Redwood County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Redwood County bail and bond: the Redwood Falls jail and the first 36 hours
People arrested in Redwood County are held at the Redwood County Jail, 303 East 3rd Street, Redwood Falls. It is joined to the Law Enforcement Center, and visitors use the east-side entrance. Sheriff Jason Jacobson runs it. To see whether your person is booked, and what bail was set, use Redwood County Inmate Search. The jail desk is 507-637-1313 for anything the search leaves out.
A judge sets bail, not the jail staff. Read the questions below in order if this is a first arrest for your family.
1. Is my brother on the Redwood Falls jail list tonight?
Type his name into Redwood County Inmate Search. A booking that is only minutes old may take a while to appear, so look again in an hour. The sheriff also keeps an in-custody roster and a warrant list on the county site. If the name still does not show after several hours, phone the jail at 507-637-1313 and ask whether he was taken to another agency.
2. Which door do I use at the Redwood County Law Enforcement Center?
Use the east-side entrance on East 3rd Street. The jail is at 303 East 3rd Street and is attached to the Law Enforcement Center. The sheriff lists office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, at the Government Center, 403 South Mill Street. The main sheriff line is 507-637-4036. For anything about a person in custody, the jail line 507-637-1313 is the better call.
3. Where do I pay bail in Redwood Falls, and what hours?
The county pages I read describe deposits and visits, but they do not describe a bail window, its hours, or the forms of payment. Do not drive over with cash and hope. Call 507-637-1313 first and ask three things: where to go, which hours the window works, and whether cash is the only form taken. Ask for a receipt that lists the case number.
4. Does the lobby kiosk get my son out?
No. The kiosk in the jail lobby, which works day or night, puts money on a person's jail account for calls and store items. That money is a gift to him, not bail. Bail is a separate payment tied to a court case. Pay it only through the place the jail tells you, and never through a website that promises release.
5. How fast will a Redwood County judge see my sister?
A person who stays in custody must see a judge without unnecessary delay and within 36 hours of arrest. The count skips the day of arrest, Sundays and legal holidays, but Saturdays count. A misdemeanor suspect who misses that window must be released on a citation. The court is at 250 S. Jefferson in Redwood Falls, 507-616-4800, open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
6. What will bail be on a Redwood County charge?
Minnesota has no statewide list of bail amounts, and the Judicial Council tells courts not to lean on preset schedules. No Redwood County schedule turned up, so this page gives no dollar figures. The number comes from the judge or from a warrant. For misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, state law caps cash bail at double the top cash fine for the offense, with higher multiples for a few listed crimes. Check the search for the actual figure.
7. Can she go home without paying anything?
Often, yes. Court rules say the judge should start with release on a promise to appear or an unsecured bond. Money or conditions come in only if the judge finds release would risk public safety or a missed court date. The judge must choose the lightest condition that works. Ask a lawyer to raise that rule at the first hearing.
8. What does a bondsman cost in Redwood County?
Bail bond agents need a Minnesota Commerce license and approval from the state court office. They must charge the rate their surety company filed, with a $100 minimum. I did not find a legal maximum percentage, so do not accept "the state sets it" as an answer. Ask for the fee, the collateral and the missed-court terms in writing before you sign.
9. Can our land or house stand in for the cash?
Court rules allow "other security," but the sources I read do not say whether the land must sit in Redwood County, in Minnesota, or may lie out of state. Bondsmen are barred from taking a quitclaim deed as collateral. Ask court administration at 507-616-4800 what the judge will accept, and how long the paperwork takes.
10. What if Redwood Falls police or Lower Sioux officers made the arrest?
The jail roster lists three booking agencies: the Redwood Falls Police Department, the Lower Sioux Tribal Police Department, and the Sheriff's Office. Even so, people arrested in the county are booked into the same jail. Ask the officer for the report number, then check Redwood County Inmate Search. A tribal arrest can still lead to a county court case, so ask which court will hear it.
11. Where is a Redwood County teenager held after an arrest?
The sheriff's page covers juvenile visiting rules but does not name a youth detention center, so I will not guess one. Phone court administration at 507-616-4800 and ask where a young person is placed and when the detention hearing is. Juvenile records are private, so the adult search will not list a child.
12. How do we ask for a free lawyer?
Ask the judge at the first appearance, or apply early on the state's public defender page. The court decides who qualifies, then the district public defender assigns a lawyer. You cannot pick one. The Redwood County court number for questions is 507-616-4800.
13. What happens if he misses a Redwood County court date?
The judge can order the bond forfeited and issue a warrant. A bondsman gets notice and a chance to bring the person in, and a court that misses its own notice deadlines must discharge the bond. Do not wait. Call the court and a lawyer the same day.
14. Who gets the cash back after the case?
Cash bail belongs to the person charged, even when a relative paid it. The court holds it until the case ends, and a judge may apply it to a fine or restitution first. The rest goes to the person or to someone he names in writing. A bondsman's fee does not come back.
15. Is that call about Redwood County bail real?
Hang up on anyone who wants gift cards, crypto, or a transfer to a person. Minnesota bondsmen may not call jail phones, solicit at the jail, or put money on an inmate's account. Look up the jail yourself at 507-637-1313 and call back.
16. What should I bring when I call or visit the Redwood Falls jail?
Have the full legal name, birth date and, if you can get it, the case or booking number. Write down the name of the officer or desk worker you speak to, and the time. If you can reach the arresting officer, ask whether a probable-cause review is planned. A judge must make that finding within 48 hours of arrest, and that clock counts weekends. If it is missed, the person must be released.
17. Can a misdemeanor suspect be sent home before seeing a judge in Redwood County?
Sometimes. Court rules tell officers to issue a citation and release for most misdemeanors unless the person may hurt someone, is likely to offend again, or will probably ignore the paper. A prosecutor or judge can also order release on a citation. Ask the jail at 507-637-1313 whether a citation release has been approved before you set aside bail money.
Redwood County contacts for bail questions
- Jail
- Redwood County Jail, 303 East 3rd Street, Redwood Falls, MN 56283; 507-637-1313; work release questions 507-637-1343
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Redwood County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Sheriff Jason Jacobson, 303 E. 3rd Street, P.O. Box 47; 507-637-4036
- District court
- 250 S. Jefferson, Redwood Falls, MN 56283; 507-616-4800; weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Public defense
- Ask at first appearance; questions to the court at 507-616-4800
- Youth detention
- Ask court administration, 507-616-4800
Hours, fees and amounts change, and judges can order something different in a single case. Phone the jail before you travel or send any payment.
Redwood County Jail
Address:
303 E. 3rd Street
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone:
507-637-1313
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Redwood County
Does Redwood County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Redwood County?
Who can set bail in Redwood County?
When is bail set in Redwood County Minnesota?
Does Redwood County have bail?
Yes, Redwood County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Redwood County?
Redwood 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 Redwood 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 Redwood 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 Redwood 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 Redwood 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 Redwood 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, Redwood 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 Redwood 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 Redwood County have bail?
Yes, Redwood County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Redwood County?
Redwood 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 Redwood 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 Redwood County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Redwood 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 Redwood County Minnesota?
Yes, Redwood County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Redwood County Jail for more information about the jails in Redwood County.
What options are there to pay bail in Redwood 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 Redwood County Jail for more information about posting bail in Redwood 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 Redwood 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 Redwood 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.