Meeker County Detention Center – Litchfield, MN

Meeker County Detention Center is in Meeker County, MN and is the primary correctional facility for the area. Know somebody in Meeker County Detention Center? This guide tells you info about everything one might want to know about Meeker County Detention Center,like: How to locate an inmate. How to view Meeker County Detention Center mugshots. The jail’s address and phone number. Posting bail. Intake procedures and booking. Court information. And lots more.

The prospect of going to jail is a scary and stressful thought, not only for whoever goes to jail, but also that person’s family and friends. This guide is designed to give advice and information you need to make going to jail easier. If you have specific questions, just ask them, and please leave any comments or tips that would be a benefit to other people in the same situation will be much appreciated.

Do you know someone that is locked up and don’t know how to find them?

Has a family member or friend who’s been arrested and you need to find out where they are?

To see who’s in jail at Meeker County Detention Center you will have to visit their website and do an inmate lookup.

The Meeker County Detention Center Inmate List is a list of persons who were arrested and are now in jail, including current status, how much their bail is, and times the inmate can have visitors. Also, you can get info on anybody arrested and booked or discharged within the past 24 hours. Prisoners are listed alphabetically by last name. You will be able to find the information quicker if you’ve got their name, date of birth, or inmate ID.

If the inmate you are looking for could possibly be in a different jail you can check our Minnesota county jail guide: Minnesota Jails

A mugshot, also known as a booking photo, is a photo that the jail takes when you are processed at the jail intake. A mugshot is actually two photos one face photo and a profile picture. Your full name and jail ID number will appear on the photos, and they’re on file.

Mugshots of inmates are on the website, or you can go in person to the Meeker County Detention Center. When viewing online you will need to enter the name, and a booking date, if you have it.

Are you trying to figure out what to do in order to get your mugshot taken down from the Meeker County Detention Center website? This will be difficult, as your mugshot is a public record. You will need to file a Petition to Expunge with the court. This means that all of your arrest records would be sealed, and unavailable to the public. Unfortunately, this happens very rarely.

For more information about getting your mugshot taken down, the many different websites with mugshots, and the mugshot removal websites: How To Get Your Mugshot Taken Down

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If you are locked up, your primary thought is about when you get out. After you’ve gone through the intake process, your bail will be determined using the bail schedule or the magistrate will decide it. If there is no bail set this may 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 from jail you must promise to go to your court date, and until that day you won’t be allowed to go out of town.

Usually, inmates at Meeker County Detention Center will earn time off for good behavior if they respect the rules and area a good inmate while incarcerated.

If you prove to be trustworthy, you might be allowed to do work release. Either you will have to stay the jail each day after work, or you might get to move to a halfway house instead of jail, so it is kind of like an early release.

Bail is the amount of money that you have to pay to the court system to be released from jail until you go to court. Your bail amount depends on what crime you are charged with and how serious it is. You will need to pay to the courts ten percent of the total that was set so you are able to be released from jail. If you miss your court appearance, that person won’t get their money back.

To find out how much bail money you will need to bail someone out of jail will need to call the Meeker County Detention Center. If you have all the person’s information, such as name, address and date of birth, they’ll let you know what their bail is set at. You can also find out how much their bail is on the jail website.

Having to bail someone out of jail is no fun, but usually, it’s easy if you have the money. First of all, figure out if their bail is a “Cash Bond Only”. If it is, you can’t use a bail bondsman. They only accept cash at the jail, so you have to take cash – the jail can’t take a personal check. When you’ve paid bail, the inmate will be released to your care. If the conditions of bail are not violated, the bail money you posted will be returned to you.

If bail is set too high, or you just can’t afford to pay it, you might need to use a bail bondsman. They will usually charge you a fee of 10 to 15 percent of the total amount of bail set, and sometimes with a minimum of $100. This is non-refundable and must be paid in cash. If the bail is extremely high, the bondsman will usually request to use your assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

If you need a bail bondsman click here: Find a Bail Bondsman in Meeker County

Have you ever hired a Bail Bondsman to bail someone out of jail? If you have, leave a comment below and tell your story, and let us know how things turned out.

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

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The jail intake procedure includes the following steps:

• You will get put in a holding cell. If the jail is busy, it will take a while to get processed.
• First, will answer some simple questions, such as your legal name, street address, date of birth and a contact person.
• Also, you will also be asked about your medical and psychological history.
• You will be given an inmate number.
• Your fingerprints will be taken.
• You will get your mugshot taken.
• All personal property will get taken away from you and will be stored until you are released.
• You will be allowed to use the phone to contact a member of your family, friend, or bondsman to arrange bail.
• If you are expected to be released shortly, they will let you wear your street clothes, but if you are not expected to make bail quickly you will have to wear a jail uniform – the jumpsuit.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through processing at jail? If you have, you should tell us how it happened. How long did it take to get through intake? How were you treated? Can you share any things that could help others make it through the procedure?

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When you pay your bail, you will be allowed to go home after you get discharged. Getting discharged will take between 10 minutes to all day. In simple terms, the faster bail is posted, the quicker you will get out of jail. How quickly you get discharged might depend on if you’ve got a cash bond amount or if the magistrate needs to figure out how much your bail will be. For a minor charge, you will get booked and get released without having to post bail. When you have served out your jail sentence and know the date of your release, expect to get released anywhere between the hours of 9am and 12pm.

out against you, or if you must begin your sentence in jail, it is recommended that you follow the law and turn yourself into the authorities. If it is for a warrant, go down to the jail, in the reception area, and let them know that believe that there could be a warrant for your arrest. The officer will verify that you have an outstanding arrest warrant, and if they verify that there is a warrant for your arrest, you will be taken into custody. If you have a jail sentence to serve, go down to the jail at the time and date that the sentence order requires you to. Ensure that you are not late. Just bring approved items when you go, for example a driver’s license or state issued ID, any prescription medication you might take, along with your doctor’s prescription, and the copy of the sentencing order.

In order to have visitors, inmates must give information about each visitor to the jail in advance of the visit. This information will be entered into the log as an approved visitor. Every visitor will have to provide identification. Any visitors arriving late or any visitors that are not approved to visit will be turned away.
The Meeker County Detention Center visitation procedures change often, so you should visit the official site before you go to the jail to visit.

The only phone calls that inmates are allowed to make are collect calls or through a pre-paid phone account. Phone calls made in jail are a lot more expensive than phone calls made at home. There are certain restrictions about 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, an inmate’s ability to use the phone might get reduced or cut altogether.

Phone Number: 320-693-5417

All mall sent to inmates is required to be sent using the US Postal Service. You can’t use any other type of mail delivery. You have to clearly print the prisoner’s name, inmate ID number, and the jail address on the envelope. Don’t send anything in a package, padded envelope, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope containing metal parts. All mail sent to inmates is opened and read and examined by staff, and will be returned to the sender if they decide it is inappropriate.

The address that you should use if you are sending a letter to an inmate at Meeker County Detention Center is:

Meeker County Detention Center
326 N. Ramsey
Litchfield, MN 55355

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Meeker County Detention Center
326 N. Ramsey
Litchfield, MN 55355

The inmate mail policy at Meeker County Detention Center can change, so visit the official Meeker County Detention Center site before you send a letter.

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Even if you’ve been arrested, you have particular rights, and an important one is your right to request an attorney. You won’t get many phone calls in jail, so it is important to get a friend or relative to find an attorney when you call them. I know you’re probably asking yourself right now ‘why do I need a lawyer?’ You can represent yourself if you really want to, but, a criminal attorney will advise you about your rights, help protect your best interests and help you understand the court system in Meeker County. The quicker you get a lawyer involved with your criminal case, the better your chances.

To read more about this, go to: How to Find an Attorney

If you need an attorney, but can’t afford an attorney, you will get a public defender. The Public Defender Office is staffed by investigators, crime scene and forensics experts as well as social workers. You will be reassured to know that Public Defenders are full-fledged lawyers, admitted to the Minnesota State Bar Association and are licensed to practice law in Minnesota.

Have you or someone you know had to use a Public Defender? How did they do?

Meeker County court records are a matter of public record. Court records include a case file with a docket sheet and every documents in the case. You have the ability to access your court records using the online service, or by going to the Clerk of Court’s office.

The Clerk of Court is an officer of the court who manages access to court records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath in a court case, and read the court verdict when the jury has finished deliberations. All records associated with your case are kept and available to you at Clerk of Court’s office.

Court fees and costs are all costs associated with your case, which include filing fees, motion fees and various court charges. If you don’t have the money to pay these fees and have a Public Defender, you may not have to pay the fees.

The magistrate is the person that presides over your court case. Magistrates do different functions, like deciding a bail amount, issuing arrest warrants, and presiding over initial court appearances and detention proceedings.

A defendant’s pre-sentencing report is put together to include information about the arrestee’s background and details of the defendant’s life and public history, which the magistrate judge will take into account when determining your sentence. Information and personal details will be solicited from the person on trial, his or her family, and in some cases the victim of the crime. Don’t forget you are able to request to see a copy of this report before sentencing, so you can correct any inaccurate information.

If you get convicted of a crime, you will be given a sentence for your crime. The presiding judge in your case will weigh several options when determining your sentence, which include community service to probation, to incarceration in either jail (short term) or prison (long term). Depending on sentencing guidelines and the severity of your crime, you might get taken into custody, right there in court, or you could get a date to report to jail to do your time.

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Do you need to find out if someone is incarcerated in jail, or has been an inmate in the past?

To find this out you need to query the jail website and do an inmate search, and search using:

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

If you think this person is in jail, you can also call the jail to find out.

If you think you have an outstanding warrant, you can check arrest warrants inquiry on the Meeker 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 know the person’s name, and the date of their arrest, contact the Meeker County jail, either by phone, go there in person, or you can check online. Records of arrests are in the public record and the information is accessible by the public.

Civil processes are when you are served with legal papers, like warrants. You can access civil process orders by contacting the Sheriff’s office, by phone or online.

All people registered as sex offenders are required to be registered on both a national and state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been tried by jury and convicted in a court of law of a sex crime. You are able to see this information on the website, but bear in mind that you won’t find the precise address, rather the block they live on.

Court Records are public, and are accessible by anyone. They include a case file that contains a court docket and all of the documents and filings filed in your case. You are able to access the court records online, or at Clerk of Court office where the case was filed.

Each and every state keeps a record of their state citizen’s criminal background. These databases are all connected so you are able to track criminal convictions from any other state. You are able to go to county courthouse and inquire, or check online. It is helpful to know the county the crime was committed in, and if the crime was in a totally different state, you might have to pay for a more intensive search.

A criminal records search you are able to find out if someone has been arrested, charged, or convicted for any crimes, which can include:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
• Drug crimes like possession or trafficking.
• Kidnapping.
• Rape or other sexual assault.
• Violent crimes including assault, battery and murder.
• Theft, breaking and entering.

But, when you do a criminal records check, you generally won’t find out if that person had:

• Tickets for speeding.
• Lost their driver’s license or license revoked or suspended.
• Been in a traffic accident.
• Minor infractions or moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To get driving records, you must do a search for their driving history.

Have you ever had to search for criminal records of someone you know? Was it an easy process? Was your search online or did you call the local courthouse? Was it correct? There are many reasons that people search for criminal records, and your comments may help other people.

Click here to tell your story

Most Wanted

For Federal crimes, the FBI keeps a list of the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Meeker County, the Sheriff has a list of most wanted criminals, too.

FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Just the thought of serving a jail sentence in the Meeker County jail is very scary, eventually you will get accustomed to the routine that is set for you. Prisoners get an alarm for wake-up at about six in the morning, and next they’ll do roll call. Then you will get breakfast. When you finish eating breakfast you will work in the program that has been assigned to you. 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 Meeker County Detention Center, 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 Meeker County Detention Center 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 procedure to send funds to Meeker County Detention Center inmates is likely to change, so double check the the Meeker County Detention Center website when you send funds to an inmate.


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 Meeker County Detention Center

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Meeker County Detention Center, 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 Meeker County Detention Center

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.

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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:

• You have the right to protection from the accused.
• You have the right to notification.
• You have the right to attend proceedings.
• You have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• You have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• You have the right to restitution.
• You have the right to a speedy trial.
• You 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 at Meeker County Detention Center? Do you have a friend or family member that spent time there? Have you ever visited someone in this jail?

If your answer is yes, then we would like you to write your review about it. Tell us about your jail experience so that others can find out what to expect.

Things you can write in your comment:

• Conditions at the jail.
• Jail, yard and pod facility and layout
• Jail staff and Guards
• Commissary and food
• Visitation
• The other inmates – what are they like?
• Prisoner safety
• Gang activity
• Programs and activities


Speak Your Mind

Tell Your Story

Everbody that’s been incarcerated has a story to tell. Why’d you get arrested? Did you get fair treatment? What happened to you while you were locked up? Tell us about the other inmates. How did getting locked up affect your life?

Click here to leave a comment

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you make friends in jail? Do you want to reconnect with a friend from jail? Then send them a message by posting a comment below.

Send a message


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