Stearns County, Minnesota Inmate Search
An inmate search is a public resource for finding official information on adults housed in detention facilities. The search typically yields relevant details about a person’s incarceration, including their custody status and booking information. In Stearns County, inmate searches are often conducted by an inmate’s friends, family, or legal representatives to confirm whether the individual is in custody, determine where they are being held, and find out how to contact or support them.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office maintains a regularly updated roster of adults currently held in the Stearns County Jail, as well as records of individuals previously detained at the facility. Other police departments within the county, such as the St. Cloud and Sartell Police Departments, maintain independent records of suspects they arrest. However, the Sheriff’s Office remains the primary aggregator of booking information, as arrestees from municipal police departments are typically transported to the Stearns County Jail.
It is essential to note that inmate searches at the state level are managed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, which maintains records of individuals incarcerated in state correctional facilities. At the federal level, this function is carried out by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), which provides information on individuals held in federal prisons.
In accordance with Minnesota laws, there are no public databases that dispense information about juveniles held in the Stearns County Sheriff’s custody.
How to Find an Inmate in Stearns County Jail
Adult inmates currently housed at the Stearns County Jail can be located through the Stearns County Jail Roster Search. This roster is updated daily to capture the most recent bookings. Meanwhile, information about adults who have previously been in custody in the jail is searchable through the Stearns County Past Inmate Search.
Requesters can also inquire about past and current inmates at the Stearns County Jail address listed below.
807 Courthouse Square
St. Cloud, MN 56303
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office shares the same address as the Stearns County Jail.
How to Use the Stearns County Jail Roster
Interested parties may search for current adult inmates in Stearns County by selecting the "Jail Inmate Search" tool on the Stearns County Sheriff’s homepage. To find inmates from the past 7 years, click the site’s menu and select "Past Inmates" from the available options.
Searchers should note the following for easy navigation:
- The jail roster of current inmates is displayed in alphabetical order and can be browsed by scrolling through the names until reaching the desired one (this does not apply to the past inmate search tool).
Alternatively, users can filter the current inmate list by clicking the "show/hide filters" icon, entering the relevant criteria, and selecting "search."
- Search results may be sorted by first name, last name, gender, or booking date.
- Initial search results will reveal the inmate’s name, gender, age, booking date, and race.
- More details about an inmate’s record can be accessed by clicking on the inmate’s last name.
What Information is Included in the Stearns County Inmate Roster
Individuals can find the following information in the Stearns County inmate/jail roster:
- Subject’s Biodata
- Full name (first, last, and middle name)
- Gender
- Age
- JCA number (i.e., the inmate ID/number)
- Address
Per the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13), certain inmate information may fall under non-public or confidential data classifications. For example, details about juvenile inmates are restricted and may only be accessed by authorized parties.
Contact Details for Stearns County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
Stearns County Jail functions as a division of the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and is located at
807 Courthouse Square
St. Cloud, MN 56303
Individuals can find directions to the Stearns County Jail on the jail’s website.
Other important contacts:
- Main Phone Number (Jail): (320) 259-3760
- Main Phone Number (Sheriff): (320) 259-3700
- Official Websites: Stearns County Sheriff’s Office Page, Stearns County Jail Home Page
Jail Facility Overview in Stearns County
Stearns County Jail is a medium- to maximum-security facility designed to house various categories of inmates, including arrestees awaiting trial, conviction, or sentencing, as well as individuals serving up to one year after their case is finalized. As the primary local detention facility, any person arrested in Stearns County is booked into this jail, regardless of the arresting agency.
Stearns County Jail comprises eight housing units, with a total capacity of 135 secure general population beds. The facility also includes 22 holding cells, 16 secure Huber beds, 8 segregation cells, and 2 medical cells.
Stearns County Jail also serves as a temporary holding facility for juveniles, except in extreme circumstances where continued detention is warranted. Per the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office Policy Manual, juveniles can be held in non-secure custody for no more than six hours at the Sheriff’s Office before being released to their parent or a responsible adult, or transferred to a juvenile custody facility or another authority.
Agency | Office and Mail Address | Phone Number | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stearns County Jail | 807 Courthouse Square P.O. Box 217 St. Cloud, MN 56303 | (320) 259-3760 | Open 24 hours | N/A |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Stearns County Jail
Individuals can make credit card payments to a Stearns County Jail inmate’s account online using the Inmate Canteen website highlighted on the facility’s Inmate Funds page. The link directs users to a signup page where they can set up an account or log in to access the services.
After entering login or sign-in details, users will need to select the appropriate state (Minnesota) and county jail (Stearns County Jail), then enter the inmate’s name. When the inmate’s name appears, click it and select "Give a gift" from the menu that materializes.
Alternatively, persons may deposit cash in the kiosk on the second floor of the law enforcement center located at
807 Courthouse Square
St. Cloud, MN 56303
Inmates in Stearns County Jail typically have limits on how much can be sent to them. Funds sent to inmates can only be used to order supplies from the canteen or purchase snacks and beverages at vending machines with a debit card. Inmates can also buy jail calling cards through the canteen program to make phone calls to friends and family.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
The past and current inmate search tools (mentioned above) on the Sheriff’s Office website are the only available online resources for conducting adult inmate lookups in Stearns County Jail. However, interested parties may contact the Sheriff’s Office or the county jail through official channels for further assistance or to locate an inmate not found using the online tool.
Note that the Minnesota Public Records Law (Section 13.875 of the Minnesota Statutes) restricts public distribution of information about juvenile offenders. Individuals can direct inquiries about arrested or detained juveniles to the county jail at (320) 259-3760.
Stearns County Visitation Rules and Schedules
Inmates at the Stearns County Jail, except those sentenced to less than three days, are permitted one visit per visiting day. Each visit typically lasts 20 minutes but may be reduced to 15 minutes on busy days. Inmates also have the right to refuse a visit for any reason.
Stearns County Jail does not allow on-site visits to inmates. All visitation is non-contact and conducted on the second floor of the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) using video monitors.
Visitors of all ages are permitted during designated hours. However, individuals under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, while unaccompanied individuals under 18 must have written permission from a parent or guardian.
Visitors will need to present an accepted means of identification, such as a state ID card or a valid driver’s license. Visiting times are as follows:
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Thursdays: 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Sundays: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Note: No visitors are allowed on Tuesdays or Saturdays.
Stearns County Jail allows visitors to come with personal property. However, personal phones must be kept away, and videos or pictures are prohibited during visits. Visitors are also not allowed to pass anything to inmates except legal materials that have been reviewed by a corrections officer.
More information on visitation is available on the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office website.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Stearns County Jail operates a central mail processing facility for personal correspondence with inmates at the address below:
[Inmate Name] - [ID Number]
Stearns County Jail
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
The facility is managed by a third-party vendor that opens all non-legal mail and processes it into digital copies for delivery to the appropriate inmates. This ensures that contraband is not smuggled into the jail. The original mail is temporarily kept before being destroyed in accordance with jail policy.
Individuals can find an inmate’s ID using the Inmate Canteen website mentioned previously. More information about inmate mail is available on the Stearns County Jail’s Mail webpage.