Nelson County Jail – Lakota, ND

Nelson County Jail is located in Nelson County, North Dakota and is the jail for the area. Do you know someone in jail at Nelson County Jail? This guide tells you all about everything one might want to know about Nelson County Jail,like the following: How to locate an inmate at Nelson County Jail. Find mugshots and inmate photos. The jail’s address and phone number. Bail and how to get out of jail. Intake procedures. Court records. And much more…

The thought of getting arrested and going to jail is a scary situation, not only for the person who is incarcerated, but also their family, friends, and loved ones. The purpose of this guide is to give advice and information that you need to make the process less stressful. If you have specific questions, just ask it, and any feedback or comments that would help others is welcome.

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

Has a friend or family member that’s been arrested and you need to find out what jail they’re in?

In order to see who’s in jail at Nelson County Jail you should click on their web site and perform an inmate search.

The Nelson County Jail Inmate List is a list of persons who have been arrested, which includes current status, bail amount (if applicable), and visiting hours. Also, you can find info for anyone arrested and processed or released within the past 24 hours. Inmates are shown in alphabetical order by their last name. You can locate their arrest information faster if you have their first and last name, date of birth, or inmate ID Number.

If the person you are looking for could possibly be incarcerated at a different jail you can look here, too: North Dakota County Jails

A mugshot, also known as a jail booking picture, is a photo that the jail takes when you get booked into jail. They will take one full face and a profile photo. Your full name and jail ID number will appear on the pictures, and they’re on file at the jail.

Mugshots of inmates can be seen on the website, or you can go in person to the Nelson County Jail. When viewing mugshots online you will have to put in the prisoner’s name, and a booking date, if you have it.

Need to know how to get your mugshot erased from the Nelson County Jail site? This will be difficult, as your mugshot is a matter of public record. To get your mugshot removed you need to file a Petition to Expunge in court. Basically, this means that the record of your arrest will be sealed, so no one will be able to see them. Unfortunately, this happens very rarely.

For a more in-depth article about removing your mugshot, the different mugshot websites, and the mugshot removal services: How To Get Your Mugshot Taken Down

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Once you are locked up, your main thought is about when you get out. After booking, your bail is determined by the magistrate. If no bail is set this can mean that you will either be released on your ‘own recognizance’ until your court date, or you must remain in jail until your trial.

If you do bail out of jail you must promise to be in court on your court date, and in the meantime you are not allowed to leave town.

Typically, inmates are given time off for good behavior if they follow the rules and conduct themselves properly while incarcerated.

If you follow the rules, you may be allowed to do work release. You will be required to go back to the jail every day when you’re finished at your job, or you may be allowed to move to a halfway house instead of jail.

Your bail is the amount of money that you have to pay to get out of jail until your court date. Your bail amount depends on how serious your crime is. Someone will have to put up 10% of the amount set in order for you to bail out of jail. If you miss court, the person that bailed you out of jail will lose that bail money.

To find out someone’s bail amount you will have to call the jail or the county courthouse. If you’ve got the person’s information, including name, address and date of birth, they’ll let you know the bail amount. Also, you can check their bail amount and status on the Nelson County Jail website.

Having to get someone out of jail is an unpleasant situation, but most of the time, it is easy if you have the money. First of all, find out if it is a Cash Only Bond situation. If so, you can’t use the services of a Bail Bondsman. They only accept cash at the jail, so you have to take cash – they can’t take a check. When you’ve paid bail, the inmate will get released. If they don’t violate the terms of their bail, the bail money you posted will be returned to you.

If the bail amount is too high, or you can’t afford it, you should try to hire a bail bondsman. Bail bondsmen will usually charge a fee of 10-15% of total bail, and usually with a minimum of $100. The money you pay to the bail bondsman is non-refundable and is typically cash only. If their bail has been set particularly high, the bail bondsman will usually require that they use your personal assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

If you need a local bail bondsman visit our page about: Find a bail bondsman

Have you ever had to use a bail bondsman for yourself, a family member or friend? If you have, post a comment below and tell about it, and let us know how it worked out.

Click here to tell your story

• Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release
• Time Served
• Be Released on a Pre-Trial Release Program
• Released On House Arrest
• Get Released on Your Own Recognizance

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The jail intake process is made up of each of these steps:

• You will be placed in a holding cell. If the jail is really busy, you will have to wait a while to get processed.
• Firstly, you will have to answer some questions, such as what is your full legal name, home address, date of birth and an emergency contact person.
• They’ll also ask you about your psychological and medical history.
• You will be given an inmate ID.
• You will be fingerprinted.
• You will get your mugshot taken.
• All personal property will be taken from you and will be stored until you are released.
• You will then be allowed to make a phone call to talk to a member of your family, friend, or bondsman to arrange bail.
• If you think you will get released quickly, you might be allowed to wear your street clothes, but if you are not expected to make bail quickly you will be given a jail issued jumpsuit.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through the jail intake procedure? If so, please tell your story. How long did it take? Were you treated fairly? Do you know any secrets that could help other people to get through jail intake?

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Once bail has been posted, you will be allowed to leave jail. Getting discharged from jail will take from 10 minutes to all day long. In other words the faster you post bail, the faster you will get out of jail. How quickly you get discharged depends on whether or not you’ve got a bond amount or if a judge has to figure out your bail amount. For minor charges, you will get booked and get released without having to post bail. When you have served your sentence and have a date of your release, plan to get discharged at any time that day – but usually in the morning.

for your arrest, or if you must begin your sentence in jail, you should do the right thing and go down to the jail and turn yourself in. If it is for a warrant, go down to the jail intake center, and tell an officer that you think there is a warrant out for your arrest. They will do a record check, and if there is one, they will ask that you surrender yourself and you will be taken into custody. If you are reporting to serve out your sentence, go down to the jail at the exact time and date that the sentence order states. Be sure that you are not late to report. Just bring approved items when you turn yourself in, such as your driver’s license or even your ID, any prescription medication you might take, and the sentencing order.

In order to have visitors, inmates need to provide information about each visitor to the jail before anyone can visit them. This information will be put into a Visiting log as an authorized visitor. Every visitor is required to provide acceptable photo identification. Anyone that arrives for visitation late or any visitors that are not approved to visit will be turned away.
Jail visitation policies change often, so it would be wise to double-check the official Nelson County Jail jail site before you go to visitation.

All phone calls from jail are with a pre-paid phone card or account, or are collect calls . These phone calls are much pricier than phone calls made at home. There is no limit to how often you can use the phone, but you should keep in mind that a long line can form at the phones, because everyone wants to use the phone, too. If you break the rules and are disciplined, phone privileges might get cut back or eliminated completely, as part of the punishment.

Phone Number: 701-247-2474

All inmate mail is required to be sent via the actual US Postal Service. You cannot use any other form of delivery. Clearly write the prisoner’s name, inmate number, and jail address on the outside of the letter that you send. Do not send a box, padded envelope, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope containing metal parts. All mail that you send to inmates is opened and read and inspected by the jail officers, and will be returned if the jail decides it is inappropriate.

If you would like to send a letter to an inmate at Nelson County Jail, use this address:

Nelson County Jail
210 B Ave. W., Suite 102
Lakota, ND 58344

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Nelson County Jail
210 B Ave. W., Suite 102
Lakota, ND 58344

The Nelson County Jail inmate mail policy changes often, so it would be best to double check the site when you send a letter.

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When you’ve been arrested, you still have rights, the most important of which is the right to request a lawyer. You won’t get many phone calls in jail, so it is a good idea to have a friend or relative find an attorney when you call. You might be thinking ‘why do I need an attorney?’ You are not required to have an attorney for some criminal charges, a criminal defense lawyer will advise you about your rights, look after your best interests and guide you through the complicated court system. The faster you hire a lawyer to represent you and work on your criminal case, the better off you’ll be.

To read more about how to find an attorney, read: How to Find a Lawyer in Nelson County

If you can’t afford an attorney, you will get a public defender. Also, the Public Defender is staffed by investigators, crime scene and forensics experts and social case workers. You should be reassured that Public Defenders are real lawyers, admitted to the North Dakota State Bar Association and are legally licensed to practice law.

Have you or someone you know had to use a court appointed attorney or Public Defender? Are you happy with how they handled your case?

Court records are a matter of public record. They contain a case file containing a docket and each of the documents and motions that have been filed. You, and anyone else, can access your court case records with the website, or at the Clerk of Court where the case was filed.

The Nelson County Clerk of Court is an officer and clerk of the court who maintains court records and controls access to them. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath in a court case, and also read the verdict when decided by the jury. All records, documents, and evidence from your court case are kept and available to you at Clerk of Court’s office.

Court costs and court fees are the charges associated with your case, which include filing charges, motion and claim fees, and court appearance fees. If you don’t have the money to pay these fees and have a court appointed attorney, you may get out of having to pay them.

The Nelson County magistrate is the person that will preside over your case. They do many different things, such as determining how much your bail will be, issuing warrants, and presiding over initial court appearances and detention proceedings.

A pre-sentencing report is put together to include background information and information about the arrestee’s life history, which the magistrate will review when decide your sentence. Information will be solicited from the defendant, his or her family members, and if necessary the victim of the crime. Keep in mind you are allowed to ask to see a copy of your pre-sentencing report before you are sentenced, and go over it and correct any mistakes in it.

If you get convicted of a crime during your trial, you will be given a sentence for your crime. The presiding judge in your case will weigh several options when determining your sentence, ranging from community service, house arrest, and probation, to incarceration in jail or prison. Depending on the severity of the crime, you may be taken into custody, right there in court, or you might be given a date to surrender and report to jail to serve your sentence.

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Are you trying to find out if somebody you know is in jail, or has been an inmate in the past?

This is pretty simple to do, just just query the Nelson County jail website and do an inmate search lookup, and do a search using:

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

If you’re not sure if this person is in jail, you can also call the jail find out if they’ve been arrested.

If you think you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you can check the arrest warrants inquiry on the Nelson County jail website or you can call the jail directly. You have to have the person’s first and last name. You can also go to the local jail and inquire at the information desk. You should be clear that if there is an arrest warrant out for you, they will take you into custody immediately.

If you know a person’s name, and the date of their arrest, contact the Nelson County jail, by phone, in person, or check online. Records of arrests are in the public record and this information is available to anyone.

Civil processes are when you get served with papers, like , subpoenas, and arrest warrants. You can access civil process orders by contacting the Nelson County Sheriff’s office, on their website or by phone.

All convicted sex offenders must be listed and registered on either a national or state sex offender database. Those listed on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You are able to see sex offenders on the website, but keep in mind that you won’t see the exact address, but rather the block that they live on.

Court Records are public records. These records include a court case file that includes a docket sheet and any documents filed in the case. You are able to access your court records on the internet, or at Clerk of Court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.

Each and every state maintains records of a person’s criminal history. These databases are linked together so you are able to track criminal convictions from other states. You are able to go to county courthouse and check in person, or you can check online. You must know which county the crime occurred in, and if the crime was in a different state entirely, you might have to pay for a more intensive search.

A criminal history search you will be able to get a report detailing any arrests, charges, or convictions that may be on a person’s record for any of the following crimes:

• DUI or DWI.
• Drug Possession of Drug Trafficking.
• Kidnapping.
• Sex offenses which could include rape, and sexual assault.
• Violent crimes.
• Theft.

When you do a criminal history search, in most cases will not learn if someone had:

• Tickets for speeding.
• Lost their driver’s license or license revoked or suspended.
• Accidents.
• Minor infractions or moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To search for this information, you must do a search for their driving history.

Have you ever had to search for criminal records of someone you know? Was it a difficult process? Did you do your search online or did you have to make a phone call to the local courthouse? Was the information correct? There are many reasons that people look up criminal backgrounds and records, and your feedback might help other people.

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Most Wanted

On a Federal level, the FBI keeps a list of the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Nelson County, the Sheriff has their own list of the most wanted criminals, that you can access online.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List: External Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Everyone knows that being incarcerated in Nelson County Jail is quite unpleasant, eventually you will become accustomed to the routine that is set for you in jail. All inmates get an alarm to wake up every morning at 6:00AM, and then roll call. You will then have breakfast. After breakfast, participate in the work program that you’ve been assigned to. 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 Nelson 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 Nelson 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 money to inmates might change, so you should check the site before send funds to someone in jail there.


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 Nelson County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Nelson 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 Nelson County Jail

Requirements:

• You have to be over the age of 21.
• You have to possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You have to be a US Citizen.
• You have to pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You have to pass a drug test.
• You have to have a good level of fitness.
• You have to be in good health.
• You have to 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.

Tell Your Story


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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:

• The right to protection from the accused.
• The right to notification.
• The right to attend proceedings.
• The right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• The right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• The right to restitution.
• The right to a speedy trial.
• 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 been an inmate in this jail? Do you know someone that is a prisoner there? Have you ever visited an inmate in this jail?

If so, then please leave a comment below about it. Tell us about your jail experience so that others can learn what to expect.

Things you can write in what you write:

• Conditions at the jail.
• Jail facility and layout
• Jail staff and Guards
• Jail food and commissary
• Visitation Days
• The other inmates.
• Inmate safety
• Gangs
• Prisoner activities and programs


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Tell Your Story

Anyone who’s been in jail has at least one story to tell about it. Why were you locked up? How did the guards treat you? What happened to you while you were locked up? How did you get along with the other inmates? How did going to jail affect your life?

Tell your story about when you did time at Nelson County Jail

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Make some good friends in jail? Need to get in touch with a friend from jail? Say hello here, just leave a message below.

Send a message to people incarcerated at Nelson County Jail


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