Meeker County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Meeker County bail and bond: the Litchfield jail and what happens before the first hearing
Adults arrested in Meeker County are taken to the Meeker County Jail at 326 North Ramsey Avenue in Litchfield, run by the Sheriff's Office. See the Meeker County jail listing for general background. To learn whether someone is booked, use Meeker County Inmate Search. The Sheriff answers at 320-693-5400 and the jail administrator at 320-693-5417. Ask them how to pay bail and in what form, because the county pages I found do not post a window or hours.
Is my son booked into the Ramsey Avenue jail in Litchfield?
Type the name into Meeker County Inmate Search. If nothing shows, call the Sheriff at 320-693-5400 and give the full name and birth date. The state's 2024 jail inspection lists 69 secure beds at 326 North Ramsey Avenue, so this is a full-size jail and not a short-hold cell.
Which Meeker County number reaches the jail itself?
The county's page on housing prisoners from other counties gives two numbers: the Sheriff at 320-693-5400 and the Jail Administrator at 320-693-5417. Some third-party websites list the second number as the Sheriff's line, which is not what the county page says. If one line is busy, try the other.
Where do I pay bail in Litchfield, and until what hour?
I saw no posted bail window, hours or list of payment types for Meeker County. Call the jail administrator at 320-693-5417 before you carry money. Ask five things: which door, which hours, cash or other forms, whether the amount must be exact, and what receipt you get. Write down the answers and the name of the person who gave them.
How soon must the court see someone arrested in Meeker County?
The rule is 36 hours, leaving out the day of arrest, Sundays and legal holidays. Judges also must decide probable cause within 48 hours, counting weekends. Meeker County's district court sits in Litchfield; its clerk's office answers at 320-535-6015. Ask there for the hearing date once the person is booked.
Is there a cap on bail for a misdemeanor?
Yes, for cash bail. Minnesota Statutes section 629.471 sets the most a judge can require at double the highest cash fine for a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor. Some offenses carry a higher multiple, such as four times for certain driving crimes. There are exceptions for repeat drunk-driving cases. Felonies have no such table, so the judge weighs the facts.
Does Meeker County post bail amounts for common charges?
I found no Meeker County schedule, and Minnesota has no statewide one. Judicial Council Policy 524 tells courts not to rely on preset bail lists, except for people who failed to appear. Do not trust a figure from a website that quotes "typical" amounts. Ask the jail what the judge set, or ask the clerk at 320-535-6015.
What is the pretrial evaluation I keep hearing about?
For certain charges, such as crimes of violence and some domestic assault cases, local corrections must complete a risk form before the first hearing. The judge sees it, but it carries no bail recommendation or score. It is meant to help the judge choose between release and money bail. Defendants can ask their lawyer what the form said about them.
How do I vet a bondsman in Litchfield?
Use only an agent licensed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce and approved by the State Court Administrator. A premium must follow the company's filed rate, never lower, and never less than $100. Agents may not call jail phones or pay jailers for referrals. If a stranger approaches you in the lobby, ask for the license and approval, and walk away if they cannot show both.
Can land or a building count as security?
Rule 6.02 lists "other security," but I found no Meeker County policy on real estate. Ask the court administrator, Katie Bloch's office, at 320-535-6015 before you sign any deed. Bondsmen cannot take a quitclaim deed as collateral, and they must give a numbered receipt for collateral and return it within 21 days after you show written proof the bond is discharged.
How do I reach the court, and where is it?
The Meeker County Courthouse is at 325 Sibley Avenue North, Litchfield, MN 55355. It is in the Eighth Judicial District. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone is 320-535-6015 and the fax is 320-693-5254. Street parking and a lot are both available.
What if my daughter is under 18?
The county jail may hold a delinquent juvenile for up to 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays, under its state approval. After that she must go to a juvenile facility. I could not confirm which center Meeker County uses, so call the Sheriff at 320-693-5400 right away. Her record is private and will not show in Meeker County Inmate Search.
Who defends someone who cannot afford a lawyer?
Ask at the first appearance or apply through the Judicial Branch's online public defender application. The judge appoints the Public Defender, and the chief public defender assigns the lawyer. The client does not choose. Call the clerk at 320-535-6015 to learn which public defender office covers Meeker County.
What if he skips a hearing after bail is paid?
The court has set deadlines to notify the bond company after a missed date. A bond that goes unpaid or unreinstated 90 days after the forfeiture order is called delinquent. Contact the agent and an attorney the same day. Minnesota law lets a court forgive a forfeiture penalty in some cases, so ask a lawyer about it.
Can someone be held with no bail at all?
Minnesota has no death penalty, so no defendant is flatly unbailable. A judge can still decline to release on a personal promise if release would endanger public safety. For a drunk-driving defendant with three or more priors in ten years, the statute requires maximum bail unless alcohol-control conditions are set.
Can the bondsman take my son back into custody?
Possibly. Under Minnesota Statutes section 629.63 a surety may arrest the defendant or ask the court to take him back, and the court then holds a hearing on revoking and discharging the bond. Ask the agent what would trigger that step, such as a missed meeting or a new charge. Chapter 60M lets a court order forfeiture and requires notice to the surety within 30 days of a missed hearing.
Is the Meeker jail ever used by other counties?
Yes. The county publishes a daily rate for housing inmates from other counties, so a person from elsewhere may be in the Litchfield jail on someone else's case. If your relative was arrested here on a warrant from another county, bail for that warrant is usually set by the issuing court. Ask the jail administrator at 320-693-5417 which court issued it.
Meeker County bail contacts
- Jail
- Meeker County Jail, 326 North Ramsey Avenue, Litchfield, MN 55355; Jail Administrator 320-693-5417; see the Meeker County jail page
- Bond guide
- Meeker County bail and bond instructions
- Custody lookup
- Meeker County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Meeker County Sheriff's Office, 320-693-5400
- Court
- Meeker County Courthouse, 325 Sibley Avenue North, Litchfield, MN 55355; 320-535-6015; fax 320-693-5254; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Public defense
- Ask the court administrator, 320-535-6015
- Juvenile
- Ask the Sheriff, 320-693-5400, where Meeker County sends youth
Phone lines and posting rules change, and a judge can order a different amount than any figure you hear. Confirm the details with the Sheriff before you pay anything. A lawyer should answer questions about the charge.
Meeker County Detention Center
Address:
326 N. Ramsey Avenue
Litchfield, MN 55355
Phone:
320-693-5415
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Meeker County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Meeker County?
Who can set bail in Meeker County?
When is bail set in Meeker County Minnesota?
Does Meeker County have bail?
Yes, Meeker County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Meeker County?
Meeker 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 Meeker 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 Meeker 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 Meeker 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 Meeker 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 Meeker County Detention Center 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, Meeker 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 Meeker 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 Meeker County have bail?
Yes, Meeker County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Meeker County?
Meeker 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 Meeker 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 Meeker County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Meeker 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 Meeker County Minnesota?
Yes, Meeker County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Meeker County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Meeker County.
What options are there to pay bail in Meeker 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 Meeker County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Meeker 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 Meeker 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 Meeker County Detention Center 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.