Houston County Jail Roster: Start With the Caledonia In-Custody List
This guide is for Houston County, Minnesota, not the counties with the same name in Texas, Georgia, Alabama or Tennessee. Houston County Sheriff provides an official “In Custody” roster from its jail page for people held at the Houston County Justice Center in Caledonia.
Use the roster for present county-jail custody, then use the jail, Houston County District Court, Minnesota Court Records Online, Minnesota VINE, Minnesota DOC or the Federal Bureau of Prisons for the question that comes next.
2026 correction: do not reuse old 12-, 30- or 41-bed figures as current capacity
Houston County’s historical jail description says the Justice Center opened in 2011 licensed to house 30 male and female prisoners and was built with 41 unit cells. Those figures explain the building’s history, but they are not the best current regulatory capacity source.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections’ most recent published Houston County inspection lists 40 approved secure coed beds and an operational capacity of 36. The report’s authority-to-operate period runs from December 1, 2024 through November 30, 2026.
| Figure | What it refers to | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | County history says the 2011 Justice Center opened licensed to house 30 prisoners. | Historical opening figure, not the current regulatory capacity. |
| 41 unit cells | County history describes the physical facility as constructed with 41 unit cells and double-bunk capability. | Building-design context, not a live inmate count or current approved capacity. |
| 40 approved beds | Minnesota DOC’s current published inspection lists 40 secure coed approved beds. | Best current published regulatory capacity figure as of this review. |
| 36 operational | DOC calculates 90% operating capacity from the approved 40 beds. | Regulatory operating-capacity figure, not today’s inmate population. |
The same inspection reports 99.21% compliance on mandatory rules and 98.98% on essential rules. Inspection data is an oversight snapshot; it should not be used to make claims about a particular detainee or conditions after the inspection date.
Use the official source that answers the exact question
| Question | Official route | What it answers |
|---|---|---|
| Is the person in Houston County Jail? | Houston County Jail page → In Custody | Official county in-custody roster. |
| What is the criminal case status? | Minnesota Court Records Online | Available Minnesota district-court case records; pending criminal name-search limitations apply. |
| When is the Houston County hearing? | Houston County District Court | Court calendar, courthouse information and Court Administration contact. |
| How do visits, calls or inmate deposits work? | Houston County Jail services | Current county-published TurnKey visitation, Reliance phone and Inmate Canteen deposit routes. |
| How do I request an older jail or Sheriff record? | Sheriff Records & Data Requests | Incident, arrest, jail, calls-for-service, crash and other releasable Sheriff data. |
| Can I receive custody-change alerts? | Minnesota VINE / VINELink | Supported county-jail custody, transfer, release or escape notifications. |
| Did the person move to Minnesota DOC? | Minnesota DOC individual search | People committed to the Commissioner of Corrections who remain under DOC jurisdiction. |
| Could the person be in federal BOP custody? | Federal BOP Inmate Locator | Federal inmate records from 1982 to the present. |
How to check the Houston County in-custody roster
- Start on the official Houston County Jail page. Use the “In Custody” section rather than a commercial inmate directory with old addresses, old capacity figures or copied booking data.
- Open the county’s current in-custody roster. The county jail page identifies this as its public roster route. This review did not verify a county-published fixed refresh interval, so do not invent one.
- Search the legal name carefully. Use the name-search or viewer tools available on the current roster. If no match appears, try a former surname, maiden name, hyphenated version or another verified spelling.
- Compare more than the name. Use every identity and custody field that the live roster actually displays. The county’s accessible jail page does not publish a guaranteed field list, so do not assume every record contains the same details.
- Verify the decision-critical fact elsewhere. Call the jail for immediate custody or release questions and use Minnesota Courts for the legal case.
- Save the correct identifiers. If the roster or court record displays a booking number, case number, date, charge or agency, save it before calling so staff can locate the correct record faster.
No name on the roster? Work through the likely custody paths
| Problem | Possible explanation | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| The arrest was very recent | Transport, intake, identification, medical clearance or public-roster processing may still be underway. | Recheck the current county roster and call 507-725-3379 when same-day custody matters. |
| The name does not match | Spelling, middle name, suffix, maiden/former surname or hyphenation may differ. | Try verified name variations and compare all available identifiers. |
| A court case exists but no jail result appears | A person can have a pending case, summons, probation matter or warrant without being in current jail custody. | Use MCRO and Houston County Court Administration separately from the roster. |
| The person was listed earlier | Release, transfer or correction may have changed the current roster. | Call the jail and use VINE for supported custody notifications. |
| State prison or supervision may apply | A sentenced person may have moved under Minnesota DOC jurisdiction. | Use the Minnesota DOC individual search and Minnesota Haven for DOC notification needs. |
| Federal custody may apply | The person may be in BOP custody or temporarily held under another federal arrangement. | Use the federal locator for established BOP custody and rely on case/agency information to identify other federal detention arrangements. |
| Another county made the arrest | Houston County residence does not mean Houston County is the current custodian. | Identify the arresting or transporting agency before switching to another county roster. |
Verify bail and release before money changes hands
Houston County’s public jail page does not publish a complete county-specific bail payment menu. Minnesota Judicial Branch guidance says bail or bond may generally be posted at the jail or a criminal court location where the case will be heard; jails accept authorized bonds from state-approved bond agents, and the statewide court guidance describes cash bail as cash-only.
Before paying
- Confirm the person is still in custody.
- Confirm the current case number and court.
- Ask for the current bail amount and conditions.
- Ask whether another case, warrant or hold affects release.
- Confirm the exact payment method and location with the jail or court.
- Use a bonding agent only if the agent is on Minnesota Courts’ current approved list.
Refund and release are separate
Minnesota Courts explains that only a judge can order a bail refund. A court may return bail, apply it to amounts owed, or forfeit it depending on the case. Posting bail also does not guarantee immediate physical release while paperwork or other holds remain.
Houston County District Court controls the legal case
Houston County District Court is part of Minnesota’s Third Judicial District. The court is in the Houston County Justice Center at 306 S. Marshall Street, Caledonia, MN 55921. Court Administration lists 507-724-7002 and business hours of Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Public court calendar
The Houston County calendar is posted at 7:00 a.m. each business day and updated hourly. The court warns that not every matter is displayed and that a missing entry does not prove a hearing was cancelled or rescheduled.
Pending criminal case limitation
MCRO does not return a pending criminal matter when the user searches by the defendant’s name before a conviction is entered. For a pending case, use the case number, citation number, attorney name or attorney bar number, or contact Court Administration.
MCRO also does not provide certified documents or serve as a background-check system. Contact the court for certified records when certification matters.
Houston County uses video visitation, not face-to-face visiting
The county currently describes jail visitation as video visiting. Visitors must set up a TurnKey/Inmate Canteen account before visiting. If a visitor cannot set up an account online, the county says an account can be created onsite before the visit. Visits are first come, first served.
| Day | Hours | County-published requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 12:15 p.m.–4:15 p.m. | TurnKey account; picture ID each visit. |
| Wednesday | 5:15 p.m.–9:45 p.m. | TurnKey account; picture ID each visit. |
| Sunday | 5:15 p.m.–9:45 p.m. | TurnKey account; picture ID each visit. |
- Bring a pictured identification card or pictured driver’s license for each visit.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Children must remain supervised while in the facility.
- Use Inmate Canteen for the TurnKey account.
- Reconfirm custody and visit availability before a long trip because facility operations can change.
Phone service and inmate money use different providers/routes
Phone time: Reliance Telephone
Houston County directs people with inmate-phone problems or requests to purchase phone time to Reliance Telephone at 1-800-896-3201. The county page does not publish a current per-minute rate, so check the provider’s current terms before funding an account.
Canteen money: lobby or Inmate Canteen
The county accepts cash or credit-card deposits for a detainee through the lobby kiosk and also directs users to InmateCanteen.com. Check the correct inmate, current fees and transaction limits before submitting money.
Mail address and current jail programs
Houston County publishes the following personal-mail format:
C/O Houston County Jail
306 South Marshall Street
Caledonia, MN 55921
The accessible county page does not publish a complete current list of photo, publication, envelope, legal-mail or package restrictions. Call the jail before sending books, photographs, legal materials, money, packages or irreplaceable originals rather than relying on a third-party rule list.
Programs currently listed by Houston County
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Adult Basic Education
- Religion services
- Chemical dependency programming
- Narcotics Anonymous
- Library and recreation
- Work release program
For program-specific questions, the county lists the Jail Administrator at 507-725-3379, extension 4120.
Use a data request for older jail records, reports or a specific booking record
The current in-custody roster is not a permanent arrest-history archive. Houston County Sheriff’s Office says its Records & Data Request process can cover incident reports, arrest information, jail records, calls for service, accident reports and other law-enforcement data that is legally public.
How to submit
Complete the county Data Request Form and submit it by email, mail or in person. Records staff can be reached at 507-725-3379, extensions 4124 or 4126, or HCSO@HoCoMN.gov.
Hours and fees
The Records & Data Request page lists Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Inspection of public records is generally free; the county says fees may apply for printed copies, electronic media/secure links, extensive searches or data compilation, and transcription.
Booking photographs / mugshots
The county’s accessible jail page does not promise a public booking photo with every roster entry and does not publish a separate “mugshot request” procedure. If you need a specific releasable booking photograph, identify it clearly in a Sheriff records request. Protected or nonpublic information may be withheld or redacted under Minnesota law.
PREA, medication and urgent safety questions
Houston County Sheriff provides a PREA reporting route for sexual assault occurring while someone is in law-enforcement or correctional custody. The Sheriff’s site says reports will be investigated and that a report concerning another agency can be forwarded to the appropriate facility. Contact information may be provided if the reporter wants an investigator to follow up.
The public jail page reviewed here does not publish a detailed family-facing medication drop-off protocol. Call 507-725-3379 before bringing prescriptions, medical equipment or other health-related items. For an immediate emergency, use 911 rather than a public roster, email or routine records request.
VINE, Minnesota DOC and federal custody are separate next steps
Minnesota VINE
Houston County directs victims to Minnesota VINE at 1-877-664-8463 for supported notifications involving incarceration status, release, transfer or escape. The county warns users not to depend on VINE alone for personal protection. Houston County Victim Services is 507-725-5831.
Minnesota DOC / Haven
Use the Minnesota DOC individual search after a person has been committed to the Commissioner of Corrections and remains under DOC jurisdiction. DOC uses Minnesota Haven for custody-status notifications involving people sentenced to DOC.
Federal BOP
Use the BOP locator for established federal prison custody. A newly arrested federal defendant may be held in a local or contract facility before entering a BOP institution, so the federal case and responsible agency may be more useful in the early stages.
Houston County jail, records and court contacts
| Office | Use it for | Contact | Location / hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County Jail / Sheriff | Current custody, release, visitation, jail services | 507-725-3379 | 306 S. Marshall St., Suite 1100, Caledonia, MN 55921 |
| Jail Administrator | Jail administration and program-specific questions | 507-725-3379, ext. 4120 | Houston County Justice Center |
| Sheriff Records & Data Requests | Reports, arrest information, jail records and other releasable Sheriff data | 507-725-3379, ext. 4124 or 4126 HCSO@HoCoMN.gov |
Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Houston County District Court | Court cases, calendars, certified documents and Court Administration questions | 507-724-7002 | 306 S. Marshall St., Caledonia, MN 55921 Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Houston County Victim Services | Local victim-support contact | 507-725-5831 | Houston County Justice Center |
| Reliance Telephone | Inmate phone-time account or service problems | 1-800-896-3201 | Vendor contact; check current terms before payment |
Use Houston County custody information responsibly
- An arrest is not a conviction.
- A booking allegation is not a final court disposition.
- A warrant does not prove current incarceration.
- A roster screenshot can become stale after release or transfer.
- A historical capacity number is not a current inmate count.
- Use Minnesota court records when the legal outcome matters.
- Do not use public jail information to harass, threaten, stalk or shame a listed person.
- Do not publish unnecessary victim, juvenile, medical or private identifying information.
Houston County Minnesota jail roster FAQs
Where is the official Houston County, Minnesota jail roster?
Open Houston County’s official jail page and use its “In Custody” section. That is the county-published route for the Houston County Jail roster in Caledonia.
Is this the Houston County jail in Texas, Georgia or Alabama?
No. This guide covers Houston County, Minnesota and the Houston County Justice Center in Caledonia. Several other states have counties named Houston, so confirm the state before calling a jail or acting on a roster result.
How many beds does Houston County Jail have?
The latest published Minnesota DOC inspection lists 40 approved secure coed beds and a 36-bed operational-capacity calculation. County history says the Justice Center originally opened licensed for 30 prisoners and was built with 41 unit cells, which explains why older online sources show different figures.
Why might a recently arrested person not appear on the roster?
Transport, intake, identification, medical clearance or public-roster processing may still be underway, the name may differ, or the person may be housed elsewhere. Call 507-725-3379 when immediate current-custody confirmation is important.
What are the Houston County Jail visiting hours?
The county currently lists Thursday 12:15–4:15 p.m. and Wednesday and Sunday 5:15–9:45 p.m. Visitation is by video, a TurnKey account is required, visits are first come first served, and picture identification is required.
How can I add money to a Houston County inmate account?
The county says cash or credit-card deposits can be made at the lobby kiosk, or deposits can be made online through InmateCanteen.com. Confirm the correct inmate and provider fees before payment. Inmate-account money is not bail.
Which company handles inmate phone service?
Houston County directs phone-time purchases and phone-service problems to Reliance Telephone at 1-800-896-3201. The county page does not publish a current per-minute rate, so check the provider before funding an account.
How do I find a pending Houston County criminal case in MCRO?
MCRO does not return pending criminal cases through a defendant-name search before conviction. Use the case number, citation number, attorney name or attorney bar number, or contact Houston County Court Administration at 507-724-7002.
How do I request an older jail record or booking photograph?
Use Houston County Sheriff’s Records & Data Request process. Submit the county form by email, mail or in person and describe the exact jail record or booking photograph you need. Some information may be withheld or redacted under Minnesota law.
Should I use Minnesota VINE or Minnesota Haven?
Use Minnesota VINE for supported county-jail custody notifications. After a person is sentenced to Minnesota DOC custody or remains under DOC jurisdiction, use Minnesota DOC’s search and Minnesota Haven for DOC custody-status notifications.
Official sources reviewed
These sources were reviewed on October 3, 2026. Custody data, court schedules, provider fees, jail rules and operating approvals can change, so reopen the relevant official page before paying, visiting or relying on a same-day status.
- Houston County Jail — in-custody route, administration, VINE, video visitation, Reliance phone service, Inmate Canteen, mail and programs.
- Houston County Sheriff Records & Data Requests — request types, submission channels, records hours and fee categories.
- Minnesota DOC Houston County Jail Inspection — current published operating approval, capacity and compliance summary.
- Houston County District Court — court location, phone, hours and calendar guidance.
- Minnesota Court Records Online — public case access and pending-criminal search limitations.
- Minnesota Judicial Branch Criminal Resources and Bail Bond Program — statewide bail/bond guidance and approved-agent rules.
- Minnesota DOC individual search and DOC custody notifications.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator — federal custody search.