Hennepin County Jail – Public Safety Facility (PSF) – Minneapolis, MN

Hennepin County Jail is in Hennepin County, MN and is the correctional facility for that region. Looking for somebody in jail at Hennepin County Jail? This site tells you information about everything you might want to know about Hennepin County Jail: How to locate an inmate. Find mugshots. The jail’s phone number and address. Bail and bail bondsmen. Booking and intake procedures. Hennepin County court information. And much more…

The thought of getting arrested and going to jail is a scary and daunting idea, not only for whoever goes to jail, but also their family and friends. This guide is meant to give you information you need to make going to jail a lot easier. If you have a question, please feel free to ask it, and any tips or comments that could be beneficial to other people in the same situation would be appreciated.

Do you have a family member or friend in jail and don’t know how to locate them?

Has someone who has been arrested and you want to find them?

To search who’s in jail at Hennepin County Jail you will have to visit their web site and perform an inmate lookup.

The Hennepin County Jail Inmate Lookup is a list of people who have been arrested, which includes status, bail amount, and visiting schedule. Also, you are able to find info about anybody arrested and booked or released within the past 24 hours. Jail inmates are listed in alphabetical order by last name. You will be able to find the information faster if you enter the arrestee’s full name, date of birth, or inmate ID Number.

If the person you are looking for may be locked up at a different jail you can look here: Minnesota County Jails

A mugshot, or jail intake photograph, is a photograph that the jail takes when you are booked into jail. A mugshot is actually one frontal photo and a side photo. Your name and intake number will appear on the photos, and they will be kept on file.

Mugshots of Hennepin County Jail prisoners can be searched on the website, or you can go in person to the Hennepin County Jail. When you search for mugshots on the website you will need to put in the prisoner’s first and last name, and an arrest date.

Are you trying to figure out what to do in order to get your mugshot taken off of the Hennepin County Jail website? This may not be possible, since the mugshot is a public record. To get your mugshot taken down you need to file a ‘Petition to Expunge’. Basically, this means that the record of your arrest would be sealed, and will not be accessible. Depending on your situation, this may be a longshot.

For more information about getting your mugshot taken down, the different websites with mugshots, and the mugshot removal services: How To Remove Your Mugshot from the Internet

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If you are incarcerated, your only thought is about getting out. After you’ve gone through the intake process, bail will be determined by the magistrate. If no bail is set this can mean that you will either be free to go until your trial, or you must remain in jail until your trial.

If you are released from jail you must agree to show up for court, and in the meantime you will not be permitted to leave town.

In most cases, a prisoner in the Hennepin County Jail can earn time off for good behavior when they respect the rules and don’t cause any problems while incarcerated.

If you prove to be trustworthy, you may be granted work release. You will either have to go back to the jail every day when you’re finished with work, or you could get to move to a halfway house instead of the jail.

Bail is the amount of money that you have to pay to the court system to get out of jail pending trial. The amount you will have to pay depends on the crime you are charged with. You will need to put up 10 percent of the total that was set in order for you to be released. If you don’t show up for your court appearance, the person that bailed you out of jail will lose that money.

To find out how much bail money you will need to bail someone out of jail must call the jail. If you’ve got the person’s information, including name, address and date of birth, they’ll tell you the bail amount. You can also check their bail amount and status on the Hennepin County Jail site.

Bailing out of jail is no fun, but thankfully, it is really easy. To start with, figure out if their bail is a “Cash Bond Only”. If this is the case, you won’t be able to use the services of a Bail Bondsman. Cash only – they won’t accept a personal check. When you’ve paid bail, the prisoner will get released. If the conditions of bail are not violated, you’ll get your money back.

If the bail amount is too high, or you can’t afford it yourself, you should hire a bail bondsman. Bail bondsmen will usually charge a fee of 10-15% of the total amount of bail set, and sometimes with a minimum of $100. The amount you pay to the bondsman is non-refundable and must be paid in cash. If the bail is extremely high, the bondsman will require that they use assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

To find a bail bondsman visit our page about: Find a bail bondsman at Hennepin County Jail

Have you ever used the services of bondsman for yourself, a family member or friend? If you have, leave a comment below and tell your story, and let us know how it worked out.

Click here to tell about all about it

• Early Release For Good Behavior
• Get Out on Work Release
• Released For Time Served
• Pre-Trial Release Programs
• Get Out on House Arrest
• Get Released on Your Own Recognizance

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The jail intake process takes you through each of these steps:

• They’ll put you in a holding cell. If the jail is really busy, it will take a while to get processed.
• You will have to answer some basic questions, such as your full legal name, street address, birth date and contact person.
• They’ll also ask about your medical and mental history.
• You’ll be given an inmate ID.
• You will get fingerprinted.
• You will have your mugshot taken.
• All personal property will be taken away from you and stored until you get released from jail.
• You will get to make a telephone call to call a member of your family, friend, or bail bondsman.
• If you think you will get released quickly, you will be allowed to wear your own clothes, otherwise you will be given a jail uniform – the jumpsuit.

Have you ever been booked into jail? If you have, please share your experience. How long did it take to get through intake? How did the guards treat you? Can you tell us things that could help others make it through jail intake?

Click here to share your story

Once bail has been posted, you will be allowed to leave jail. Getting discharged from jail will take anywhere from 30 minutes to all day long. In simple terms, the quicker you post bail, the faster you will get released. How quickly you get discharged can depend on if you have a bond amount or if a judge still needs to determine your bail amount. For a minor offense, you will be booked and released on your own recognizance. When you have served out your jail sentence and know the release date, plan to get discharged between 9am and noon.

If you have a, or if you have to report to start a sentence, it is recommended that you follow the rules and turn yourself in willingly. If it is for a warrant, go down to the jail reception area, and tell someone that you think they might have a warrant for your arrest. A record check will be run, and if there is one, you will be taken into jail custody. When reporting to serve a sentence, go down to the jail at the time and date that the sentence order lists. Make sure that you are not late to report. Be sure to only bring required items when you go to jail, like your driver’s license or your ID, any prescription medication you might take, along with your doctor’s prescription, and a sentencing order.

In order to have visitors, inmates need to give each visitor’s name to the jail. This information will be entered into the visitors log as an Authorized visit. All visitors must provide identification. Anyone arriving late or without a visiting order will not be able to attend visitation.
The Hennepin County Jail visitation procedures are always changing, so make sure that you review the jail site before you go.

The only phone calls that inmates are allowed to make are with a pre-paid phone card or account, or are collect calls . Calls made in jail are much pricier than phone calls made at home. Phone calls are restricted on when and how often you can use the phone, but you should keep in mind lots of people want to use the phone – so you have to share. If you break the jail rules, an inmate’s ability to use the phone might get cut back or eliminated completely.

The Hennepin County Jail phone number is: 612-348-5112

All inmate mail has to be sent using US Postal Service. You shouldn’t use any other method of mail delivery. You have to write or type the name, inmate number, and the jail address on the envelope. Do not mail a box or package, envelope with padding, bag, or an envelope containing metal parts. All mail is opened and read and examined by the officers at the jail, and will be returned to the sender if it can’t be delivered.

Use this address when sending a letter to someone incarcerated at Hennepin County Jail:

Hennepin County Jail
401 South Fourth Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Hennepin County Jail
401 South Fourth Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55415

The mail policy at Hennepin County Jail is always changing, so you should double check the the Hennepin County Jail website before you send a letter.

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When you get arrested, you need to be aware that you still have rights, and an important one is that you have the right to request an attorney. You are only allowed to make so many phone calls in jail, so you would be wise to have a friend or family member locate an attorney when you call them. You might be asking yourself ‘do I really need an attorney?’ You’re not required to have an attorney in all cases, a criminal defense attorney can advise you of your rights, help protect your interests and help you understand the criminal justice system that you are now faced with. The faster you get an attorney working on your situation, the better off you’ll be.

To read more about how to find a lawyer, click: How to Find an Attorney in Hennepin County

If you are in trouble, but can’t afford a lawyer, a Public Defender will be assigned to you. Also, the Public Defender’s Office has a number of staff such as independent investigators, forensics experts and social case workers. Public Defenders are real attorneys that are members of the Minnesota State Bar and are legally licensed to practice law as an agent of the court.

Have you or someone you know used a Public Defender? How did they do?

Court records are public records. Court records have a case file with a sheet called a docket sheet and each of the documents and motions filed in the course of your case. You, and anyone else, can access court records with the online service, or by going to the Clerk of Court’s office where the case was filed.

The Clerk of Court is an officer and clerk of the court who manages court records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath for all court participants, and read the verdict when the jury makes their final decision. All court records from your court case are held at the office of the Clerk of Court.

Court fees and costs are the charges and fees from your case, such as for example filing fees, motion and claim fees, and court charges. If you don’t have the money to pay these fees and have court appointed legal counsel or a Public Defender, you may not have to pay them.

The Hennepin County magistrate is the judge that will preside over your case in court. Magistrates do many different things, like setting bail amounts, issuing warrants for arrest, and presiding over preliminary court hearings and detention proceedings.

Your pre-sentencing report is prepared to include information about the arrestee’s background and as much detail about the defendant’s life, which the magistrate judge will take into consideration when deciding on the sentence. Information will be solicited from the person on trial, his or her family members, and, if applicable, the victim. Be sure to remember you are allowed to request to have your own copy of this report prior to sentencing, and correct any mistakes that it contains.

If you get convicted of a crime, you will then get sentenced. The presiding judge in your case will weigh several options when determining your sentence, including community service to probation, to incarceration in jail or prison. Depending on how serious your crime was, you might get locked up immediately, or you could receive a date that you must turn yourself into jail to serve your jail time according to your sentence.

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Are you trying to find out if a family member or friend is in jail, or has been an inmate in the past?

This is pretty easy to do, simply you need to access the jail website and do an inmate search, and search using:

• The inmate’s name.
• Date of birth.
• Approximate booking date.
• or jail ID.

If you’re not sure if your friend or family member is in jail, you can call the jail confirm whether they’ve been arrested or not.

If you believe you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you can check the arrest warrants on the website or you are able to call the jail directly. This requires a first and last name. Or, you can just go the jail in person and ask the officer in charge. You should be clear that if there is an arrest warrant out for you, they will take you into custody immediately.

If you have a first and last name, as well as the date of their arrest, contact the Hennepin County jail, either by phone, go there in person, or find out online. Records of arrests are a matter of public record and the information is freely available.

A Civil Process is when someone has been served with papers, like , subpoenas, and arrest warrants. You can access civil process orders by going to the Sheriff’s office, by phone or online.

All registered sex offenders must be listed and registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people listed on these databases have been convicted in a court of law of a sex crime. You can access these listings on the website, but bear in mind that you won’t see the street address, but only the neighborhood block of the address that they registered.

Court Records are public, and are accessible by anyone. These records include a court case file that contains a court docket and any of the documents filed in your court case. You can access court records via the internet service ‘Public Access to Court Electronic Records’, or at the clerk’s office of the court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.

Each state maintains records of their state citizen’s criminal past. These state databases are linked together so you are able to track criminal convictions from another state. You can go to county courthouse and check in person or you can check online. You must know which county the crime occurred in, and in the event that the crime was in a completely different state, you may have to pay a fee for a more complete search.

A criminal history search you will be able to find out if a person has ever been arrested, charged or convicted for any crimes they may have committed, which could include:

• DWI or DUI.
• Drug crimes.
• Kidnapping.
• Rape or other sexual assault.
• Violent crimes including assault, battery and murder.
• Property crimes like theft or larceny.

But, when you do a criminal records check, usually won’t discover if someone has had any:

• Speeding tickets.
• Lost their driver’s license or license revoked or suspended.
• Any accidents.
• Minor infractions or moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To search for driving histories, you will have to do a driving records search.

Have you ever had to look for criminal records online? Was it a difficult process? Was your search online or did you call the Hennepin County courthouse? Was it correct? There are plenty of reasons that folks search for criminal records and backgrounds, and your story may make it easier for others.

Click here to leave a comment

Most Wanted

For Federal crimes, the FBI has their list of the Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Hennepin County,The Sheriff’s Department maintains their own list of the top most wanted criminals in the county.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List: External Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Just the thought of being incarcerated in the Hennepin County jail is no fun, you will soon become accustomed to the routine that is set for you. You will get a wake-up alarm at 6:00 AM, and then you’ll have roll call. You will then eat breakfast. When you finish breakfast you will have to work in the work program or other activity that you are assigned. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Hennepin County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Hennepin County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The rules for sending funds to people in jail changes, so be sure to visit the official website when you send any funds.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Hennepin County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Hennepin County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Hennepin County Jail

Requirements:

• You must be over the age of 21.
• You must possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You must be a US Citizen.
• You must pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You must pass a drug test.
• You must have a good level of fitness.
• You must be in good health.
• You must have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• Victims have the right to protection from the accused.
• Victims have the right to notification.
• Victims have the right to attend proceedings.
• Victims have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• Victims have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• Victims have the right to restitution.
• Victims have the right to a speedy trial.
• Victims have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

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Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever spent any time at this jail? Do you have a family member or friend that spent time there? Have you ever visited an inmate there?

If so, then you should leave a comment below about it. Write down your jail experience so that other people will know what to expect.

What to include in what you write:

• Jail conditions.
• Jail facility and layout
• Guards and jail staff
• Food and commissary
• Having Visitors
• Inmates.
• Inmate safety
• Jail gangs
• Programs and activities


Let Everyone Know

Tell Your Story

Everyone’s who has been put in jail has at least one story to tell about it. How’d you get locked up? How did the guards treat you? What was your daily routine in jail? What were the other inmates like? How did going to jail affect your life?

Click here to tell about all about it

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you meet some cool folks in jail? Need to send a message to somebody you met when you were locked up? Send a message to them here.

Send a message to someone incarcerated at Hennepin County Jail


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