Pennington County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Pennington County bail and bond: the Thief River Falls Justice Center
Adults arrested in Pennington County are held in the Pennington County jail, part of the Justice Center complex in Thief River Falls. The sheriff lists the Law Enforcement Center at 102 1st Street West. Use Pennington County Inmate Search to see whether a person is booked and what the bail is. For inmate questions the sheriff points callers to 218-416-7097.
The courts are in the same Justice Center, at 141 Main Avenue South, so one trip can cover both. Questions about how to pay bail should go to the jail line first, since no payment window is posted for the public.
Is my cousin in the Pennington County jail?
Look the name up with Pennington County Inmate Search and read the booking time. The jail corrections line, 218-416-7097, is the number the sheriff gives for any inmate question. The sheriff's main line, 218-681-6161, is shared with the Thief River Falls police, so tell the dispatcher you need the jail.
What building do I walk into?
The Pennington County Sheriff's Office website lists the Law Enforcement Center at 102 1st Street West and describes the jail as part of the new Justice Center. The court and the county attorney use the Justice Center address, 141 Main Avenue South. If you are unsure which door is open to the public at your hour, call the jail line before you go.
How do I pay bail in Thief River Falls?
No page on the sheriff's site gave a payment window, hours or accepted payment types. Call 218-416-7097 and ask where to go, whether the jail takes cash only, and whether it releases the person right away. Take photo ID and the case number along.
What does the court office handle?
The District Court clerk is in the Justice Center, 141 Main Avenue South, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court lists two numbers, 218-684-7000 and 218-681-0907. Use them for court dates, orders and whether bail was set at a hearing.
Who decides how much bail is?
A judge does. Minnesota keeps no statewide amount list, and a state policy discourages judges from using preset ones. The judge begins with release on a promise to appear, then moves to conditions or money only if the facts call for it. A defendant can ask a judge to review conditions again.
How long can police hold someone before court?
A person arrested without a warrant must see a judge within 36 hours, leaving out the day of arrest, Sundays and legal holidays. A misdemeanor suspect not seen in time must be let go with a citation. A judge must also find probable cause within 48 hours of arrest in a felony or similar case, weekends included.
How does a bondsman charge in Pennington County?
A licensed agent must charge the premium the surety filed with the state, with a $100 minimum. Ask what is due now and what is owed later. For a bond of $10,000 or less, state law lets the agent collect at least half of the premium before posting and put the rest on a note, with interest on the note capped at 6 percent a year.
Can a bondsman talk to us at the jail?
Not on their own. State law says agents may not solicit in a jail or courthouse unless the defendant, a relative who will sign, or a lawyer asked. They also may not call jail phones. If someone approaches you in the lobby, ask for a license, then check the state-approved agent list on the Minnesota courts site.
Can a house or land stand in for cash?
The criminal rules let a judge accept other security, but the county pages do not state a property rule. Whether the land must lie inside Pennington County is a question for the court clerk at 218-684-7000. Do not sign a deed over to a stranger as collateral; a bondsman may not take a quitclaim deed.
What happens to a domestic assault arrest?
For assault, harassment and protection-order arrests the judge must look at whether release puts the victim at risk. Conditions can include no contact, staying away from the home and giving up firearms. The person may not be able to go home even if bail is paid, so ask the court about conditions before you collect anyone.
Who do I call about a free lawyer?
The court cannot choose the lawyer, but it can appoint a public defender if you qualify. Ask at the first hearing, or apply online through the Minnesota courts site. The state probation office in the Justice Center is not the public defender. For the office phone, ask the clerk at 218-684-7000.
Where is a juvenile held after a Pennington arrest?
The nearest state-inspected detention program in the region is the Red River Valley Juvenile Center, 600 Bruce Street, Crookston, which lists eight secure and eight non-secure beds on its 2024 state inspection. Which counties use it was not stated, so ask the court clerk where a particular child is. Juvenile cases do not appear in the adult search.
Does Pennington County hold people for other counties?
It does. The county board set boarding rates for other counties and for high-risk offenders in late 2022, and a person from another county may be booked here. If the search shows nothing, ask the jail line whether the person was sent to another county.
What if my son misses his next court date?
The judge can issue a warrant, and a bondsman must be told of any forfeiture within set time limits. If you call the court the same day, a lawyer can often ask for a new date. Do not wait for a letter.
When can Pennington County cash bail be claimed?
Cash bail is the defendant's property under state law. The court holds it until the case ends, takes out any fine or restitution, then pays the rest to the defendant or to someone he names in writing. The premium paid to a bondsman is a fee and stays with the company.
Pennington County contacts for bail and bond
- Jail
- Pennington County jail, Law Enforcement Center, 102 1st Street West, Thief River Falls, MN 56701; corrections line 218-416-7097
- Bond guide
- Pennington County jail bail and bond help
- Custody lookup
- Pennington County Inmate Search
- Sheriff and police
- 218-681-6161
- District Court
- Justice Center, 141 Main Avenue South, Thief River Falls, MN 56701; 218-684-7000 or 218-681-0907; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- County Attorney
- 218-681-0773
- Public defender
- Ask the court clerk at 218-684-7000
- Youth detention
- Red River Valley Juvenile Center, 600 Bruce Street, Crookston
This guide uses county, court and state pages that are often undated, so any hour or number may have changed. A judge can set different terms for your case. Get a lawyer's advice and the office's confirmation before you pay.
Pennington County Jail
Address:
102 First Street West
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Phone:
218-416-7097
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Pennington County
Does Pennington County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Pennington County?
Who can set bail in Pennington County?
When is bail set in Pennington County Minnesota?
Does Pennington County have bail?
Yes, Pennington County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Pennington County?
Pennington 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 Pennington 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 Pennington 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 Pennington 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 Pennington 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 Pennington 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, Pennington 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 Pennington 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 Pennington County have bail?
Yes, Pennington County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Pennington County?
Pennington 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 Pennington 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 Pennington County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Pennington 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 Pennington County Minnesota?
Yes, Pennington County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Pennington County Jail for more information about the jails in Pennington County.
What options are there to pay bail in Pennington 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 Pennington County Jail for more information about posting bail in Pennington 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 Pennington 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 Pennington 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.