Steele County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Steele County bail and bond: the Alexander Street detention center
Adults arrested in Steele County are held at the Steele County Detention Center, 2500 Alexander Street, Owatonna. Sheriff Lon Thiele's office runs it, and it is staffed all day and night at 507-446-7000. The center is rated for 154 beds and also houses people for other counties and for state and federal agencies, so a name can show up there for reasons that have nothing to do with Steele cases. Check Steele County Inmate Search first, then see the bail help for this jail.
1. Is my daughter in the Steele County Detention Center?
Look her up on Steele County Inmate Search. If she is not listed, call the center at 507-446-7000. The county says the building runs around the clock.
If you know she was arrested in Owatonna, the Sheriff's office line is 507-444-3800. Ask whether she was booked here or sent to another county.
2. Why would someone from another county be held in Owatonna?
Steele County rents beds. Its own pages say the center houses detainees from other counties, the state, and federal agencies, along with its own pre-sentence and sentenced detainees.
So a person arrested elsewhere may sit in Owatonna, and a Steele arrest could end up elsewhere if the building is full. The search link and the jail phone will sort out which.
3. Who do I call first: the jail, the sheriff, or the court?
Call the detention center, 507-446-7000, for custody and release questions. Call the court administrator, 507-686-7012, for hearing dates and case papers.
The county attorney, 507-444-7780, handles charges, and also prosecutes Owatonna city cases. Probation is 507-444-7720. Write down who said what.
4. How long can Steele County hold someone before a judge sees them?
Up to 36 hours, leaving out the arrest day, Sundays, and holidays. A probable-cause ruling must come within 48 hours, counting every day.
A misdemeanor arrest with no judge in time ends in release on a citation. The court at 507-686-7012 can tell you if a hearing is on the calendar.
5. Where do I pay bail in Steele County?
The county's detention center page does not list a bail window or payment types. It does point to a page on release times, so ask when releases happen before you wire or carry money.
Call 507-446-7000 and ask: Which door? What hours? Cash, card, or money order? Bring the full name and booking number.
6. How much is bail on an Owatonna arrest?
No statewide price list exists, and Minnesota's judicial policy discourages preset schedules. A judge weighs the charge, the record, ties to Steele County, work, and safety.
Some people are released with no money. Look at Steele County Inmate Search for a figure, and ask the court if one has not been set.
7. What will a bail agent in Steele County cost?
State law requires the agent to charge the company's filed rate, never less than $100. The law sets no percentage, so ask for the exact fee on paper.
Each agent needs a Commerce Department license plus court approval. Find them on the state's bail bond program page. Also ask what collateral they want and what happens if court is missed.
8. Can land or a house help post a bond for him?
Court rules allow "other security." No Steele County property bond steps were listed, so ask the court administrator at 507-686-7012 whether the judge will take it.
If a bail agent asks for collateral, the agent must give you a numbered receipt and may not take a quitclaim deed.
9. Why does the record say no bail?
A hold from another case, a probation violation, or a judge who has not yet ruled can all block release. There is no death penalty in Minnesota, so every person has a right to bail.
A judge can still add conditions or keep someone in when release looks unsafe. Domestic assault cases often carry a no-contact order.
10. What if Owatonna or Blooming Prairie police made the arrest?
Both cities have their own police departments. Owatonna's non-emergency line is 507-444-3800, and Blooming Prairie's is 507-583-7885.
The court list shows the county attorney prosecuting city cases for Owatonna, and a separate city attorney for Blooming Prairie at 507-583-6663. Ask which office has the charge.
11. How do we get a public defender in Steele County?
Ask the judge at the first hearing, or fill out the online public defender application. The court decides if you qualify, and then appoints the lawyer.
The public defender office listed for Steele County is 507-455-5887. Free civil legal help from SMRLS is 877-696-6529, though that group is not for criminal cases.
12. Where do Steele County teenagers go after arrest?
The county's pages do not name its juvenile center. Ask the Sheriff's office, 507-444-3800, which center holds Steele County youth.
Juvenile hearings are scheduled by the court at 507-686-7012. A child's name may be missing from the adult search because juvenile records are private.
13. What if he misses his next hearing?
The judge may issue a warrant and begin forfeiting the bond. Call the court the same day and then a lawyer.
If an agent wrote the bond, the court must tell the agent in writing within set time limits. A missed deadline can mean the bond is discharged.
14. Does the cash come back?
Yes, when the case is done, less any fine or restitution the judge orders. The money belongs to the defendant, even if you paid it.
Ask the court administrator, 507-686-7012, how to ask for it, and keep the receipt.
15. How can I tell a bail scam from the real thing?
A bondsman may not call jail phones, wait in the jail lobby for business, or put cash on an inmate account. A caller who wants gift cards is a thief.
Dial the detention center, 507-446-7000, from a number you looked up yourself.
16. When are people let out of the Steele County Detention Center?
The county's detention center page links to a page of release times. Ask staff at 507-446-7000 before you arrive, because release can take hours after bail is accepted.
Plan a ride and bring photo ID. The building runs 24 hours, but the county administration offices at 630 Florence Avenue keep weekday hours only.
17. Does Steele County run video visits?
Listings say on-site video visits are free and remote ones from home carry a per-minute fee, with booking at least a day ahead.
Lawyers can see clients on a wider schedule. Ask the center, 507-446-7000, to confirm times, since listings disagree on visit length.
Steele County bond contacts
- County jail
- Steele County Detention Center, 2500 Alexander Street, Owatonna, MN 55060; 507-446-7000
- Bail help
- Bail help for this jail
- Custody lookup
- Steele County Inmate Search
- Sheriff and Owatonna police
- 507-444-3800
- District court
- Court administrator, 507-686-7012
- County attorney
- 507-444-7780
- Probation
- Community Corrections, 507-444-7720
- Public defender
- 507-455-5887
- Blooming Prairie police
- 507-583-7885
- Bail agents
- State bail bond program
Rules in Steele County can change, so double-check hours and payment types by phone. This is a plain-language overview, not advice on one person's case.
Steele County Detention Center
Address:
2500 Alexander Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
Phone:
507-446-7000
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Steele County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Steele County?
Who can set bail in Steele County?
When is bail set in Steele County Minnesota?
Does Steele County have bail?
Yes, Steele County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Steele County?
Steele 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 Steele 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 Steele 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 Steele 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 Steele 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 Steele 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, Steele 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 Steele 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 Steele County have bail?
Yes, Steele County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Steele County?
Steele 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 Steele 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 Steele County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Steele 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 Steele County Minnesota?
Yes, Steele County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Steele County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Steele County.
What options are there to pay bail in Steele 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 Steele County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Steele 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 Steele 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 Steele 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.