Burleigh-Morton Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Burleigh County bail and bond: the Bismarck detention center and the courts that set release
Adults arrested in Burleigh County go to the Burleigh-Morton Detention Center, 4000 Apple Creek Road, Bismarck. Burleigh and Morton counties share it. Use Burleigh County Inmate Search to see if your person is booked, then call (701) 255-3113 with questions the screen cannot answer. A judge or municipal judge sets the terms of release, and the way you pay bail depends on which court holds the case.
Is my relative inside the Apple Creek Road jail?
Run the name through Burleigh County Inmate Search. Bookings take a while to post, so try again later if nothing shows.
For anything else, the detention center answers at (701) 255-3113.
Who runs the jail, and who else is held there?
The Burleigh County Sheriff's Department operates it for both counties, and Sheriff Kelly Leben leads that department. A person arrested in Mandan may be booked there too.
The building also holds federal prisoners. A state bail payment does not end a federal hold.
Do I pay bail to the city or the county?
It depends on the charge. For a Bismarck city charge, bail can be paid at the Municipal Court or at the detention center. For a state criminal charge, the money follows the district court case.
If you cannot tell which applies, phone the District Court clerk at (701) 222-6690, ext. 1 or Municipal Court at (701) 355-1350.
Where is Municipal Court and when is it open?
It sits at 514 E. Thayer Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501. The clerk's window runs Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the office stays open until 5:00 p.m.
The number is (701) 355-1350.
What does the lobby kiosk at the jail do?
It takes money for an inmate's account. Phone time is bought separately through Reliance Telephone at 1-800-896-3201.
Neither one is bail, and neither one gets anyone out.
Is there a set price list for bail?
No. North Dakota's court rules contain no dollar chart. The figure comes from the judge after looking at the charge, the evidence, ties to the community, work history, past record and safety concerns.
Ask the Clerk of District Court for the amount in a specific case.
Must the judge offer release without money first?
Yes. Rule 46 directs the magistrate to release on a promise to appear or an unsecured bond unless that will not secure the person's return.
Money or tighter conditions come only after that step.
Could supervision replace a cash payment?
Pretrial services from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation operate in the judicial district that covers Burleigh County. A judge decides whether a person qualifies for supervised release.
Raise it with the defense lawyer before the first hearing.
How quickly is a hearing held?
The arresting officer must bring the person to the nearest available magistrate without unnecessary delay, and court policy aims for within 48 hours.
Someone still held two days after that hearing for lack of money can ask for a review of the conditions.
Can people be kept until a judge decides?
Yes, in a short pre-hearing window. Rule 63 allows holds for felony arrests, assault and domestic violence cases, protection-order violations, and people on warrants with set terms.
The judge then decides on release at the first appearance.
May a house stand in for cash?
Rule 46 lets sureties pledge property if they describe it and file a declaration of adequate assets. The court must approve the bond.
Ask the clerk at (701) 222-6690, ext. 1 about the paperwork first.
Who may write a bond for us?
A licensed bail bond agent, under chapter 26.1-26.6. Jail and court employees may not recommend one.
The Insurance Department confirms licenses at (701) 328-2440.
Where is the district courthouse?
The Burleigh County Courthouse is at 514 E. Thayer Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501, open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Sheriff's Department office is in the same building and answers at (701) 222-6651.
Municipal Court shares that address.
What if my person skips a hearing?
The judge declares forfeiture. The clerk tells the surety, and 90 days start to run for payment or a motion to undo the order.
Surrender of the defendant or a cash deposit equal to the bond releases the surety.
Who gets the bail money after the case?
Money on deposit belongs to the defendant no matter who handed it over. The court may apply it to fines, costs or restitution first, and the rest is returned.
Creditors cannot garnish it.
How do we get a free lawyer?
The Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigent Defense assigns counsel to people who cannot pay. Its office number is (701) 845-8632.
Tell the judge at the first appearance that you need one.
What about someone under 18?
Cases involving young people belong to juvenile court inside the district court. Reach the clerk at (701) 222-6690, ext. 1.
The adult search may not show them.
Which calls are safe?
Real payment channels do not accept gift cards or crypto. Call only (701) 255-3113, (701) 222-6690 or (701) 355-1350.
Hang up on anyone pushing a deadline.
Burleigh County bail contacts
- Jail
- Burleigh-Morton Detention Center, 4000 Apple Creek Road, Bismarck, ND 58504; (701) 255-3113
- Bond guide
- Burleigh-Morton bail and bond pages
- Custody lookup
- Burleigh County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Department
- 514 E. Thayer Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501; (701) 222-6651
- Clerk of District Court
- 514 E. Thayer Avenue; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; (701) 222-6690, ext. 1
- Municipal Court
- 514 E. Thayer Avenue; window Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; (701) 355-1350
- Public defense
- Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigent Defense, (701) 845-8632
- Bond agents
- North Dakota Insurance Department, (701) 328-2440
Office hours and rules change. Check with the court or the jail before you hand over money. Nothing here is legal advice.
Depositing Money in an Inmate's Account so that they can Self Bail
Burleigh County Bail Bond Deposit
Burleigh-Morton Detention Center uses a third-party, Inmate Canteen, to let you use a credit or debit card to deposit funds into an inmate's account so that they can pay their bail and get released after an arrest.
- To begin the process, first call the Burleigh-Morton Detention Center at 701-222-6651 to get the exact amount needed to pay the bail.
- Next, go to Inmate Canteen, register and select this facility by first choosing North Dakota. Then you will select the inmate you want to deposit money for, then the amount.
- Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
There will be a delay between the time you deposit the money and when Inmate Canteen forwards it to the inmate's account, but the sooner you notify the inmate and the Burleigh-Morton Detention Center, the quicker they will be released.
Burleigh-Morton Detention Center
Address:
4000 Apple Creek Road
Bismarck, ND 58504
Phone:
701-222-6651
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Burleigh County
Does Burleigh County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Burleigh County?
Who can set bail in Burleigh County?
When is bail set in Burleigh County North Dakota?
Does Burleigh County have bail?
Yes, Burleigh County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Burleigh County?
Bail is available in many forms including a signature bond, cash bail, property bond or surety bond.
Who can set bail in Burleigh County?
Any judge may set bail.
When is bail set in Burleigh County North Dakota?
Bail will be set during your first appearance, known as a bail hearing. This usually takes place within 24 hours of arrest, except for weekends and holidays.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Burleigh 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 Burleigh 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 Burleigh-Morton 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, Burleigh 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 Burleigh 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 Burleigh County have bail?
Yes, Burleigh County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Burleigh County?
Bail is available in many forms including a signature bond, cash bail, property bond or surety bond.
Who can set bail in North Dakota?
Any judge may set bail.
When is bail set in North Dakota?
Bail will be set during your first appearance, known as a bail hearing. This usually takes place within 24 hours of arrest, except for weekends and holidays.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Burleigh County North Dakota?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond modification.
In Burleigh County North Dakota, 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 North Dakota could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Burleigh County North Dakota?
Yes, North Dakota does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Burleigh-Morton Detention Center for more information about the jails in Burleigh County.
What options are there to pay bail in Burleigh County North Dakota?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Burleigh-Morton Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Burleigh County.
Will I get all my bond money back in North Dakota?
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 Burleigh 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 North Dakota?
The Burleigh-Morton 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.