How to Make a Bail Argument in Minnesota: Fighting for Your Client's Freedom from Day One
Just this week, we stood before a judge in Ramsey County on an incredibly serious felony case. The stakes were sky-high. You could feel the tension in the courtroom—the fear, the uncertainty, the weight of what the accused was facing. It’s in those moments, when a person’s liberty is quite literally on the line, that a strong, strategic bail argument can make all the difference. If you are facing serious criminal charges in Ramsey County or anywhere in the Twin Cities, contact Jack Rice Defense for a free confidential consultation at 651-447-7650 or 612-227-1339.
In Minnesota, courts are required to focus on two key issues when setting bail:
Is the defendant a danger to society?
Is the defendant likely to return to court?
Understanding these two pillars is essential to making a compelling bail argument. But how you argue them—how you bring your client’s story into the courtroom—is just as critical.
1. Addressing "Danger to Society" Head-On
If the charge is serious—and many of our cases are—then the court will already have concerns about community safety. There’s no way around that. You must address the seriousness of the charge directly. Avoiding it doesn’t help; instead, contextualizing it can. Lean into it.
We talk about the facts, the allegations, and what’s still unknown. But more importantly, we highlight whether the alleged conduct is isolated or part of a larger pattern. We remind the court that charges are not convictions. We question what assumptions are being made. We show that our client is not defined by one moment or one accusation.
2. Demonstrating the Likelihood to Return to Court
The second prong is about flight risk. Here, we focus on roots:
Does the person have family in Minnesota?
Do they have a job or go to school?
Have they lived in the community for years?
Do they have a history of appearing for court?
We bring in everything that ties the client to this jurisdiction, and we highlight their respect for the legal process.
3. Personalizing the Client: The Most Important Step
The law is cold. Courts can be cold. But people aren’t. Judges are people. And if you want a judge to consider pretrial release or a reasonable bail amount, you have to humanize your client.
We talk about our client’s story. Their childhood. Their struggles. Their accomplishments. Their children. Their dreams. Their humanity. He they intended to be. Where they are now.
In truth, part of what we do is ask the court—subtly, professionally—to root for our client. To want them to succeed. Because when a judge can see someone not just as a risk but as a person with a future, doors start to open.
Final Thoughts
Bail hearings can feel like small moments in big cases, but they’re often the most crucial. Freedom before trial changes everything. It allows people to work, to care for their families, to participate fully in their own defense. And that’s why we fight so hard from the very beginning.
If you or someone you love is facing serious criminal charges in St. Paul, Ramsey County, or anywhere in the Twin Cities, the time to act is now. Contact Jack Rice Defense for a free and confidential consultation. Let us stand with you and fight for your freedom.
Call today: 651-447-7650 or 612-227-1339
Visit us at jackricelaw.com