Thurston County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds

Yes. The office manages the county jail. Mail: PO Box 370, Pender. Fax: 402-385-2518 (Thurston County Sheriff's Office).

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Two. The Omaha Tribal Court is at 497 Main Street, Macy, 402-837-5391. The Winnebago Tribal Court is at 228 Industrial Parkway, Winnebago, 402-878-2570. Nebraska returned its criminal power over the Winnebago Reservation to the federal government in 1986, and over the Omaha Reservation in steps ending in 2008 (LR 234 statement of intent).

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No. Each tribal court sets its own release terms. When an Indian is the accused or the victim on the reservations, federal law applies, and tribal courts share minor cases. Cases with only non-Indians stay in state court (LR 234 statement of intent).

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Thurston County Court in Pender. It hears misdemeanors and traffic cases, and it holds the first appearance and preliminary hearing in felony cases. Clerk: P.O. Box 129, Pender, NE 68047, 402-385-3136. The judge explains the release terms at that hearing (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901.06).

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Thurston County District Court, in the Sixth Judicial District (Neb. Rev. Stat. 24-301.02). Clerk: P.O. Box 216, Pender, NE 68047, 402-385-3318. A felony bond can be reviewed again there.

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Bail in Thurston County is set by a judge, usually at the first appearance. The judge looks at the charge, past court dates, and what the person can pay (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901). A 10% deposit is usually allowed. For many misdemeanors, jail staff can take bond right away under the bail schedule the County Court judges adopt (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901.05).

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Nebraska has no commercial bail bondsmen. Bail is posted with the court or the jail, usually as a cash deposit. The judge sets a bond amount. You may post a deposit of up to 10% of that amount with the clerk, and never less than $25 (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901). On a $5,000 bond, the deposit is $500. When every court date is kept, 90% of the deposit comes back. The clerk keeps 10% of the deposit as a bond fee. That fee is 1% of the full bond, so $50 on a $5,000 bond, and you get $450 back.

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Often not. For Class IIIA, IV, and V misdemeanors and city or county ordinance violations, Nebraska says the person must be released without a money bond, unless three things are all true: the person missed court in the last six months, the judge finds release unsafe or unlikely to bring them back, and the arrest was on a warrant (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901). This rule does not cover partner assault or DUI charges.

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If the person is still in jail 24 hours after a county judge sets bond, they can ask that judge to review it. The hearing happens on the first regular court day. If they cannot afford a lawyer, the judge appoints one for that hearing (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901.03). The judge must also think about what the person can pay before setting money bond (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901).

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No. Nebraska has no commercial bail bondsmen. Bail is posted with the court or the jail, usually as a deposit of 10% of the bond amount (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901). A judge may approve a personal surety instead. Each surety must swear to twice the bond amount and list Nebraska real estate worth that much above any debt. With the deposit, 90% of what you paid comes back.

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After the person makes every required court date, the clerk returns 90% of the deposit (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-901). If no charge is ever filed, or the charges are dropped before the court date, all of it comes back. If the judge lowers the bond after you post, the clerk refunds the extra bond fee. If the case moves to another Nebraska court, the 90% moves with it, and no new fee is charged.

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The judge must declare the bail forfeited (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-1106) and can issue a warrant. The court can set the forfeiture aside if justice does not require it (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-1107). A forfeited cash deposit goes to the county treasury after court costs (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-1108). A surety can turn the person in to the sheriff before judgment to get off the bond (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-906).

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The judge appoints a lawyer at the first appearance when the person cannot pay and jail is possible (Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-3903). Ask for one at that hearing in Pender.

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Officers must try right away to reach a parent, guardian, or relative (Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-250). Only Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy have separate juvenile courts. In Thurston County, the County Court sits as the juvenile court. Youth cases do not use the adult bond deposit.

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In the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, which sits in Omaha, Lincoln, and North Platte. Prosecutors ask for trial in Omaha or Lincoln when they file. North Platte is used only if the court grants a motion (NECrimR 18.1). Federal judges set release terms. The county deposit rules do not apply there.

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Bond money goes to the court clerk or the jail, not to a stranger. No Nebraska court takes gift cards, crypto, or payment-app transfers from a caller. A real bond is paid in person at the jail or clerk's window, or through the court's own posted payment service.

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Call the Thurston County Sheriff's Office at 402-385-3018.

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