Detention Center Facts

HISTORY
The current Steele County Detention Center, which opened in Oct. 2003 at
2500 Alexander Street,
is the fourth jail in Steele County.

Our first jail 1865-1907 was in the area of 137 West Main.
The second 1907-1972 was at 135 West Main.
The third 1972-2003 was back at the 137 West Main location.

CRIME VICTIMS
If you are a victim and wish to have notification on an offender's incarceration status, you can register at any time by calling toll-free 1-877-MN-4-VINE  or 1-877-664-8463.  When the offender is released, transferred, or escapes, the registered person(s) will receive an automatic telephone notification.  (Do not depend solely on the VINE Service for your protection.  If you feel that you may be at risk, take precautions as if the offender has already been released).

PROFESSIONAL VISITS
The Steele County Detention Center requires all Professionals to call in advance to make an appointment @ 507-446-7000 to meet with a detainee. Identification is required.

VIDEO VISITING 
At the Steele County Detention Center you will encounter “video visiting”.  This means there is no face to face contact between the visitor and the detainee.  A detainee may have two 20 minute visits per day from the lobby area. Visitors may only see one detainee per visiting session, but may visit the same detainee two times in one day at different sessions. 

You may also visit an inmate from home by logging into www.inmatecanteen.com and following the instructions.  This is a "Skype" type visit.  Online visiting from home is .39 cents per minute and requires set up with a credit card.

Visiting Hours
On-line Visiting: Monday through Sunday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
These visits are 20 minutes in length.  Any questions regarding on-line visiting must be directed to www.inmatecanteen.com.

Lobby Visiting: Monday through Friday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.     
These visits require you to set up an account on the computer prior to visiting and you will need to login each additional time you come to visit. You may set up the account in the visiting area at the jail or on another computer.  Lobby Visits are free.
Please note that if the line is not clear for visiting your call will not go through and you will have to continue to dial until your call is connected to the housing unit.

DETAINEES PHONE SYSTEM
You may leave a message for a detainee by calling 507-451-0276 and following the instructions.  If you are having problems or wish to purchase phone time you may call the vendor at 1-800-896-3201.

DETAINEES CANTEEN
Cash or credit card deposits are accepted for a detainee via our lobby kiosk, or deposits can be made online at www.InmateCanteen.com.  (profits from the canteen are used to offset program costs)

ARREST WARRANTS
If you feel you have a warrant for your arrest and would like to take care of the matter before an officer or deputy show up at your place of employment or home, you may call the Steele County Court at 507-444-7700 and ask for Court Administration, or you can call the Detention Center at 507-446-7000.

PROGRAMS AT THE DETENTION CENTER

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Adult Basic Education
• Anger Management
• Chaplaincy
• Chemical Dependency
• Job Skills
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Parenting
• Library (books are donated by members of the community and the Little Professor Book Store).
• Recreational time
• Inmate Worker Program
• Work release program
• Domestic Abuse

VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteers play a significant role in accelerating our philosophy of making Steele County a better place to live tomorrow.  They assist with all of the programs listed above.

If you are interested in volunteering or have questions, please give us a call at 507-446-7000.

FINGERPRINTING FOR THE PUBLIC:   
The Steele County Detention Center offers fingerprinting services for the public at a cost of $20 per card.  The subject must have two forms of ID and the correct currency prior to fingerprinting as we cannot make change or accept coins.
                     

BUILDING FACTS
The Steele County Detention Center has a rated capacity of 154 beds.  The Center houses both male and female pre-sentence and sentenced detainees, and detainees from other Counties, State and Federal organizations.

Total building site is 18.63 acres that accommodates building, parking, geo-thermal field and room for expansion.
Total structure, 58,575 square feet.
Secure jail area, 50,469 square feet
Typical cell size, 70 square feet; double bunk, 90 feet.
52 cameras to monitor the interior and exterior of the facility.
There are 367 doors in the facility.
110,000 blocks were used for interior walls of the jail, core filled with concrete.
125 parking spaces.
39 major subcontractors.
70 % of total building costs paid to subcontractors and suppliers from Steele, Mower, Freeborn, Olmstead and Faribault counties.
Building project required 62,000 hours of trade labor.
Geo-thermal heating/cooling system utilizes 330 boreholes each 90 feet deep, with a total of 11.25 miles of vertical piping.
General Contractor was AJ Lysne, Owatonna, Minnesota
Architect was KKE  from Minneapolis, Minnesota