Cook County Jail – Grand Marais, MN

Cook County Jail is located in Cook County, MN and is the main correctional facility for that area. Looking for somebody locked up at Cook County Jail? This site gives you info about everything related to Cook County Jail,like: Learn how to locate an inmate. Find inmate mugshots. The jail’s phone number and address. Bail and bail bondsmen. Booking and intake procedures. Cook County court information. And lots more.

The prospect of getting arrested and going to jail is a scary and stressful thought, not only for the person who gets locked up, but also their family, friends, and loved ones. This guide is meant to give you information and advice that you need to make getting locked up a little less stressful. If you have questions, feel free to ask them, and any tips or comments that would help other people in the same situation would be much appreciated.

Do you have a family member or friend that is incarcerated and need to contact them?

Has somebody who’s been arrested and you don’t know how to find out where they are?

To find out who is in jail at Cook County Jail you will have to navigate to their website and perform an inmate search.

The Cook County Jail Inmate Roster is an online list of people currently in custody, which includes custody status, bail amount (if applicable), and visiting hours. You can also find the same information about anyone arrested and processed or discharged in the past 24-hour period. Inmates are listed alphabetically by their last name. You can get their inmate information fast if you have the arrestee’s name, date of birth, or inmate ID Number.

If the person you’re searching for is at another jail you can look here, too: List of all county jails in Minnesota

A mugshot, also known as a jail intake picture, is a photo taken by the police when you are booked into jail. They will take one and a side-view photo. Your name and jail ID number will be on the pictures, and they will be on file.

Mugshots of Cook County Jail prisoners can be seen online, or you can see them at the Cook County Jail. When viewing mugshots online you will have to input their name, and a booking date, if you have it.

Do you want to have your mugshot removed from the Cook County Jail website? This will be difficult, as your mugshot is 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, and unavailable to the public. Depending on your situation, this may be a longshot.

Read our in-depth tutorial about removing your mugshot, the various mugshot websites, and the websites that offer to remove your mugshot for you: How To Remove Your Mugshot from the Internet

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Naturally, if you’re in jail, your primary thought is about how to get out. After booking, bail will be decided by a special judge called a magistrate. If you don’t get a bail set this can mean that you will either be free to go until your trial, or you have to stay in jail until your trial.

If you are released you must agree to be in court on your court date, and in the meantime you must not leave town.

In most cases, an inmate are given early release in exchange for good behavior when they respect the rules and act right while in jail.

If you prove to be trustworthy, you may be granted work release. You will either have to stay jail every day when you’re finished working, or you could be allowed to sleep in a halfway house instead of jail.

Bail is the amount of money that you have to pay to get out of jail until you go to court. The amount you have to pay is dictated by what crime you are charged with and how serious it is. You will need to post 10 percent of the total that was determined in order to be released. If you miss your scheduled court date, whoever paid your bail will lose all of the bail money.

You will need to call the jail. If you’ve got the pertinent information, including name, address and date of birth, they will be able to let you know the bail amount. You can also see the bail amount on the jail website.

Having to bail someone out of jail is never a fun thing, but most of the time, its very simple to do. To start with, you have to find out if it is a Cash Only Bond. If so, you won’t be able to use the services of a Bail Bondsman. Take cash only to the jail – they won’t accept a personal check. As soon as you’ve paid the bail bond, the prisoner will be released. If the conditions of bail are not violated, you’ll get the bail money back.

If their bail has been set too high, of if you can’t pay it, you should try a bail bondsman. Bail bondsmen will generally charge a fee of 10-15% of the total bail amount, and in most cases charge a minimum fee of $100. The amount you pay to the bondsman is non-refundable and bondsmen usually only accept cash. If their bail has been set particularly high, the bail bondsman will in most cases use your assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

To contact a local bail bondsman click here: Find a bail bondsman

Have you ever used a Bail Bondsman for someone you know or yourself? If so, please share your experience in a comment below, and let us know how it worked out for you.

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• Get Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release Programs
• Released For Time Served
• Get Out on a Pre-Trial Release Program
• Released 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 busy, you will have to wait a while to get processed.
• The first thing you will have to is you will have to answer a number of questions, like what is your legal name, street address, date of birth and a contact person.
• Also, you will also be asked about your psychological and medical history.
• You will be given an inmate number.
• You will be fingerprinted.
• You will get your mugshot taken.
• Any personal property you have will be taken away from you and will be stored until you are released.
• They will let you use the telephone in order to get in touch with a member of your family, friend, or bondsman to arrange bail.
• If you are expected to be released quickly, you might be allowed to keep wearing street clothes, if not you will have to wear a jail uniform – the jumpsuit.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through processing at jail? If so, please tell us how it happened. How long did you have to wait in the holding cell? How were you treated? Can you tell us things that will help other people get through the process?

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When you pay your bail, you will be discharged from jail. Getting discharged takes anywhere between 10 minutes to quite a few hours. So, the quicker bail is posted, the quicker you will be released. How quickly you get discharged might depend on whether or not you’ve got a bond amount or if a magistrate still needs to determine the amount of bail to be set. For a minor charge, you will get booked and then released on your recognizance without having to pay bail. When you have served out your jail sentence and are given a date of your release, you should expect to get discharged between 9am and noon.

If there is a, or if you have to begin your jail sentence, it is recommended that you follow the law and turn yourself in. If it is for a warrant, go down to the jail reception area, and tell someone that you think there may be a warrant for your arrest. They will check to see if you have a warrant, and if they verify that there is a warrant for your arrest, they will take you into custody. When reporting to serve a sentence, report to the jail at the exact time and date that the sentence order states. Ensure that you are not late to report. Make sure that you only bring necessary items when you turn yourself in, for example your driver’s license or photo ID, prescription medication, and the sentencing order from court.

Inmates have to list each visitor’s name and date of birth to the jail in advance. Your visitors will be put in a log of visitors for the requesting inmate. Each and every visitor is required to provide acceptable photo identification when visiting an inmate. Anyone that gets to visitation or any visitors that are not approved to visit will not be able to attend visitation.
The Cook County Jail visitation procedures are always changing, so check the official Cook County Jail jail site before you go to visitation.

The only phone calls that inmates are allowed to make are made through a jail approved pre-paid phone account or phone card . Calls made in jail are much pricier than phone calls made outside of jail. Inmates are able to make phone calls, with restrictions on when and how often you can use the phone, but inmates should keep in mind that every inmate wants to use the phone too, so they can call their family. If you break the rules and are disciplined, an inmate’s ability to use the phone might get reduced or cut altogether.

The Cook County Jail phone number is: 218-387-3124

All inmate mail must be sent using the actual US Postal Service. You cannot use any other form of delivery. You should write the prisoner’s name, inmate ID, and jail address on the letter. Do not mail anything in a package or box, envelope with padding or insulation, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope with metal in it. All mail that you send to inmates is opened and read by the staff, and will get returned if it can’t be delivered.

The address that you should use if you are sending a letter to an inmate at Cook County Jail is:

Cook County Jail
411 West 2Nd Street
Grand Marais, MN 55604

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Cook County Jail
411 West 2Nd Street
Grand Marais, MN 55604

The Cook County Jail mail policy changes, so you should visit the the Cook County Jail website when you send a letter to an inmate.

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When you get arrested, you have certain rights, one of these is the right to request a lawyer. You are only allowed to make so many phone calls in jail, so you would be wise to get a friend or relative to find an attorney for you. You may be thinking ‘do I really need an attorney?’ You’re not required to have an attorney in all cases, a lawyer can advise you of your rights, protect your interests and guide you through the court system that you are now faced with. The quicker you hire a lawyer to represent you and work on your case, the better your chances.

For more information about the benefits of and how to hire an attorney, visit: How to Find an Attorney

If you can’t afford a lawyer, you will be assigned a public defender. Also, the Public Defender is staffed by private investigators, crime scene and forensics experts as well as case workers. All Public Defenders are licensed lawyers, members of the State Bar and are fully licensed to practice law and represent you in court.

Have you ever had to use a Public Defender or court appointed attorney? Do you think they properly handled your case?

Court records are public records and are available upon request. They contain a file containing a docket sheet and all documents and motions filed during your court case. You are able to access your court case records using the internet service, or by going to the Clerk of Court.

The Cook County Clerk of Court is an official part of the court that maintains the records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath for anyone testifying in court, and read the verdict when the jury makes their final decision. All court records associated with your case are kept and available to you at the Cook County Clerk of Court.

Court costs and court fees are the charges and fees 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 Public Defender, you will not be responsible for these fees.

The magistrate is the type of judge who presides on your case. Magistrates are judges that do several different things, such as setting your bail amount, issuing arrest warrants, and overseeing preliminary court hearings and detention proceedings.

Your pre-sentencing report is prepared to include your background information and details of the arrestee’s life, which the judge will review and take into account when determining the sentence. Information will be collected from the defendant, his or her family members, and if necessary the victim of the crime. Be sure to remember you are able to ask to have your own copy of the report before you are sentenced, so you have the opportunity to review it for accuracy and completeness, and correct any mistakes.

When you are convicted of a crime, you will then get sentenced. The judge will have several different options when sentencing you, which include community service and probation, to incarceration in either jail (short term) or prison (long term). Depending on the particulars of your trial, the severity of your crime, and any sentencing guidelines that they judge will use, you may be locked up immediately, or given a date that you are required to surrender and report to jail to serve your term.

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Are you trying to find out if some you know is locked up, or has gone to jail in the past?

To find this out you need to go to the Cook County jail website and do an inmate search lookup, and do a search using:

• The inmate’s name.
• Birth date.
• Their booking date if you know it.
• and their jail inmate ID.

If you’re not sure if your friend or family member is in jail, you can call the jail get confirmation.

If you think you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you can check arrest warrants on the Cook County court website or you are able to call the court directly. You have to have their first and last name. Or, you can just go down to the jail and ask one of the officers. Bear in mind that if there is an arrest warrant out for you, you should be prepared to get taken into custody immediately.

If you have a first and last name, and possibly an arrest date, contact the jail, by phone, in person, or find out online. An arrest is in the public record and these records are accessible by the public.

Civil processes are when someone has been served with papers, like , subpoenas, and arrest warrants. You can find these civil process orders by getting in touch with the Cook County Sheriff’s office, on their website or by phone.

All registered sex offenders have to be registered and listed on a sex offender database. Those listed on these databases have been tried by jury and convicted in a court of law of a sex offense. You are able to view sex offenders on the website, but keep in mind that you will not find the street address, but rather the block that they live on.

Court Records are considered public records, so they are accessible to anyone who requests them. They include a court case file that includes a docket sheet and all documents filed in your case. You are able to access your court records on the internet, or at the Cook County Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed.

Each state maintains records of someone’s criminal past. These state databases are connected and you can track criminal backgrounds from any other state. You can go to courthouse and inquire in person, or you can check the website. It helps to know the county, and in the event that the crime was in a different state entirely, you might have to pay for a more comprehensive search.

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

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
• Drug offenses.
• Kidnapping.
• Rape or other sexual assault.
• Violent crimes like assault or murder.
• Property crimes like theft or larceny.

During a criminal records search, you generally won’t find if they had:

• Tickets for speeding.
• Drivers license revoked or suspended.
• Traffic accidents.
• Other moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

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

Have you ever needed to find criminal records? Was it a difficult process? Did you search online or did you make a phone call to the local courthouse? Was it correct? There are plenty of reasons that folks look up criminal records and backgrounds, and your feedback might make it easier for others.

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Most Wanted

On a Federal level, the FBI has their list of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. In Cook County, the Cook County Sheriff’s Department maintains their own list of the top most wanted criminals in the county.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Just the thought of spending time in the Cook County jail is no fun, in time you will settle into the daily routine there. You should expect an alarm to wake up at about six in the morning, and next you’ll have roll call. After roll call you will eat breakfast. When you finish breakfast participate 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 Cook 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 Cook 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 process for sending money to jail inmates could change, so be sure to visit the site before 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 Cook County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Cook 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 Cook 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.

Click here to post a comment


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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 been an inmate in this jail? Do you have a family member or friend that is an inmate there? Have you ever been to visit an inmate at Cook County Jail?

If so, then you should write a review about it. Write about your jail experience because other people will know what to expect.

Things you might want to write in what you write:

• Jail conditions.
• Jail, yard and pod layout and facility
• Guards and staff
• Commissary and food
• Visitors
• The other inmates – what are they like?
• Inmate safety
• Jail gangs
• Inmate programs and activities


Write a Review of Cook County Jail

Tell Your Story

Everbody that’s been incarcerated has some stories about their time ‘inside’. How’d you get locked up? How did the guards treat you? How was day to day life at Cook County Jail? Were the other inmates cool? How did getting locked up affect your life?

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Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Make some good friends in jail? Trying to get in touch with somebody you met when you were locked up? Leave a message for them here.

Say Hello to Cook County Jail


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