Stearns County Jail
About the Jail
The Stearns County Jail, a medium/maximum security jail, was completed in July of 1987, replacing a jail that had been in use since 1921. Want to "visit" the old jail? See the story, and plenty of photos, here. An addition was completed in October 1997 to house the Work Release (Huber) section. The jail is licensed by the State of Minnesota to house 167 inmates for up to one year after final disposition.
The original jail had 98 beds in eight different housing units, four holding cells and four medical cells. With the addition of the Huber section, there was some renovation done to the original jail. Additionally, the jail has instituted a policy of double-bunking. The jail now has 108 beds in six different housing units, 12 holding cells, 8 separation calls and 2 medical cells. The Work Release/Huber section is minimum security, and has 60 beds in a dormitory-style setting. (Note: holding, separation, and medical cells cannot be computed in licensed capacity.)
The jail staff is comprised of 6 part-time and 9 full-time Correctional Officers I (CO-I), 52 Correctional Officers II (CO-II), 6 Sergeants (CO-III), and 4 program staff.
- The CO-I primary duties include acting as court bailiffs, performing transports, and assisting in the jail.
- CO-II's act as correction officers working in the housing units, the booking area and Central Control.
- The Sergeants act as first line shift supervisors.
- Program staff coordinate programs such as work release, screening inmates who may be eligible for Community Service work, library services, recreation, self-help groups such as Alcoholics / Narcotics Anonymous, education and various volunteer religious groups.
The jail administration offices include a Jail Administrator, an Assistant Jail Administrator, and support staff.