Winona County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Winona County bail and bond: the Detention Center, the court office, and your first calls
Adults arrested in Winona County are held at the Winona County Detention Center, known as WCDC, which the Sheriff's Office runs. The county built a new jail and opened it to public tours in 2023. Use Winona County Inmate Search to see if a person is in custody and what bail was set. For questions the search cannot answer, call the Sheriff's Department at 507-457-6368. Court Administration is a separate office at 507-615-5183, and it holds the court file. Paying bail and getting released take steps in both places, as the questions below explain.
What is WCDC, and is that where my relative is?
WCDC is the Winona County Detention Center, the county jail. Adults arrested in the county are booked there. Search Winona County Inmate Search first. If you see nothing, call 507-457-6368 and ask if a different agency holds the person, such as one from Wisconsin across the river or from a state agency.
Why did Winona build a new jail?
The county studied a proposed quarter-cent sales tax to pay for a replacement jail, and the new building was opened to public tours in 2023. For visiting hours, mail rules and who is housed there now, call the Sheriff at 507-457-6368.
Who do I call at the court, and who at the jail?
Call the jail side for custody questions: the Sheriff's Department, 507-457-6368. Call Court Administration at 507-615-5183 for hearing dates, case numbers, and fines. The Jury Line is 507-615-5198, and traffic fee questions go to 800-657-3611. Do not mix them up, because the jail will not know a hearing date that the court has just moved.
Where do I pay bail in Winona County?
Ask the Sheriff's Department at 507-457-6368 which counter takes bail for your person's case and what hours it keeps. Court Administration, 507-615-5183, can also tell you whether the amount can be paid at the court office on weekdays. Bring photo ID and the case number. Insist on a receipt that lists the amount, the case and the date.
How soon will a judge see my relative?
Within 36 hours of a warrantless arrest, not counting the day of arrest, Sundays or legal holidays. A misdemeanor defendant not seen in time must be released on a citation. Court Administration can give the hearing time once a complaint is filed.
Is there a bail chart for Winona County crimes?
No statewide chart exists, and court policy tells judges not to depend on preset schedules. A judge weighs the offense, the strength of the evidence, family ties, job, past court dates, and risk to others. Use the figure shown in Winona County Inmate Search or ask the Sheriff.
Some serious cases draw large amounts. Local news has reported a half-million-dollar bond in a violent assault case, which shows how wide the range can be. Do not assume your case will be similar.
Can a judge let someone go home with no money?
Yes. Under Rule 6.02 the starting point is release on a promise to appear or an unsecured bond. The judge may add conditions, such as treatment, reporting to a Corrections officer at 507-205-6110, no contact with a named person, or travel limits.
How does probation affect my relative's release?
The court's page lists two Corrections lines for Winona County: the courthouse unit at 507-205-6110 and the felony unit at 507-205-6100. If your relative is on probation, a probation hold can stop release even after bail is paid. Call the unit that supervises the case.
How are bondsmen regulated in Minnesota?
A bail agent must hold a state insurance license for bail bonds and be approved by the State Court Administrator. Chapter 60M says the agent must charge the surety's filed rate, at least $100. The agent cannot give rebates, cannot cold-call jail phones, and cannot solicit inside the jail. Premiums on bonds of $10,000 or less need at least half paid before the bond is posted.
Which bondsman terms should I get on paper in Winona County?
Ask for the premium in dollars, what collateral is required, and how and when it is returned. State law requires a signed, numbered receipt for collateral, a return within 21 days after proof the case is closed, and a 30-day certified-mail notice before the agent sells anything that is not cash. The premium itself is a fee that stays with the agent.
Can I post my house, or does it have to be a bondsman?
The judge may accept "other security" under Rule 6.02, but the rules do not give a standard property formula. Call Court Administration at 507-615-5183 to ask what the judge will accept and what documents are needed. State law bars a quitclaim deed as bondsman collateral.
How do I get a public defender in Winona County?
Ask the judge for one at the first hearing, or submit the Minnesota Judicial Branch online application. The court lists a Public Defender Office at 507-474-6440. The court appoints the lawyer, and you cannot choose. The County Attorney's office, 507-457-6310, prosecutes and cannot advise the defendant.
Who handles city ordinance cases in Winona?
The Winona City Attorney, 507-205-4905, handles city cases. If the arrest is for a state crime, the County Attorney prosecutes. Ask the court which one has your person's file, because the phone number to call differs.
Where would a Winona County teenager be held?
Call the Sheriff at 507-457-6368 and Court Administration at 507-615-5183 to learn which juvenile detention center is being used, where a minor is, and when the hearing is. A child's case is private, and the adult search will not list the child.
A caller says my relative owes bail by phone. Is that real?
Treat it as a scam. The Sheriff's Office has warned that law enforcement will not call or text to demand money, and in one reported case a resident was told she faced arrest for missing jury duty unless she paid thousands in bail. Hang up and dial 507-457-6368 yourself.
What if the person misses court, and does cash bail ever come back?
A missed date can lead to a warrant and a forfeited bond, so call a lawyer and the bondsman right away. Cash bail belongs to the defendant and is held by the court until the case ends. A judge may apply it to fines or restitution first. A bondsman's premium is not refunded.
Winona County contacts
- Jail
- Winona County Detention Center (WCDC), Winona, MN; Sheriff's Department 507-457-6368
- Bond guide
- Winona County bail and bond help
- Custody lookup
- Winona County Inmate Search
- District court
- Court Administration 507-615-5183; fax 507-452-5979; jury line 507-615-5198
- County attorney
- 507-457-6310
- City attorney
- Winona City Attorney, 507-205-4905
- Corrections
- Courthouse unit 507-205-6110; felony unit 507-205-6100
- Public defender
- Public Defender Office, 507-474-6440
Facilities and phone lines in Winona County have changed in recent years. Verify any number with the Sheriff or Court Administration before you use it, and see a lawyer for questions about a specific charge.
Winona County Detention Center
Address:
203 West Third Street
Winona, MN 55987
Phone:
507-457-6503
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Winona County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Winona County?
Who can set bail in Winona County?
When is bail set in Winona County Minnesota?
Does Winona County have bail?
Yes, Winona County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Winona County?
Winona 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 Winona 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 Winona 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 Winona 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 Winona 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 Winona 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, Winona 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 Winona 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 Winona County have bail?
Yes, Winona County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Winona County?
Winona 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 Winona 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 Winona County Minnesota?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the bond officer know. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Winona 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 Winona County Minnesota?
Yes, Winona County does offer online bail payment. Contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Winona County Detention Center for more information about the jails in Winona County.
What options are there to pay bail in Winona 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 Winona County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Winona 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 Winona 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 Winona 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.