Lake Region Law Enforcement Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Ramsey County and Devils Lake bail: the Lake Region jail, city court and district court
Every adult arrested in Ramsey County, including people picked up by Devils Lake police, is booked at the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center on West Walnut Street. City ordinance cases go to Devils Lake Municipal Court, and state charges go to district court at the Ramsey County Courthouse. Check Lake Region Law Enforcement Center Inmate Search first, then call 701-662-0700 for anything the roster does not show.
Where are people taken after an arrest in Ramsey County or Devils Lake?
Both city police and county deputies bring adults to the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center, 222 West Walnut Street in Devils Lake. The jail inside it is the Lake Region Correctional Center. The Devils Lake Police Department and the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office both work out of this same building.
Type the name into Lake Region Law Enforcement Center Inmate Search for the booking, the charge and any bond. The center's main line, 701-662-0700, answers around the clock.
Who owns the Lake Region jail?
A joint powers agreement created it, and a seven-member board governs it. The City of Devils Lake and the counties of Ramsey, Nelson, Benson and Eddy each hold seats. State inspectors rate it Grade One, so it may hold men and women awaiting trial, with room for up to 105 people. Federal and state agencies also rent beds, so the roster lists more than local arrests.
How can I tell whether the charge is a city case or a state case?
Look at the citation or the roster. A charge under a Devils Lake ordinance, such as a city theft or DUI section, belongs to Devils Lake Municipal Court. A charge under the North Dakota Century Code belongs to the state district court at the Ramsey County Courthouse. The arresting agency does not settle it by itself, because city officers can file state charges too.
What does Devils Lake Municipal Court handle?
The city court hears traffic tickets, infractions, parking violations, non-criminal ordinance offenses and Class B misdemeanors that break city law. Its clerk works at City Offices, 423 6th Street NE (mail to PO Box 1048), Devils Lake, ND 58301, and answers at 701-662-0718.
Hearings take place in the courtroom at 222 Walnut Street West, inside the law enforcement center. The center's schedule lists city court on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m., with no court on holidays.
Where do state cases from the county go?
Felonies, Class A misdemeanors and any state-law charge are filed with the Clerk of District Court, 524 4th Avenue NE, Devils Lake. The office is on the third floor; mail goes to Unit 4. The clerk's line, 701-662-1309, is staffed during weekday business hours. The courthouse is part of the Northeast Judicial District.
When does someone in custody first see a judge?
State cases come up at the Monday morning session in Courtroom 1 of the county courthouse. A defendant still in the jail appears on Zoom from the Walnut Street building, while anyone already released has to walk into the courtroom. North Dakota's Rule 63 aims for that first look within 48 hours of the arrest. City defendants wait for the Tuesday afternoon municipal calendar.
Why are some people held until a judge sees them?
Under Rule 63, officers may keep a person arrested on a Class AA, A, B or C felony until court. The same goes for misdemeanors involving abuse, injury, threats, domestic violence, a protection order, fleeing or resisting, and for anyone picked up on a warrant. Lesser arrests can often be bonded out from the jail using a set amount.
How is the amount decided?
State rules print no dollar figures for each crime. A judge considers the offense, the strength of the evidence, family and job ties, money, criminal history and any earlier missed dates. Rule 46 starts with a personal promise or an unsecured bond and moves to cash only when those would not reasonably bring the person back. City roster entries sometimes show a cash-only figure tied to a warrant.
How does a family post bond at the jail?
Phone the center at 701-662-0700 first and ask whether the bond can be taken there now, what forms of money they accept and whose name goes on a money order. Personal checks are usually refused. Each bond belongs to the court that ordered it, so a city bond and a district court bond are separate payments even when the person sits in one cell.
Bring photo ID and the booking or case number, and keep the receipt. The JE bail and bond steps page lists general options.
What if the bond is on a city ticket during business hours?
Call the municipal court clerk at 701-662-0718 or the city offices at 701-662-7600. The clerk can say whether to pay at 423 6th Street NE or at the jail and whether a fine can be paid instead of appearing on Tuesday.
Does a family have to use a bondsman?
A bail agent is only one route. Judges can also release someone on a signature alone, on an unsecured bond, or on a cash deposit. Surety agents need a state license (chapter 26.1-26.6); to verify one, call the Insurance Department at 701-328-2440. Agents usually keep a fee of 10 to 15 percent, and that fee never comes back.
Can land or a house back the bond?
Through a surety, it can. Under Rule 46 the surety writes out a description of the property and swear that its assets are enough to cover the amount, and the judge must approve it. All owners usually need to sign. Ask the district court clerk before relying on land outside Ramsey County.
What happens if the person still cannot get out?
Once a person has spent 48 hours in custody after the hearing without meeting the conditions, the court can be asked for a fresh review. A lawyer may also move to change the conditions at any time. Pretrial supervision run by the state corrections department now reaches the Northeast Judicial District and can be an option for some defendants.
How do we ask for an appointed lawyer?
Raise it at the first hearing. North Dakota's Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigent Defense, 701-845-8632, hires private attorneys region by region and can tell you which one has the case. The municipal court handles appointment requests on city charges where jail is possible.
What if a teenager was arrested?
Minors are kept out of the adult jail, and Devils Lake has had no juvenile detention center since 2014, so a youth may be held elsewhere. The Clerk of District Court, 701-662-1309, can give the juvenile hearing date and where the teen is.
What if tribal or BIA officers made the arrest?
The Spirit Lake Nation lies south of the lake. Its police and Bureau of Indian Affairs officers are separate from city police and the sheriff, and a Spirit Lake tribal court charge is not paid at the county courthouse. Ask which court filed the charge before sending money.
What follows a missed court date?
In district court, the judge can forfeit the bail and issue a warrant. Any surety gets notice from the clerk and a 90-day window in which it must either pay up or request that the forfeiture be undone. Missing a Tuesday city date can also bring a warrant, so call the municipal clerk right away.
Who gets cash bail back when the case ends?
Cash bail counts as the defendant's own money, whoever actually posted it. The clerk keeps it until the end; a Ramsey County judge may first take out fines, costs or restitution, and whatever remains is refunded to the defendant. Scammers sometimes ask for gift cards or app payments. Real courts in Devils Lake do not, so hang up and dial the office yourself.
Who should I call to confirm before going to Devils Lake?
Have the full name, birth date, arrest date and arresting agency ready. Call the law enforcement center at 701-662-0700 to confirm custody and bond. For a city ordinance case call Devils Lake Municipal Court at 701-662-0718; for a state case call the Clerk of District Court at 701-662-1309. Hours and payment methods change, so confirm before you travel or send money.
Ramsey County and Devils Lake bail contacts
- Jail
- Lake Region Law Enforcement Center (Lake Region Correctional Center), 222 West Walnut Street, Devils Lake, ND 58301; 701-662-0700
- Custody lookup
- Lake Region Law Enforcement Center Inmate Search
- Bond instructions
- Jail bail and bond guide
- Police and Sheriff
- Devils Lake Police Department and Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, 222 Walnut Street W, Devils Lake, ND 58301; 701-662-0700
- Municipal court
- Clerk at City Offices, 423 6th Street NE, PO Box 1048, Devils Lake, ND 58301; 701-662-0718. Courtroom at 222 Walnut Street W, Tuesdays 1:30 p.m.
- District court clerk
- Ramsey County Courthouse, 524 4th Avenue NE, Unit 4, Devils Lake, ND 58301; 701-662-1309
- Public defense
- Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigent Defense, 701-845-8632
- Bail agents
- North Dakota Insurance Department, 701-328-2440
This page gives general information about Ramsey County and Devils Lake cases and is not legal advice.
Depositing Money in an Inmate's Account so that they can Self Bail
Ramsey County Bail Bond Deposit
Lake Region Law Enforcement 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 Lake Region Law Enforcement Center at 701-662-0700 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 Lake Region Law Enforcement Center, the quicker they will be released.
Lake Region Law Enforcement Center
Address:
222 Walnut Street West
Devils Lake, ND 58301
Phone:
701-662-0700
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Ramsey County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Ramsey County?
Who can set bail in Ramsey County?
When is bail set in Ramsey County North Dakota?
Does Ramsey County have bail?
Yes, Ramsey County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Ramsey County?
Bail is available in many forms including a signature bond, cash bail, property bond or surety bond.
Who can set bail in Ramsey County?
Any judge may set bail.
When is bail set in Ramsey 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 Ramsey 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 Ramsey 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 Lake Region Law Enforcement 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, Ramsey 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 Ramsey 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 Ramsey County have bail?
Yes, Ramsey County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Ramsey 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 Ramsey County North Dakota?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond modification.
In Ramsey 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 Ramsey 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 Lake Region Law Enforcement Center for more information about the jails in Ramsey County.
What options are there to pay bail in Ramsey 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 Lake Region Law Enforcement Center for more information about posting bail in Ramsey 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 Ramsey 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 Lake Region Law Enforcement 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.