Renville County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Renville County bail and bond: the Olivia jail and your next steps
Everyone arrested in Renville County is held at the Renville County Jail, 104 4th Street South, Olivia. That is true whether the Sheriff's Office or a city police department made the arrest. The jail has 72 beds and opened in 2008. Start with Renville County Inmate Search to see if your person is booked and what bail was set. Jail administration answers at 320-523-3600.
1. Is my husband inside the Renville County Jail right now?
Search his name on Renville County Inmate Search. The county also runs its own custody roster online. Brand-new bookings can lag, so try again after an hour. Because every arrest in the county ends up at the Olivia jail, a name that never appears usually means a hold in another county or a release. Jail administration at 320-523-3600 can sort that out.
2. Do city police in Renville County have their own cells?
The sheriff's page says people arrested by a local police department are housed at the county jail, too. So you do not need to chase a city station. Ask the arresting officer for a report number, and keep it with the person's full name and birth date when you call 320-523-3600.
3. Where do I go, and when, to pay bail in Olivia?
The jail page I read covers visits, deposits and fingerprinting, but it does not give bail hours or a payment window. Phone 320-523-3600 before you leave home. Ask where the payment is taken, what forms are accepted, and whether a receipt with the case number will be handed over.
4. The jail takes cash at the door. Is that bail?
No. The public entrance takes cash for a person's jail account, and families may also mail a money order made out to the inmate. Both are spending money for calls and store items. Neither one releases anyone. Please do not mail cash.
5. Can I visit my daughter in the Olivia jail?
There is no in-person visiting. All visits are by video and last 20 minutes, with one visitor per station unless you are bringing a minor. Video visits run Saturday through Thursday, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. There are no Friday evening visits. Bring a photo ID that shows your current address.
6. How soon does she see a judge in Olivia?
Minnesota allows 36 hours from arrest, leaving out the day of arrest, Sundays and holidays. Saturdays count. If a misdemeanor suspect is not brought before a judge in time, the person must be released on a citation. The district court is at 500 E. DePue in Olivia, 320-523-3680, open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
7. Is there a Renville County bail chart?
No statewide chart exists, and the Judicial Council discourages preset ones. I found no Renville County chart, so I give no amounts. The judge sets the number, or it is written on a warrant. Once set, the figure should show on Renville County Inmate Search. A judge may also start with release on a promise to appear.
8. How does a bondsman fee work in Minnesota?
A licensed agent charges the rate the surety filed, with a $100 floor. On bonds of $10,000 or less, the agent must collect at least half the premium before posting, and the rest can be on a note. On larger bonds the first payment is at least 30 percent. Read every page, and ask about collateral.
9. What if we want to post a house or farmland?
Rules for this are not spelled out in the sources I read. Do not assume county land counts, or that out-of-state land does not. Call court administration at 320-523-3680 and ask the judge's requirements, the paperwork, and the wait.
10. Why does the jail say my son is on a hold?
A hold can come from another county's warrant, a probation violation, or a pending decision by the judge. Minnesota bail is the rule, since the state has no death penalty, but a hold stops release until it is cleared. Ask jail administration which agency placed it.
11. Where do Renville County juveniles go?
I could not confirm which youth detention center Renville County uses. Phone the district court at 320-523-3680 and ask where a young person is placed and when the detention hearing is. The jail itself says no one under 18 may enter the detention area unless arrangements are made ahead.
12. How do I get a public defender for a Renville County case?
Say you need one at the first hearing. You can also apply ahead on the state public defender page. A judge decides who qualifies. The court administrator for Renville County is Lindsay Listul, reached at 320-523-3680.
13. What happens if he skips court?
The judge can forfeit the bond and issue an arrest warrant. The bondsman is told and can try to bring him in. Contact a lawyer immediately, since a prompt move sometimes lets the court reset the date.
14. Will the cash come back, and how fast?
It is held by the court until the case ends. A judge can take fines or restitution out of it first. After that it goes back to the person charged, or to whoever he names in writing. Ask the court clerk how to request it.
15. How can I tell a Renville bail scam?
A real office never asks for gift cards. Minnesota rules bar bondsmen from soliciting at the jail or phoning inmates. If a caller says to pay in minutes, hang up and dial 320-523-3600 yourself.
16. What should I have ready before I call the Olivia jail?
Gather the full legal name, birth date, and the name of the agency that made the arrest. Write down who you spoke with. If the person was sentenced, not just arrested, the jail has a separate program department at 320-523-3808 that arranges sentence terms. The sheriff also lists booking and Pay-To-Stay fees for sentenced inmates in the county fee schedule. These are not bail costs.
17. Can a misdemeanor arrest end with a ticket instead of a night in Olivia?
Yes, in many cases. Minnesota rules tell officers to cite and release a misdemeanor suspect unless detention is needed to prevent harm, more crime, or a missed court date. A judge or prosecutor can also order release on a citation. If the person is still held when the 36 hours run out, a misdemeanor suspect must be let go on a citation.
Renville County bail and bond contacts
- Jail
- Renville County Jail, 104 4th Street S., Olivia, MN 56277; administration 320-523-3600
- Bond guide
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Custody lookup
- Renville County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 105 5th Street S., Suite 210, Olivia; 320-523-1161
- District court
- 500 E. DePue, Olivia, MN 56277; 320-523-3680; weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Sentence arrangements
- Jail program department, 320-523-3808
- Public defense and youth
- Ask at the court, 320-523-3680
Rules for visits, money and hours shift over time. Treat the details above as a starting point and check by phone before you act.
Renville County Jail
Address:
104 South 4th Street
Olivia, MN 56277
Phone:
320-523-3600
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Renville County
Does Renville County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Renville County?
Who can set bail in Renville County?
When is bail set in Renville County Minnesota?
Does Renville County have bail?
Yes, Renville County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Renville County?
Renville 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 Renville 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 Renville 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 Renville 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 Renville 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 Renville 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, Renville 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 Renville 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 Renville County have bail?
Yes, Renville County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Renville County?
Renville 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 Renville 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 Renville County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Renville 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 Renville County Minnesota?
Yes, Renville County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Renville County Jail for more information about the jails in Renville County.
What options are there to pay bail in Renville 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 Renville County Jail for more information about posting bail in Renville 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 Renville 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 Renville 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.