Clearwater · 24/7
Need bail assistance in Clearwater, Minnesota? Clearwater extends into both Wright and Stearns counties, so GPS Bail Bonds helps families confirm which county handled the arrest before checking custody and court-set bail.
Inmate Assistance Request
Get Help Finding Someone Arrested in Clearwater
If someone was arrested in Clearwater, share the person's name and what you know — including if you're unsure whether it's a Wright or Stearns County matter. GPS can help find the right custody and court information.
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GPS Bail Bonds is available 24/7 to help Minnesota families understand their bail bond options.
On this page
Clearwater Bail Bonds Guide
01 · Why GPS
Help for a river city on the Wright–Stearns county line, where the county of arrest decides which jail and court records to check.
A Clearwater address alone doesn't tell you the county. GPS helps families confirm whether the case is in Wright or Stearns County before they go anywhere.
Call (763) 288-2581 or send the form any time. City, court and county offices keep business hours, so some steps may wait until they open.
Clearwater contracts with the Wright County Sheriff's Office, but a case may still be filed in Stearns County. We explain which records to check.
We walk through court-set bail versus a surety premium, the indemnity agreement and cosigner responsibilities before anything is signed.
When the court authorizes a bond and underwriting requirements are met, GPS can discuss surety options. Not every case qualifies, and GPS does not set bail.
Whether the case lands in Wright County, Stearns County or elsewhere, GPS can help with that jail and court.
02 · Bail process
The usual path after a Clearwater arrest. Every case is different; the court makes the decisions and no release time is guaranteed.
03 · Reviews
Reviews from GPS Bail Bonds' Google listing.
04 · Services
Each statewide GPS guide explains how bail works for that charge in Minnesota, whether the case is in Wright or Stearns County.
Not every charge is eligible for bail, and no amounts are guaranteed — the court decides in each case.
05 · Costs
Clearwater does not have a separate city bail bond premium schedule. Wright County District Court determines monetary bail and release conditions, while Minnesota's filed-rate and statutory rules govern commercial surety premiums statewide.
Court-Set Bail vs. Bond Premium
The court sets the bail amount. Paying it directly in cash is one option. A surety bond instead costs a premium — a fee paid to the bail bond agency that is not returned at the end of the case.
Minnesota Criminal Procedure Rule 6 (opens an external site)
Filed Surety Rates & Minimum Upfront Payment
Under Minn. Stat. §60M.02, premiums follow rates filed with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Bonds of $10,000 or less require at least 50% of the premium collected before posting; bonds greater than $10,000 require at least 30% collected before posting. Any unpaid premium balance requires the applicable approved, signed promissory note and the statutory repayment terms. The statutory minimum premium remains $100.
Minnesota §60M.02 — Bail Bond Premiums (opens an external site)
Promissory Note & Repayment
Any unpaid premium balance is put in writing, with a payment schedule and any allowed interest. The signer is responsible for that balance regardless of how the case ends. The same §60M.02 rules above govern premium payment.
Collateral & Cosigner Responsibilities
Some bonds require collateral or a cosigner. Minn. Stat. §60M.03 governs how collateral is held and returned. A cosigner may owe the full bond if the defendant misses court.
Minnesota §60M.03 — Collateral Requirements (opens an external site)
Estimated cost breakdown
Enter a bail amount to begin
Use the court-set bond amount from the jail or court.
Estimates are for informational purposes only and are not a binding quote or financing offer. Actual premiums are based on the applicable approved surety rate. Payment arrangements depend on eligibility, underwriting, and Minnesota law. Call GPS Bail Bonds for a case-specific quote.
General information under Minnesota Statutes §§60M.02 and 60M.03 — not a quote or legal advice.
06 · Jails & custody
Clearwater extends into Wright and Stearns counties. The Wright County Sheriff's Office provides contract policing, but don't assume every Clearwater case — or every person in custody — belongs to Wright County. Confirm the filing county first.
Local law enforcement
24-hour non-emergency: 763-682-1162
City administration (not a jail or court)
Clearwater City Hall605 County Road 75 NWClearwater, MN 55320320-558-2428The city lists the Wright County Sheriff's non-emergency dispatch for law enforcement; there is no Clearwater police department. Because the city reaches into Stearns County, the responding agency, custody location and court can differ case to case. In an emergency, call 911.
County jail
Jail: 763-684-2381
A Wright County facility in Buffalo. Someone arrested on the Stearns County side may be held by Stearns County instead — check that county's official custody records. Operated by the Wright County Sheriff's Office; built in 2009 with a licensed capacity of 288 (capacity, not the current population).
View Wright County Jail GuideCourt · Tenth Judicial District
Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (subject to court holidays and schedule changes)
Handles criminal and traffic matters filed in Wright County, including applicable Clearwater cases. Judges determine bail or release conditions; GPS does not set bail amounts or hearing schedules. The Government Center next door (3650 Braddock Avenue NE) is a separate building.
If the case is filed in Stearns County
Stearns County District Court
Stearns County Courthouse725 Courthouse SquareSt. Cloud, MN 56303320-656-3620Criminal/traffic and fine-payment operations are listed at 815 Courthouse Square — a separate operational address from the main courthouse.
Confirm the custody county first — the right inmate resource depends on it. For Wright County, check the Sheriff's Jail Census, then call the jail. Wright County's reports don't cover Stearns County custody; for that, use the Stearns County Jail (807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud — separate from the court buildings at 725 and 815).
Stearns County Jail Central Control (24/7): 320-259-3760
Booking at Wright County Jail involves identification, photographs and records processing, so a recent arrest may not show up in jail reports right away. A citation or summons does not automatically mean someone was booked.
The Sheriff's jail page links the Jail Census (people currently held), the Jail Media Report (recent bookings — some may already be released), weekly booking data and the in-custody court calendar. They are different records and are not refreshed continuously. GPS is independent of them and cannot change them. For a Stearns County case, Stearns County publishes its own current inmate roster (people held now, not past bookings). GPS does not operate either county's database.
The court handling the case decides release conditions for that case — Wright County District Court for Wright County filings, Stearns County District Court for Stearns County filings. It may release someone on conditions, set money bail, or both. Conditions such as no-contact or no-alcohol terms still apply after a bond is posted.
Cash bail paid to the county is different from a surety premium paid to GPS. The Sheriff's FAQ says to confirm the bail amount and conditions first; direct cash bail is handled through Wright County Jail reception by jail staff. That procedure does not define how GPS accepts payment.
A probation hold, warrant or another county's case can keep someone in custody after bail is posted. See our Warrant and Probation Violation guides.
Court dates
Clearwater cases can be filed in either county. Wright County cases go to Wright County District Court (Tenth Judicial District) in Buffalo; Stearns County cases go to Stearns County District Court (Seventh Judicial District) in St. Cloud. Confirm the actual filing court and hearing details through official court records such as Minnesota Court Records Online — not every hearing appears publicly, and MCRO is not a jail roster or a live warrant check. A public calendar is not a complete court record or a substitute for the person's own appearance instructions. Release paperwork lists the next court date, and every appearance is required.
07 · Before you call
Don't wait to have everything. Share what you know and we'll help fill in the rest.
As it would appear on an ID, including any middle name.
Helps tell apart people with similar names in jail reports.
Especially important here: Clearwater spans Wright and Stearns counties. Tell us the exact location or the arresting agency if you know it.
Shown in jail records. Not required to start.
Anything you've been told — even partial details help.
So we can reach you and know how you're connected to the defendant.
08 · Charges
Charge types families often ask about. This is not a local frequency ranking, and there is no Clearwater-specific bail schedule — bail is set by the court.
Minn. Stat. §169A.20; degrees §§169A.24–.27
Degree depends on prior incidents and aggravating factors. Higher degrees can carry conditional-release requirements such as alcohol monitoring.
View DWI Bail Bonds GuideMinn. Stat. §609.2242
Can range from misdemeanor to felony. Courts often add no-contact conditions, and posting bail does not remove a court order.
View Domestic Assault GuideMinn. Stat. Chapter 152
Controlled-substance crimes are graded by substance, amount and circumstances. Release conditions may include testing or treatment terms.
View Drug Charge GuideMinn. Stat. §§609.221–.224
First through fifth degree, based on injury, weapons and the person involved. The degree affects how the court approaches bail.
View Assault Bail Bonds GuideMinn. Stat. §609.52
Classification generally follows the value or type of property. Restitution and no-contact terms can be part of release.
View Theft Bail Bonds GuideMinn. Stat. §609.582
Four degrees, depending on the type of building, whether it was occupied and whether a weapon or assault was involved.
View Burglary Bail Bonds Guide09 · About
10 · FAQ
Yes. Call (763) 288-2581 or use the form any time. GPS works by phone and online; it has no office in Clearwater.
11 · Service area
