Dakota County Jail Gives Bail Bond Agents the Boot

In the past, when someone was booked into Dakota County Jail, no matter the transgression, there was always a bail bond agent or two there to fight for business.

But according to a story in Sun Thisweek, after numerous complaints about the sometimes aggressive tactics used by these agents, the jail has banned them from public areas at the jail, including the in-custody courtroom and lobby, where most bail agents get their business.

Dakota County Jail Cmdr. John Grant told Sun Thisweek that in recent months, it was getting to the point that bail agents were "fighting over clients."

In the report, Grant said agents would actually arrive hours before an inmate's first court appearance and lobby their friends and family to sell them bail bonds.

In addition, the story said female agents would dress inappropriately, in bikini tops and mini-skirts, while trying to attract bond business.

Meanwhile, Dakota County Sheriff Dave Bellows said the new restrictions aren't going anywhere, with the story saying its "solved problems (and) improved the public jail environment."

But bond agents are crying foul, the story said, with some suggesting all are being punished for a few bad apples.

Jennifer Ahlberg, a bonding agent for 25 years, told Sun Thisweek that competition in Dakota County has been fierce because the courts typically set high bail amounts with a lower risk since the county is more affluent.

Meanwhile, Bellows said the changes—implemented over the past six months or so—have been good.

“Citizens going through the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office have a right not to be approached for this kind of stuff,” he told Sun Thisweek.

Burnsville Patch will follow this story.