Virginia City Jail & Holding Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds
St. Louis County bail and bond: one big county, one jail, two lockups
Most adults arrested in St. Louis County are held at the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth, a 197-bed jail run by the Sheriff and a jail administrator. Its street address is listed as 4334 Haines Road, so call before you drive. The jail line is 218-726-2345. Up north on the Iron Range, people may first sit in a lockup in Hibbing or Virginia. Look the person up with St. Louis County Inmate Search to see where they are and what bail was set.
Is my relative in the Duluth jail or on the Range?
Search St. Louis County Inmate Search first. It shows who is in custody and the charges.
If the name is missing, the person may be in one of the two small lockups on the Range, or may have just been booked. Ask at the jail, 218-726-2345, or call the Sheriff's Office in Duluth at 218-726-2340.
What are the Hibbing and Virginia lockups?
The county calls them 72-hour lockups. Hibbing holds up to 8 people and Virginia holds up to 12. They are meant for short stays before court, not long terms.
For Hibbing, call 218-312-8134. For Virginia, call 218-471-7134. After a stay of up to three days, a person may be moved to the Duluth jail.
Which courthouse will hear the case: Duluth, Hibbing, or Virginia?
St. Louis County is in the Sixth Judicial District, and the court has full offices in three towns. Duluth is at 100 N. Fifth Avenue W., 218-221-7560. Hibbing is at 1810 E. 12th Avenue, 218-274-6007. Virginia is at 300 South Fifth Avenue, 218-305-7021.
Each opens Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The charging papers say which one has your case. If you are unsure, call Duluth first.
How soon will a judge see him after the arrest?
Minnesota's rule is 36 hours, not counting the day of arrest, Sundays, or legal holidays. Saturdays do count. A judge must also decide probable cause within 48 hours, counting every day.
A person arrested on a misdemeanor and not brought before a judge in time must be let go on a citation. Court staff at 218-221-7560 can tell you the hearing date.
Where do I pay bail in St. Louis County, and what is accepted?
The county posts no bail window hours or payment list. Phone the jail at 218-726-2345 and ask three things: where to go, what hours, and what forms of payment.
Cash bail is the defendant's own money even if you hand it over. The court holds it until the case ends, and a judge may apply it to a fine or restitution. Keep the receipt and the case number.
How much will bail be for this charge?
No fixed price list covers the state. Judicial policy tells courts not to lean on preset schedules, so a judge looks at the charge, the record, work, family, and safety.
A judge may order release with no money at all, or give a choice of a high amount with no conditions or a lower one with conditions. The figure for your relative should show on St. Louis County Inmate Search.
What does a bail agent charge in St. Louis County?
The county's own page says an agent charges 10 to 20 percent of the bail and that this fee is not given back. State law says the agent must charge the company's filed rate, with a $100 minimum, so ask for the rate sheet.
Agents hold a Commerce Department license and court approval. The county points families to the state list of approved agents rather than naming a firm.
Can a house or cabin be used to post a bond here?
Court rules allow security other than cash, but the county does not publish a property bond process. Ask the court administrator in the courthouse that has the case.
Agents who take a house as backing must give a numbered receipt, and may not take a quitclaim deed. Collateral must be returned within 21 days after you show proof the case is over.
Why does the record show no bail?
A judge may not have acted yet. A probation hold or a warrant from another county can also block release. Minnesota has no death penalty, so every person has a right to bail, but a judge may add conditions or hold someone who is a danger.
After a domestic assault arrest, release often comes with a no-contact order. Call 218-726-2345 to ask which reason applies.
Is money on a jail account the same as bail?
No. Inmate funds pay for phone and store items. Only a bail payment on the case helps with release.
The sheriff's site has a separate Inmate Funds page for deposits. A licensed bail agent may not put money on an inmate's account, so treat a caller who offers that as a warning sign.
How do I get a free lawyer in St. Louis County?
Ask the judge for a public defender at the first hearing, or apply online at the court system's public defender page. You must show you cannot pay. The court assigns the lawyer.
This page lists no public defender number, so call the Duluth court at 218-221-7560 and ask for the office that handles your courthouse.
Where does St. Louis County keep arrested teens?
The Arrowhead Juvenile Center in Duluth serves St. Louis, Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, and Lake counties. It is the county's detention center for young people.
Court staff can tell you the hearing time. Call the Duluth court at 218-221-7560. Youth records are private, so a child may not show on the adult search.
What if he misses a court date after bail?
Call the court that has the case that same day, then call a lawyer. The judge can issue a warrant and begin forfeiture of the bond.
Minnesota law makes the court tell the agent in writing within set deadlines. If it misses them, the bond is discharged without penalty. Tell your agent at once.
When do I get my bail money back?
Cash bail comes back after the case ends, to the person who paid or to someone the defendant names in writing. The judge may first take out fines or restitution.
An agent's fee does not come back under the county's page. Ask the Duluth court at 218-221-7560 how to request a refund.
Who should I trust when someone offers to post bail?
Use only agents on the state's approved list. State law bars agents from soliciting inside jails and courthouses, from calling jail phones, and from paying jail staff.
If a stranger asks for a wire or gift cards, hang up and call the jail line, 218-726-2345, yourself.
How do I visit someone in the Duluth jail?
Visits at the jail are set by appointment through the phone vendor's website, one to eight days ahead. Listed hours are mornings on weekdays and mornings plus late afternoons on weekends.
Lockup stays in Hibbing and Virginia are short, so call the lockup first at 218-312-8134 or 218-471-7134.
St. Louis County bond contacts
- County jail
- St. Louis County Jail, Duluth, listed at 4334 Haines Road; 218-726-2345
- Bail help
- Bail and bond guide for this jail
- Custody lookup
- St. Louis County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Duluth 218-726-2340; Hibbing 218-312-8134; Virginia 218-471-7134
- Lockups
- Hibbing (8 beds) and Virginia (12 beds), 72-hour stays
- Duluth court
- 100 N. Fifth Avenue W., Duluth; 218-221-7560
- Hibbing court
- 1810 E. 12th Avenue, Hibbing; 218-274-6007
- Virginia court
- 300 South Fifth Avenue, Virginia; 218-305-7021
- Juvenile
- Arrowhead Juvenile Center, Duluth; ask the court at 218-221-7560
- Bail agents
- State bail bond program
Hours, fees, and addresses shift over time. This page explains how things usually work in the county, and it is not a substitute for a lawyer who has read your relative's file.
Virginia City Jail & Holding Facility
Address:
300 South 5th Avenue
Virginia, MN 55792
Phone:
218.749.7100
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in St. Louis County
Does St. Louis County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Louis County?
Who can set bail in St. Louis County?
When is bail set in St. Louis County Minnesota?
Does St. Louis County have bail?
Yes, St. Louis County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Louis County?
St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 Virginia City Jail & Holding Facility 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, St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis County have bail?
Yes, St. Louis County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in St. Louis County?
St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In St. Louis 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 St. Louis County Minnesota?
Yes, St. Louis County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Virginia City Jail & Holding Facility for more information about the jails in St. Louis County.
What options are there to pay bail in St. Louis 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 Virginia City Jail & Holding Facility for more information about posting bail in St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 Virginia City Jail & Holding Facility 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.