Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
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Looking for someone in the Watonwan County Jail roster? The Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office provides an official PDF showing people listed in custody, their booking dates, charges, holding agencies, and available bail information. This guide explains how to check the roster, confirm custody, and find visitation, court, and inmate communication details.
Watonwan County Jail Roster: Official Inmate Search
Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office — Jail Roster PDF
The county publishes a jail roster in PDF format. It is the best starting point for reviewing published inmate names and booking information.
Source: Watonwan County government. The PDF is maintained separately from this guide. Always check the report’s printed date before treating any entry as current.
County-hosted downloadable PDF
St. James, Minnesota 56081
How to Search the Watonwan County Jail Roster by Name
You do not generally need to create an account to read the county’s public roster PDF.
- Open the official jail roster. Use the county PDF link above. On a phone, the file may open in a browser or PDF viewer.
- Check the printed date. Look for the date shown near the top of the document. It tells you when that particular roster was generated.
- Find the person’s name. Press Ctrl + F on Windows or Command + F on Mac. On mobile, use the PDF viewer’s search tool. Try the last name first.
- Compare booking details. Read the complete entry, including the booking date, charges, and holding agency. Do not identify a person by a matching name alone.
- Verify current custody. Call 507-375-1206 if the roster is old, the entry is unclear, or release information is important.
Understanding Watonwan County Booking Records
The official jail roster includes several fields. Knowing what each means helps prevent mistakes when reading a custody record.
| Roster Field | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| Inmate | The person’s name as displayed in the jail record. |
| Booking Date | The date recorded for the person’s admission or booking. |
| Charges | Reported alleged offenses or detention-related entries, sometimes with Minnesota statutory references. |
| Held For | The agency or jurisdiction associated with the inmate’s detention. |
| Bail Amount | Published bail or bond information, which may include conditions. |
| Projected Release | An anticipated release field, when information is available. This is not a guaranteed discharge date. |
The presence of a charge is not proof of guilt. Court findings, bond conditions, holds, and custody status must be verified independently.
Does the Watonwan County roster include mugshots?
The county’s published roster format primarily provides names and custody-related fields. A public mugshot should not be assumed to exist for every person listed. The official PDF is not a guaranteed mugshot gallery. For access to a specific booking photograph, contact the Sheriff’s Office and ask about applicable public-records rules.
What If Someone Is Not on the Jail Roster?
A missing entry does not establish that someone was never arrested or is no longer detained. First check these possibilities:
The person may have entered custody after the PDF was generated.
The person may have been discharged, moved, or held at another facility.
Check legal surnames, spelling, middle names, and possible formatting differences.
Some custody or identifying information may not be publicly displayed.
What to do next
- Check the roster’s publication date rather than relying on the web page’s date.
- Contact the Watonwan County Jail at 507-375-1206 with the person’s full name and any other identifying information you are permitted to provide.
- If there is a reported transfer, ask which agency or facility now handles custody.
- If the issue concerns a criminal court case, use Minnesota Court Records Online instead of relying only on the jail roster.
Watonwan County Jail Address, Phone Number & Hours
Watonwan County Jail
Physical address:
715 Third Avenue S
St. James, MN 56081
Jail telephone:
507-375-1206
Fax: 507-942-1006
Administrative office:
Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Facility staffing: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office
Physical address:
710 2nd Avenue S
St. James, MN 56081
Sheriff’s Office:
507-375-3121
Emergency: 911
Administrative hours:
Monday–Friday, 7:55 a.m.–2:55 p.m.
The jail and Sheriff’s Office have different listed street addresses and phone numbers. Use the jail-specific contact for custody and visitation inquiries.
Watonwan County Bail, Bond, Holds & Release
If a roster entry displays bail information, treat it as a starting point rather than a final payment instruction. Court orders, conditions, agency holds, and changes to the case can affect whether a person can be released.
Before Paying or Arranging Bail
- Find the inmate’s roster entry and record the available charges and bail information.
- Call the jail to confirm the current bond conditions and whether any other holds exist.
- Ask which office accepts payment, the approved payment methods, and whether a licensed bond provider is an option.
- Confirm how release will be processed after all required conditions are satisfied.
Common Release Situations
| Status or Situation | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Bond amount shown | Confirm the amount, conditions, holds, and accepted payment procedure with jail staff. |
| No bond amount shown | Ask whether a judicial decision, hearing, or other condition is pending. |
| Probation or parole hold | Determine which supervising authority controls the hold. |
| Projected release date listed | Confirm that there are no subsequent orders or detention holds. |
| Person no longer on roster | Ask whether the individual was released, transferred, or otherwise removed from the published list. |
Payment warning: Do not send bond money to a person claiming to represent the jail through unsolicited calls, messages, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or unofficial payment links. Verify instructions using the county’s published telephone number.
Attorney & Public Defender Assistance
People facing criminal charges may want legal advice regarding release conditions, hearings, and defense representation. Ask court administration about public defender eligibility and application procedures if private counsel is not affordable. A jail roster is not a substitute for legal advice.
Find Watonwan County Court Dates and Criminal Case Records
Jail booking records and court case records serve different purposes. A roster may establish that a person appeared on a custody list, but court records are the appropriate place to investigate publicly accessible case events, hearings, and filed documents.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
MCRO provides access to many public Minnesota district court case records and documents. Available searching methods depend on the case type and public-access restrictions.
- Open MCRO. Accept the court system’s terms and select Case Search.
- Choose a search method. Depending on the record, search by case number, citation number, attorney details, or a name where permitted.
- Limit the court location. Select Watonwan County when an appropriate county filter is available.
- Open the case details. Check the Register of Actions for publicly available court events, hearing information, and documents.
- Contact court administration when needed. Restricted or unavailable online information may require a direct inquiry.
Watonwan County Jail Visitation Hours & Rules
The county publishes designated visitation sessions and visitor requirements. Confirm the schedule with the jail before traveling, especially around holidays, staffing changes, or individual inmate restrictions.
| Visiting Day | Published Visiting Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. |
Visitor Checklist
- Bring an acceptable government-issued photo ID or passport.
- Confirm that your name appears on the inmate’s approved visitor list.
- Most visitors must be at least 18; county rules describe exceptions for certain inmate family members.
- Children must remain with and be supervised by their parent or guardian.
- Visits are generally limited to 20 minutes per visitor and may be shortened.
- Visitors are restricted to one visit with the same inmate per day.
- Each inmate may receive up to two visits per visiting session under the published rules.
- Visitors under the influence of alcohol or drugs may be denied entry.
- Appropriate clothing and orderly conduct are required.
- Ordinary visits may be recorded or monitored. Do not assume conversations are confidential.
Disciplinary restrictions, visitor approval, or other facility security requirements may prevent a visit.
Inmate Money, Commissary, Phone Calls & Mail
The Watonwan County Jail publishes separate instructions for inmate funds, communication, commissary purchases, and postal mail.
1. Deposit Money for an Inmate
According to the county’s inmate funds instructions, family and friends may use a lobby kiosk or the JailATM service to deposit money into an eligible inmate account.
- Lobby Lockdown kiosk: cash or credit card.
- Online deposits through JailATM.com.
- The county’s published document lists a $3.25 cash deposit fee and a $3.25 or 10% credit-card fee. Confirm the current amount before payment.
- Personal checks are not accepted under the published instructions.
Deposit services may charge additional or revised fees. Verify the recipient and payment terms before completing a transaction.
2. Inmate Telephone Calls and Messages
The county’s communication instructions identify Reliance Telephone services for inmate phone-card purchases and certain messaging options.
- Phone-card service: Reliance Telephone.
- Inmate message system: 507-229-0122.
- Correctional officers generally do not take personal messages for inmates.
- The county states that telephone messages and its electronic inmate messaging are not confidential.
3. Commissary Purchases
Eligible family members or friends can review commissary ordering options through JailATM. Product availability, purchase limits, delivery, and payment requirements may vary.
4. Send Mail to an Inmate
Inmate’s Full Name
P.O. Box 168
St. James, MN 56081
The county states that inmate mail must arrive through the United States Postal Service and is subject to correctional staff inspection. Ask the jail before sending photographs, publications, legal materials, or any item that may be restricted.
Custody Updates, Release Alerts & Warrants
If you need to know whether a person remains incarcerated, use the most recent jail roster and verify significant changes directly with jail staff.
Call the jail when current custody is important. A projected release field does not guarantee the final release time.
Contact jail staff →Explore victim notification options and availability for eligible cases. Registration and coverage may depend on the agency or custody system.
Visit VINELink →Is a Jail Roster the Same as a Warrant List?
No. The jail roster concerns people reported in detention, while a warrant list concerns warrants published by the responsible authority. A person with an outstanding warrant may not be in jail, and someone in jail may have no separately published warrant entry.
Watonwan County links to a warrant list from its official jail resources page. Verify warrant information with the Sheriff’s Office or the appropriate court before taking action.
View County Jail Resources and Warrant Link ↗Watonwan County Jail Location & Directions
Watonwan County Jail
715 Third Avenue S
St. James, Minnesota 56081
The jail is associated with the courthouse law enforcement complex. The county separately lists the Sheriff’s Office at 710 2nd Avenue S. Check which location you need before traveling.
Watonwan County Jail Roster: 10 Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I find an inmate in Watonwan County Jail?
Open the official county jail roster PDF and search for the person’s name. Check the printed date and booking information. For current custody confirmation, call 507-375-1206.
2. Is the Watonwan County jail roster available online for free?
Yes. Watonwan County publishes a publicly accessible jail roster PDF through its government website. The linked document can be opened without purchasing a third-party inmate search subscription.
3. How often is the Watonwan County jail roster updated?
The county provides a roster PDF, but an exact guaranteed update interval has not been established here. Check the printed report date and confirm time-sensitive details with the jail.
4. Does the Watonwan County jail roster show mugshots?
The official roster is primarily a custody and booking-information document. Public booking photographs are not guaranteed for every inmate. Contact the Sheriff’s Office about the availability of a particular image.
5. What is the Watonwan County Jail phone number?
The county lists 507-375-1206 as the jail phone number. For general Sheriff’s Office matters, the published number is 507-375-3121.
6. Where is Watonwan County Jail located?
The jail’s published physical address is 715 Third Avenue S, St. James, MN 56081. The jail’s postal mailing address is P.O. Box 168, St. James, MN 56081.
7. How can I find someone’s bail amount?
Check the bail amount field on the official inmate roster if one is provided. Contact jail staff to confirm the current amount, payment process, judicial conditions, and possible additional holds before arranging payment.
8. When can I visit someone at Watonwan County Jail?
Published visiting sessions are Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m.; and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. Approval and facility rules apply. Confirm hours before traveling.
9. How can I send money or mail to an inmate?
The county lists a lobby deposit kiosk and JailATM for eligible account deposits. Mail should identify the inmate and be addressed to P.O. Box 168, St. James, MN 56081. Review the county’s latest restrictions and payment instructions.
10. Why is an inmate not appearing on the Watonwan County roster?
The roster may predate a recent booking, the person may have been released or transferred, or the name may differ from what you searched. Some information may also be restricted. Call 507-375-1206 if you need custody verification.
Official Sources & Important Reminders
This guide prioritizes information published by Watonwan County and the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
- Watonwan County — County Jail Information
- Watonwan County — Jail Roster PDF
- Watonwan County — Inmate Visitation
- Watonwan County — Inmate Funds, Telephone, Commissary and Mail
- Watonwan County — Jail Contact Directory
- Minnesota Judicial Branch — Court Case Search
Independent information notice: This website is an informational resource and is not affiliated with or operated by the Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office, Watonwan County government, or the Minnesota Judicial Branch. This page does not provide real-time custody verification, legal advice, or a guaranteed release schedule. County policies, roster entries, office hours, and service fees may change.
Record accuracy: Booking entries may involve allegations rather than convictions. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Do not use jail roster information to harass, threaten, or discriminate against anyone.