Houston County Inmate Population

Houston County inmate population records are managed by the Sheriff's Office in Caledonia, Minnesota. This small southeastern county sits along the Mississippi River bluffs near the Iowa and Wisconsin borders. The sheriff handles all bookings, tracks jail occupancy, and responds to records requests under state law. Houston County has a small population and a rural landscape with bluff country terrain. Most booking data is public under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. If you need to find someone in custody or check on past arrests in Houston County, the Sheriff's Office in Caledonia is the place to start.

Houston County Sheriff and Jail

The Houston County Sheriff's Office is in charge of the county jail and all inmate population records. The office sits in Caledonia and serves the whole county. Staff book inmates, track who is in custody, and process releases. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 641, every county jail must log each person brought in. That means recording the name, charges, arrest date, and release date for every booking.

Houston County is one of the smaller counties in Minnesota by population. The jail handles a modest number of bookings each year. Most people held there are waiting for court or serving short sentences on misdemeanor charges. The sheriff sends regular reports on the inmate population to state agencies under Minn. Stat. 641.05. These reports go to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and help the state track detention trends. Because the county borders both Iowa and Wisconsin, cross-border cases sometimes come up. But only Minnesota charges go through the Houston County jail system.

Search Houston County Inmate Records

To find inmate population records in Houston County, call the Sheriff's Office in Caledonia. Provide a full name and date of birth if you have it. Staff can tell you if the person is in jail right now or look up old bookings. This is the fastest way to get local custody information.

State tools cover a wider net. The Minnesota DOC Inmate Locator tracks people in state prisons across Minnesota. County jail inmates from Houston County will not show up there. But if a felony case from the 3rd Judicial District led to a state prison sentence, the person will appear in the DOC system after transfer. The DOC Search Portal also lists fugitives and offers custody status checks.

You can submit a written request for data to the Houston County Sheriff under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Arrest data is public. That includes the time, place, and charges connected to the arrest. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website lets you search court records from Houston County cases in the 3rd Judicial District.

Booking and Intake Process

When someone is arrested in Houston County, the booking process starts at the jail in Caledonia. Staff search the person, take a photograph, and collect fingerprints. All charges and personal details go into the system. This data feeds directly into the inmate population log and becomes part of the public record.

Houston County sits in the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota. The area is rural with small towns spread across the landscape. Arrest volumes are low compared to metro counties. Most cases involve traffic offenses, DWI, or minor criminal matters. Felony arrests do happen, and those cases move through the 3rd Judicial District Court. Under Minn. Stat. 641.14, the jail separates inmates by gender and keeps juveniles away from adult inmates. Even small jails must follow these rules at all times.

Accessing Inmate Population Data

Houston County follows the same data rules as every other county in Minnesota. Under Minn. Stat. 13.85, corrections data has clear lines between public and private. The inmate's name, age, sex, and last known address are public. So are the charges and arrest date. Medical records, mental health data, and financial info about the inmate stay private.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension holds criminal history records that link to Houston County arrests. Background checks through the BCA carry a fee. If an inmate's data has been presented in court, it becomes public through the court record. Victims of crimes have access to some inmate data that the general public cannot get, particularly for restitution and safety planning. The county must respond to valid data requests within a reasonable time as set by state law.

Houston County Jail Operations

State law requires discharge planning under Minn. Stat. 641.155. The Houston County jail connects inmates with community resources before they leave. That includes help with housing and treatment referrals. The goal is to keep people from coming back.

Houston County inmate population numbers stay modest. The jail was not built for large numbers, and the county rarely fills its capacity. When it does, the sheriff can transfer inmates to nearby counties through boarding agreements. Fillmore County and Winona County are the closest neighbors for those transfers. Private jails are not allowed in Minnesota under Minn. Stat. 641.015, so all detention stays under public control. The sheriff reports population numbers to the state on a regular basis as part of the reporting duties in Chapter 641.

Statewide Inmate Search Tools

Several state resources go beyond Houston County for inmate searches. The DOC publishes statistics and annual reports that show population trends across all Minnesota facilities. This data gives context to local numbers.

Victim Services through the DOC lets victims register for custody alerts. If someone from Houston County goes to a state prison, victims get notices about transfers, releases, or escapes. The DOC tip line at 651-603-0026 takes reports on fugitives. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 243, the Commissioner of Corrections tracks population data for all state facilities, which includes people who started their cases in Houston County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Houston County. If you think an inmate was transferred, check the neighboring sheriff's offices.