 Martin 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 Martin County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Martin 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 Martin County Minnesota?
Yes, Martin County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Martin County Jail for more information about the jails in Martin County.
What options are there to pay bail in Martin 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 Martin County Jail for more information about posting bail in Martin 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 Martin 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 Martin 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.