Olmsted County, Minnesota Inmate Search
Law enforcement departments consistently record actions pertaining to public safety or efforts to administer law and order-one file category is "inmate records." Inmate records, as the name suggests, document information about incarcerated individuals. The government office that maintains the files, however, depends on the statute granting authority over the inmate’s offense or custody. In Olmsted County, Minnesota, detentions are primarily under the Sheriff’s control.
An Olmsted County inmate search, accordingly, requests records maintained by the Sheriff’s Office regarding the county’s imprisoned population. The search encompasses adult offenders (e.g., their identities, charges, bail/bond information), despite whether they were arrested/detained by Sheriff deputies or by municipal peace officers from the Rochester PD-the police department operating within the county’s largest city. (The City of Byron is distinguishable as the second-largest city within Olmsted, but it contracts law enforcement services to the Sheriff’s Office. All other jurisdictions outside Rochester also rely on the Sheriff’s Office for such services.)
Certain limitations affect the scope of an inmate search in Olmsted, however. For one, the search excludes juvenile offenders; such persons are managed under a separate system, and their records are generally closed to the public. Moreover, state and federal inmates, who are supervised by the Minnesota Department of Corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), respectively, do not appear on county inmate rosters.
Olmsted County has no independent municipal/city jails. All city arrests flow into the county jail system.
How to Find an Inmate in Olmsted County Jail
Finding an inmate in Olmsted County is relatively simple, as these inquiries are generally made to the Sheriff’s department.
The Sheriff recommends two primary methods for locating inmate information:
- Searching the "Who Is In Custody" application. Another name for this app is the county jail/inmate roster.
- Contacting the ADC at (507) 328-6790.
Below is the physical address of the Olmsted County Jail (formally the Adult Detention Center or ADC).
101 4th Street Southeast
Rochester, MN 55904-3719
The Sheriff’s Office and the Olmsted County District Court also operate from this location.
How to Use the Olmsted County Jail Roster
Here’s how to access the Olmsted County Jail’s In Custody List (or "Who Is In Custody" application) on the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office website:
- Navigate to the In Custody List (roster) by scrolling to the bottom portion of the Sheriff’s website homepage and selecting the "Who Is In Custody" tab.
- On the next page, type the person’s first or last name in the search box, or select the first letter of the person’s last name. Alternatively, select "View All In Custody" to browse the complete jail roster.
- Any of the aforementioned search tactics will either bring out the specific inmate or a list of matching inmates. The user can then view the party’s booking and charge data.
What Information is Included in the Olmsted County Inmate Roster
The following information is provided upon searching the Olmsted County Inmate Roster:
- Inmate’s Full Name and Photograph (including the photograph’s timestamp)
- Booking Date and Time
- Reason for Incarceration: Whether the arrest was based on new charges, a warrant or writ, the inmate is being held for another agency, etc.
- Detainee Description: The present stage of the inmate’s case/status of the inmate. Examples include Awaiting Bail or Bond, Sentenced, US Marshall’s Hold, Other Agency Hold, Release Revoked, etc.
- Charges: The charge description and level (felony, misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor)
Following Chapter 13 of Minnesota’s Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota’s Public Records Law)-particularly in Minn. Stat. §§ 13.85 and 13.851-and Minn. Stat. § 138.17, inmate records are generally public. Consequently, the public can freely inspect information from the Olmsted County jail roster or by inquiring at the ADC (jail). Nevertheless, any information determined confidential by law or court order is exempt from public inspection-one example is medical, psychological, or financial data (Minn. Stat. § 13.85, Subd. 2).
Contact Details for Olmsted County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
Members of the public who wish to reach the Olmsted County Jail or the Sheriff’s Office for inmate inquiries or other assistance/information can utilize these contact details:
Agency/Facility | Physical Address | Phone Number | Fax Number | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Olmsted County Adult Detention Center (Jail) | 101 4th Street Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904-3719 | Adult Detention Center (Main): (507) 328-6790 Administration: (507) 328-6837 Operations: (507) 328-6715 Programs: (507) 328-6705 Training: (507) 328-6838 Work Release: (507) 328-6795 | (507) 328-6833 | Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office - Adult Detention Center |
Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office | 101 4th Street Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904-3718 | Law Enforcement Center: (507) 328-6750. (See other contacts) | Law Enforcement Center: (507) 328-6781 |
Jail Facility Overview in Olmsted County
The Olmsted County Jail, formally the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center (ADC), is a maximum security facility in Rochester, Minnesota, operated under a direct-supervision model by the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. Inmates under the Sheriff’s custody are split into the following four categories:
- Pre-Sentenced Inmates: Persons who have been apprehended/detained and are awaiting sentencing.
- Sentenced Inmates: Convicted individuals who are serving a court-ordered jail term, typically under a year.
- Boarders/Lodgers: Inmates being housed on behalf of another jurisdiction (other federal, state, or county agencies), so long as bed space is available.
- Work Release Inmates: These are convicted individuals approved by the court to maintain external employment while serving their sentences, provided they can pay the daily fee (currently $20). Crucially, these detainees are not housed at the ADC, but at the Work Release Facility (WRF) annex.
The ADC was established in 1993 with an initial capacity of 100 beds, but it has since expanded to a rated capacity of 202 beds for adult males and females. Meanwhile, the WRF annex, opened in 2003, can house up to 60 adult males and 30 adult females with "Work Release" or "Sentenced to Service (STS)" (i.e, supervised community work crew) detainee status.
Note: Olmsted County officially closed its juvenile detention center in June 2020, driven by a steady decline in the need for youth incarceration. Presently, juveniles needing secure detention are usually transported to specialized detention facilities in other counties. Juvenile services in Olmsted County, including intake procedures, are managed by the Dodge-Olmsted (D&O) Community Corrections.
Agency/Facility | Security Level | Office and Mail Address | Phone Number | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Olmsted County Adult Detention Center (Jail) | Maximum | 101 4th Street Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904-3719 | (507) 328-6790 | 24 hours a day, full week Standard Admin Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays | |
Olmsted County Work Release Facility | Minimum | 140 4th Street Southeast, Rochester, MN 55904 | (507) 328-6795 |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center
Sending funds to an inmate/detainee at the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center means depositing money into the inmate’s canteen account. This privilege is available to anyone who wishes to support an inmate’s stay in jail, enabling them to purchase supplementary items and services, such as phone call/video time, stamps, paper, envelopes, or vending machine food.
Individuals can use kiosks located in the Adult Detention Center or Work Release Facility lobbies to make a deposit. The kiosks are accessible 24/7; if stopping by after regular business/admin hours, use the intercom and specify the intent to add funds to a detainee’s account. The kiosks accept cash or credit/debit cards.
Alternatively, deposits can be made online by credit card after setting up a free account with the approved vendor. The maximum deposit allowed per detainee is $500 every 30 days.
Note: Deposits are applied to any outstanding jail-incurred expenses before the balance can be used for canteen purchases.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
The Adult Detention Center In Custody List is the primary tool for locating adult detainees or inmates in Olmsted County, Minnesota. As explained earlier, anyone can use this tool to obtain charge and bond information for inmates in the Sheriff’s Office custody. If an inmate cannot be found using the tool, dial the ADC at (507) 328-6790.
If searching for a juvenile in secure custody, Dodge-Olmsted (D&O) Community Corrections should be approached.
Olmsted County
151 4th Street Southeast
Rochester, MN 55904
Phone: (507) 328-7200
Fax: (507) 328-7951
Importantly, juvenile records in Olmsted County are closed to the general public under Minn. Stat. § 260B.171. Each requester must be a person authorized by law (e.g., a parent or legal guardian) to receive that information; otherwise, the request will be denied.
Olmsted County Visitation Rules and Schedules
Social visits to inmates confined in the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center occur via video. These visits are recorded and subject to monitoring, and they must be scheduled 24 hours prior.
Visits are conducted either on-site using visitation kiosks/terminals at the Olmsted County Work Release Facility, or online (off-site) using a home computer or smartphone by registering (at no cost) on the visitation vendor’s website. Either visitation type requires a user account with the vendor.
Registration Requirements
A valid ID must be presented during registration and at the facility if visiting on-site. Only persons 18 or older can register. Minors under 18 do not have these requirements, but must be listed as an additional visitor on the adult’s account.
Visiting Hours
- Sunday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Note: On-site availability is more limited, as there are only four visitation terminals at the Work Release Facility. Check-in for on-site visits is required at least 10 minutes before one’s scheduled appointment.
Dress Code
- Visitors must wear clothing that covers all sensitive or private body parts.
Conduct
- Visitors must adhere to the ADC’s visiting rules and regulations, such as refraining from loud or disruptive behavior and not being under the influence of alcohol/drugs.
Cost
- On-Site Visits: Free.
- Off-Site (Virtual) Visits: Often cited as $2 to $3 per visit, although the vendor’s rate is 10 cents per minute.
Frequency/Limitations
- Inmates are allowed 20-minute on-site visits each day.
- Visitors can only visit one inmate per day on-site. For off-site visits, no such restriction exists so long as the vendor’s fee is paid and the inmate is sanctioned to receive visitors.
Maximum Parties
- Only 1 registered adult visitor and 1 minor child are permitted per visit. Minors must be supervised at all times by the accompanying adult.
Families or loved ones may call the ADC to learn about other visiting procedures or review visitation-related content on the Sheriff’s Office website.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Family and friends can correspond with inmates at the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center by phone or mail. Mail correspondence can include any of the following items:
- Handwritten letters written with a pen or pencil (crayons or markers are prohibited)
- Typed letters
- Photographs (must not be obscene or gang-related)
All other items, such as books, personal checks, stamps, packages, fluids, or magazines, cannot be sent as personal mail or correspondence. All mail must fit into an envelope and must be routed through the jail’s digital scanning service using this address format:
Olmsted County Jail
[Detainee Full Name]
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Note: Third-party checks, personal checks, and money orders are not generally accepted by mail. Funds for an inmate’s canteen/commissary account may be deposited online through the jail’s vendor or in person at lobby kiosks.
Procedures for contacting detainees by phone are stated on the Sheriff’s Office website.