The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office operates the largest pre-trial adult detention facility (commonly called the jail) in the State of Minnesota. Jail facilities are located in two different buildings in downtown Minneapolis, but are treated as one facility:

  • The Public Safety Facility (PSF) has 330 beds for arrestees.
  • The City Hall (ADC) has 509 beds for arrestees.

On average each year, there are approximately 40,000 bookings at the jail. The jail is currently staffed for a capacity of 703 beds, and the average population in 2009 was 694. The jail has consistently earned the distinction of being accredited by the American Correctional Association for maintaining the highest standards of inmate custody and care.  The Minnesota Department of Corrections also conducts periodic reviews of our detention facility and consistently finds the facility to be in full compliance with all mandatory rules, standards and operating guidelines.

Please use the provided links to access information that may be useful to you should you ever find it necessary to visit our facility.

Admittance Policy
Bail
Contraband Items
Inmate Information
Inmate Property and Money
Phone Calls and Inmates
Sending Inmates Mail
Visiting Hours and Guidelines

Admittance Policy

Admittance will be denied to any individual who refuses to submit to a search or a warrant check.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office reserves the right to revoke a visit or refuse admittance to any individual whom, in our judgment, may constitute a threat to the safety, security or good order of this institution.

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Bail

Bail is payable at the Public Safety Facility (401 South Fourth Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415).  For address and directions to the PSF, click here to Map It!  Bail is accepted at the In-Custody Records window 24 hours a day.  Only cash is accepted (no checks or credit cards).  A current state-issued photo ID is required to pay the bail. 

To inquire about bail over the phone, please call the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Jail (see on the right under "Contact Information"). Please have the inmate's full name and date of birth available for the operator.

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Contraband Items

The Public Safety Facility (PSF) and the Adult Detention Center (ADC), operated by the Sheriff's Office, are secure detention facilities. The introduction of contraband into the institutions is strictly prohibited. Contraband items include:

  • Guns
  • Knives (any size)
  • Mace/pepper spray
  • Nail files
  • Tweezers
  • Razors
  • Scissors
  • Box cutters
  • Knitting needles
  • Needles (hypodermic)
  • Fingernail/toenail clippers
  • Swiss Army card
  • Large sets of keys on lanyards (may be swung as weapons)

This list is not all inclusive and other items deemed dangerous will be confiscated.

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Inmate Information

General information regarding a specific in-custody inmate may be obtained by calling the Adult Detention Division. Please see telephone number on the right under "Contact Information." Please have the inmate's full name and date of birth available for the operator.

The operator has limited information available for only in-custody inmates. Information released for in-custody inmates will be according to established guidelines in the MN Government Data Practices Act (Chapter 13). Once an inmate is released, no information will be available over the phone.

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Inmate Property and Money

Property

  • Inmate property can be collected at the Property Room at the Public Safety Facility only.  (401 South Fourth Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415). For address and directions to the PSF, click here to Map It!  
  • If a person wishes to pick up an inmate's property, the inmate must complete and sign a release form.
  • One set of clothing that is suitable for court may be brought for an inmate's felony court trial appearance.
  • People coming to the Property Room to bring clothes, or other allowable items, or to collect an inmate's belongings, must be 18 years of age or older and have a current state or federally issued photo ID.
  • The Property Room is open seven days a week during the following hours:
    • 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
    • 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Money

  • Money may be sent to inmates through the US mail in the form of cash or money order made payable to the inmate.  Please read Mail and Inmates on the right under "Related Links".
  • Money may also be dropped off or picked up at the Property Room seven days a week during the following hours:
    • 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
    • 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

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Phone Calls and Inmates

If you do not wish to receive phone calls from inmates in our custody, are having problems receiving phone calls, or have questions related to bills you have received after accepting collect phone calls, please call Correctional Billing Services (see on the right under "Contact Information").

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Sending Inmates Mail

Mail to inmates should be sent to the PSF (401 South Fourth Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415). All mail must be addressed using the inmate's full name. All mail must be sent through the US mail. 

Inmates are not allowed to receive packages, including photographs.  Packages will not be accepted and will be returned to the sender.  Photographs will be removed from the envelope and returned to the inmate at the time of release.

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Visiting Hours and Guidelines

Official Visits

Recommended time: 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Times to avoid: lunch (10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.), shift change (2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.)

Social Visiting Hours

Monday: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Visiting Guidelines

  • The Public Safety Facility (PSF) and the Adult Detention Center (ADC)/City Hall together form the Adult Detention Division and are a secure detention facility.  The introduction of contraband into either building is strictly prohibited.  Violators will be prosecuted.
  • All visitors must be listed on the inmate’s visitor list.
  • All adult visitors are required to have a valid state or federally issued photo ID. If a person does not have a state or federal issued ID, they can apply for one at the Government Center (please see Government Center on the right under "Contact Information"); the yellow receipt in combination with any other picture ID will be accepted.
  • Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and both the adult and minor shall be listed on the inmate’s visitor list.
  • All visitors will be required to walk through a metal detector prior to being allowed entry.
  • Visiting passes will not be issued during the last 15 minutes of the visiting time.
  • The Adult Detention Division reserves the right to end the visiting before the end of the visiting time.  Any such infractions may result in the denial of future visits.
  • Any visitor who is unwilling or unable to comply with visiting guidelines will not be allowed entrance into the secure detention area.
  • All social visits will be non-contact and conducted in the Visiting Areas of each facility.  Each visiting booth separates the inmate from the visitor by a glass partition with telephones to provide communication.
  • All visitors will be appropriately dressed.
  • Social visitors will not be allowed to bring cell phones into the visiting areas.

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