Stearns County Jail, MN

Check Stearns County Jail's Inmate Information page for visitation procedures before planning your trip. Many jails require visitors to submit an application and wait for approval (often emailed), and that process can take several weeks—start early if you can. Visits are often appointment-only and may happen in person or remotely through a video vendor. Application steps commonly include providing a valid government-issued photo ID and a recent full-face photo. The jail may also run a background check before approving visits. Bringing a minor? Plan for a parent or authorized guardian to attend, and you may need proof of birth like a birth certificate.

Stearns County Jail has telephones in all housing units, available whenever inmates aren't on lockdown. Calls are outgoing only—your loved one calls you, and you accept the call. You can't call into the jail or be transferred to an inmate. Phone calls, video sessions, and electronic messages are routinely monitored or recorded and may be screened or withheld for safety or legal reasons. Video visits and tablet-based messaging typically run through third-party vendors, so you'll need to use their platform to schedule sessions and make payments. If you're setting up communication for the first time, plan for a short setup step so you're ready when your loved one calls.

Start with the jail's online current roster to find someone at Stearns County Jail. The roster lists each detainee's gender, age, booking date, and race. Roster fields and update timing can vary—an entry confirms a recent booking, but details may differ. For the most reliable match, find the person's Minnesota DOC Offender ID (OID) using the state DOC offender search, then use that OID when searching. No OID? Search county or DOC rosters by last name, first name, gender, and year of birth. If you think the person is in federal immigration custody, use the federal ICE detainee locator instead of local rosters.

Need to report a tip to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office? Start with Stearns County's Most Wanted page, which lists a phone number for tips and an email address for warrant or wanted-person information. For everyday questions—locating someone in custody, visiting hours, or facility procedures—look up the right office through the DOC contact directory or the facility's contact page. If something urgent happens, like a serious illness, injury, or death, contact the facility directly and leave a clear message explaining the situation. For complaints or unresolved concerns, reach out to the facility first. If that doesn't resolve things, consider escalating to the Office of the Ombuds for Corrections.