McKenzie County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
McKenzie County bail and bond: the Watford City facility and the courthouse next door
Adults arrested in McKenzie County are held at the McKenzie County Correctional Facility, 1201 12th Street SE, in Watford City. Use McKenzie County Inmate Search to see whether a person is booked. The facility answers at 701-842-2565. Some McKenzie prisoners are also housed in Dickinson. A bond is paid to the court that set it, and the facility's Inmate Accounts page is where its bond payment link sits.
Is the person in the Watford City jail?
Search the name in McKenzie County Inmate Search. The county's own jail is the McKenzie County Correctional Facility, 1201 12th Street SE, Suite C, Watford City, ND 58854. For what the search leaves out, call the facility at 701-842-2565.
Who runs the jail, and who is the sheriff?
A correctional facility administrator, Robert Werlinger, runs the jail day to day. The county's sheriff is Matthew Johansen, whose office sits next door in Suite B of the same building and answers at 701-842-6010. Call the jail first when you want to know about a booked person.
Where do I take bond money in McKenzie County?
The county's correctional facility page offers a link to pay a bond under Inmate Accounts. Call 701-842-2565 to learn whether a given payment is taken at the front desk, through that link, or at the courthouse. Bail goes to the court that set it. Bring a photo ID and the person's full name.
Is adding money to a commissary account the same as bail?
No. Money for an inmate account pays for jail purchases, not release. Phone cards and texting accounts are bought through Reliance Telephone at 1-800-896-3201. Confirm with the facility what a given payment is for before you send it.
Where is the courthouse?
The McKenzie County Courthouse is at 201 5th Street NW, Watford City, ND 58854, on the second floor, with the public entrance at the same level as the court. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The courthouse line is 701-842-8230; the clerk of district court is Jodee Lawlar. County offices also take calls at 701-444-3616.
Could the person be held outside Watford City?
Yes. McKenzie County also has a housing agreement with the Dickinson Adult Detention Center, so a person who is missing from Watford City may be at the Southwest Multi-County Correctional Center in Dickinson. Ask the facility at 701-842-2565 where the person is, then call Dickinson at 701-456-7790 to ask about bond.
Can visitors see the person before bail is posted?
Visits are by appointment only, and the appointment must be made a day ahead through the facility's online link. Only two adults may visit at a time, and phones stay out of the video visitation area.
Who chooses the amount for a Watford City arrest?
A judge. North Dakota has no statewide dollar chart, and Administrative Rule 63 contains no dollar amounts. Rule 46 directs the judge to release a person on a promise to appear or an unsecured bond unless that will not reasonably assure a return. Otherwise conditions follow, and a cash deposit or bail bond can be one of them.
Can a bondsman post it?
Yes, if a licensed agent is appointed under chapter 26.1-26.6 of the Century Code and the court accepts the bond. The Insurance Department, 701-328-2440, licenses agents. A written fee agreement is a must before you pay.
What about a house or a ranch?
A surety bond has to be approved by the court. The surety describes the property and signs a declaration of adequate assets under Rule 46, and names the clerk as the person who accepts legal papers. Ask at the courthouse, 701-842-8230, which papers the judge requires.
What if the arrest took place on Fort Berthold land?
Ask the arresting officer what agency made the arrest, which court has the case, and the report number. The Fort Berthold tribe's Gerald Tex Fox Justice Center is at 603 1st Street South, New Town, 701-627-5300, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
How soon will the person see a judge?
Rule 5 requires a magistrate to see an arrested person without unnecessary delay, and Rule 63 sets a goal of 48 hours from arrest. Video appearance is permitted. If a person remains in jail 48 hours after a hearing because conditions cannot be met, Rule 46 allows a request for review.
Why is the jail not letting go of a person who has money?
Rule 63 allows a hold until a judge sees the person for a Class AA, A, B, or C felony, for a warrant that already sets conditions, for missing court, or for certain misdemeanors such as domestic violence or protection-order violations.
Can McKenzie County families get appointed counsel?
The state's indigent defense commission appoints contract attorneys for criminal and juvenile cases, and its office answers at 701-845-8632. Tell the judge at the first court date that you need one.
What about a young person under 18?
Call the Sheriff's Office at 701-842-6010 or the courthouse at 701-842-8230 to learn where the young person is held and when the hearing takes place. Youth records are private, so the adult search will not show them.
What if someone fails to appear in Watford City?
Failing to appear leads the court to declare the bail forfeited under Rule 46(f). The surety hears from the clerk and then has 90 days to pay or ask the court to set the order aside. Handing the person in, or depositing the full bond in cash, ends the surety's exposure.
When is the money returned, and to whom?
North Dakota law treats deposited bail as the defendant's money, even if a relative paid it. When the case ends, the judge may use it for fines, costs, or restitution, and what is left goes to the defendant. An agent's fee is not returned.
How can I spot a scam?
No court or jail asks for gift cards. Use only 701-842-2565 and 701-842-8230.
McKenzie County bail contacts
- Jail
- McKenzie County Correctional Facility, 1201 12th Street SE, Suite C, Watford City, ND 58854; 701-842-2565
- Bond help
- Jail bail and bond instructions
- Custody lookup
- McKenzie County Inmate Search
- Sheriff's Office
- 1201 12th Street SE, Suite B, Watford City, ND 58854; 701-842-6010
- District court
- McKenzie County Courthouse, 201 5th Street NW, Watford City, ND 58854; 701-842-8230; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Regional jail
- Southwest Multi-County Correctional Center, Dickinson; 701-456-7790
- Tribal detention
- Gerald Tex Fox Justice Center, 603 1st Street South, New Town; 701-627-5300
- Public defense
- Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigent Defense, 701-845-8632
- Bail agent complaints
- North Dakota Insurance Department, 701-328-2440
Payment links, hours, and phone numbers can change, and a judge can order a different amount. Confirm with the correctional facility or the courthouse before you pay. This is a general guide, not legal advice.
Depositing Money in an Inmate's Account so that they can Self Bail
McKenzie County Bail Bond Deposit
McKenzie County Jail 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 McKenzie County Jail at 701-842-6010 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 McKenzie County Jail, the quicker they will be released.
McKenzie County Jail
Address:
1201 12th Street SE
Watford City, ND 58854
Phone:
701-842-6010
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in McKenzie County
Does McKenzie County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in McKenzie County?
Who can set bail in McKenzie County?
When is bail set in McKenzie County North Dakota?
Does McKenzie County have bail?
Yes, McKenzie County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in McKenzie County?
Bail is available in many forms including a signature bond, cash bail, property bond or surety bond.
Who can set bail in McKenzie County?
Any judge may set bail.
When is bail set in McKenzie 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 McKenzie 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 McKenzie 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 McKenzie 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, McKenzie 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 McKenzie 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 McKenzie County have bail?
Yes, McKenzie County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in McKenzie 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 McKenzie County North Dakota?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond modification.
In McKenzie 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 McKenzie 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 McKenzie County Jail for more information about the jails in McKenzie County.
What options are there to pay bail in McKenzie 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 McKenzie County Jail for more information about posting bail in McKenzie 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 McKenzie 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 McKenzie 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.