Waseca County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Waseca County bail and bond: the jail on 3rd Avenue NW and what to do next
People arrested by the Waseca County Sheriff's Office are booked at the Waseca County Jail, 122 3rd Avenue NW, in the Security Building just west of the courthouse. Use Waseca County Inmate Search to see if your person is in custody and what the bail is. The jail desk is 507-835-0508 and the Sheriff's Office is 507-835-0510. The jail is old, the state has questioned whether it meets standards, and the county has talked about a backup jail in Le Sueur County, so confirm where your person sleeps tonight. Release money is covered under bail and in the questions below.
Is my family member in the Waseca County Jail or somewhere else?
Check Waseca County Inmate Search first. If the name is missing, call the jail desk at 507-835-0508 and ask if the person has been sent to another county's jail. In early 2025 the county was working on a draft agreement with Le Sueur County for overflow beds, with Waseca County handling the transport. Ask whether that plan is in use now.
Why do people say the Waseca jail might be downgraded?
In February 2025 Sheriff Jay Dulas presented a backup plan to the county board. News coverage said the building is more than 50 years old, holds about nine people on an average day, and has a capacity of 25. The state Department of Corrections told the county it no longer meets state standards because of sight lines, lighting, and the lack of a secure link to the courthouse. A downgrade could limit stays to 90 days.
What that means for your relative today is a question for the desk at 507-835-0508.
Where do I pay bail in Waseca?
The county's jail page does not list a bail window or payment hours, so call 507-835-0508 before you drive over. Court administration is in the courthouse at 307 North State Street and answers at 507-308-7002. Bring a photo ID, the person's full name and the case number, and ask for a written receipt.
Can I drop cash for my relative at the jail?
The jail accepts cash drop-offs for an inmate, and only cash. That money is for the inmate's account, not for bail. Say which one you mean at the desk. Paperback books must be new and come with a receipt, and hardcover books, magazines and newspapers are turned away.
When can I visit?
The jail lists visits on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8 to 11 a.m. The last visit starts 30 minutes before the end. Visitors must be 18 or older with a state photo ID or active-duty military ID. Visits last 30 minutes, and each inmate gets two per visiting day. A child may come only with a parent or guardian.
What time limit applies before a Waseca County judge sees the case?
Waseca County has 36 hours to put a warrantless arrest in front of a judge. The clock skips the arrest day, Sundays and legal holidays. If it is a misdemeanor and no judge has seen the person by then, the person is released on a citation. The 48-hour probable cause check is a different clock and counts every day.
How much will the judge set for a Waseca County charge?
There is no statewide price list in Minnesota, and the courts are told not to lean on preset schedules. The judge looks at the charge, the evidence, ties to the area, work, past record and safety. Rely on the amount in Waseca County Inmate Search or ask the jail.
For a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor the cash bail cannot be more than double the top fine for the offense. A few offenses allow a higher multiple.
What if the judge lets my relative go with no money?
That is the starting point in Rule 6.02. The judge may release on a promise to appear or an unsecured bond, with or without conditions. The Waseca court's probation office, Court Services, is at 507-835-0550 if conditions involve check-ins.
How do bondsmen work for a Waseca County case?
A bail agent needs a Commerce Department insurance license and approval from the State Court Administrator. The agent must charge the surety's filed premium, never under $100, and cannot give discounts or rebates. On a bond of $10,000 or less, at least half of the premium is due before the bond is posted.
Get every term in writing. The premium stays with the agent. Collateral comes back within 21 days after you show proof that the case is closed.
Can land or a house be used for a Waseca County bond?
Rule 6.02 allows other security, but the court decides what it accepts. Ask court administration at 507-308-7002 what the judge will take, how the equity is measured, and whether property outside the county works. Do not sign over a deed to a stranger. State law bars bondsmen from holding a quitclaim deed as collateral.
Who decides if bail is lowered?
Only the judge. The County Attorney, 507-835-0520, can take a position at the hearing, and a lawyer can ask the judge to review the conditions at any time. Bring proof of work, family and housing.
Who is the free lawyer for Waseca County defendants?
The court lists a public defender office in Owatonna at 507-455-5887. Request a public defender when you first appear before the judge, or use the state's online application. The court appoints the lawyer, and you cannot pick one.
Where are Waseca County teens detained?
Call the Sheriff at 507-835-0510 and the court at 507-308-7002 to learn which juvenile detention center is being used, where a young person is held, and when the hearing is. Juvenile records are private, so the adult search will not show them.
Is a person at the federal prison in Waseca in the county jail?
No. FCI Waseca is a federal prison run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, so its inmates will not appear in Waseca County Inmate Search. A person in custody for a Waseca County case is held by the county. Ask the Sheriff at 507-835-0510 if you are unsure which system holds your person.
What if my relative skips court?
A missed hearing can lead to a forfeited bond and an arrest warrant. The court has to notify the bail agent within set deadlines. Reach the lawyer and the agent immediately, and ask the court at 507-308-7002 whether a new date can be set.
How do I get cash bail back?
Cash bail is the defendant's money, even if you paid it. The court administrator keeps it until the case ends. A judge may use it for fines or restitution, and the remainder goes to the defendant or a person named in writing. The premium paid to a bondsman is not returned.
Waseca County contacts
- Jail
- Waseca County Jail, 122 3rd Avenue NW, Waseca, MN 56093 (Security Building, west of the courthouse); 507-835-0508
- Bond guide
- Waseca County bail and bond help
- Custody lookup
- Waseca County Inmate Search
- Sheriff
- Sheriff Jay Dulas; Waseca County Courthouse, 307 North State Street, Waseca, MN 56093; 507-835-0510; office 507-835-0630
- District court
- Court administration 507-308-7002; probation 507-835-0550
- County attorney
- 507-835-0520
- Public defender
- Owatonna office, 507-455-5887
Jail plans in Waseca County were still changing when this was written. Verify the facility, the hours and any fee with the Sheriff before you rely on this page, and use a lawyer for advice on the charge.
Waseca County Jail
Address:
Law Enforcement Center
122 Third Ave. N.W.
Waseca, MN 56093
Phone:
507-835-0510
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Waseca County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Waseca County?
Who can set bail in Waseca County?
When is bail set in Waseca County Minnesota?
Does Waseca County have bail?
Yes, Waseca County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Waseca County?
Waseca 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 Waseca 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 Waseca 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 Waseca 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 Waseca 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 Waseca 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, Waseca 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 Waseca 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 Waseca County have bail?
Yes, Waseca County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Waseca County?
Waseca 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 Waseca 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 Waseca County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Waseca 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 Waseca County Minnesota?
Yes, Waseca County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Waseca County Jail for more information about the jails in Waseca County.
What options are there to pay bail in Waseca 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 Waseca County Jail for more information about posting bail in Waseca 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 Waseca 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 Waseca 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.