Cottonwood County Booking Releases and Jail Roster
Cottonwood County booking releases are posted twice daily as a PDF through the county's official website. The roster generates at 6am and 6pm each day and lists current inmates with names, booking dates, arresting agencies, hold reasons, charges, bail amounts, and custody status. The data is public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, 13.85, and 641.05, and anyone can access it at no cost.
Cottonwood County Overview
Cottonwood County Sheriff's Office
The Cottonwood County Sheriff's Office is at 902 5th Avenue, Windom, MN 56101. The jail is at the same address. Jail inquiries go to 507-831-1375. For the sheriff's office main line, call 507-831-1376. Contact person Heather Janssen handles records and administrative requests.
| Jail Address | 902 5th Avenue, Windom, MN 56101 |
|---|---|
| Jail Phone | 507-831-1375 |
| Sheriff Phone | 507-831-1376 |
| Contact | Heather Janssen |
For all booking and inmate questions, call the jail directly at 507-831-1375. For general sheriff's office business, use 507-831-1376. Heather Janssen can assist with records requests and administrative matters.
Accessing the Cottonwood County Jail Roster
The primary source for Cottonwood County booking releases is the official Jail Roster page on the county website at co.cottonwood.mn.us/jail_roster. The PDF roster generates automatically at 6am and 6pm each day. Accessing it between updates may show data from the last generation time.
The Cottonwood County Jail Roster page links to the twice-daily PDF showing all current inmates with names, charges, bail amounts, and custody status.
The Jail Information page at co.cottonwood.mn.us/jail provides additional facility details including visitation rules, inmate services, and how to communicate with people in custody.
The Jail Information page is the central resource for understanding how the Cottonwood County Jail operates, including rules for mail, visitation, and inmate accounts.
Note: The county notes that it cannot guarantee the information on the roster is current, accurate, or complete. Persons may have provided false identification at the time of booking. An arrest does not indicate guilt. Verify important details by calling 507-831-1375.
What the Cottonwood County Roster Includes
Each entry on the Cottonwood County Jail Roster includes the inmate's name, booking date, the arresting agency, hold reasons and charges, bail or bond amount, and custody status. The roster is a point-in-time document. It shows who is in custody at the time it was generated, either at 6am or 6pm.
The county's official disclaimer notes that a person may have used false identification at booking. Names on the roster are what was recorded at the time of processing. If you believe there is an error in a name or other details, contact the jail directly at 507-831-1375.
Staff do not take or relay messages for inmates. If you need to communicate with someone in custody, you must do so through the official phone or visit systems. Mail, approved phone calls, and scheduled visits are the only ways to communicate with a Cottonwood County inmate.
Legal Basis for Cottonwood County Booking Records
Cottonwood County cites three statutes directly in its jail roster documentation. Minnesota Statute 13.82 classifies arrest data as public, meaning names, booking dates, charges, and arresting agencies are open records that anyone can view. Minnesota Statute 13.85 extends public data requirements to correctional facility records, including the inmate roster itself. Minnesota Statute 641.05 creates the legal duty for the sheriff to maintain records of all admissions and releases from the jail.
These three statutes together mean the county must both maintain the records and make them available to the public. The twice-daily PDF roster is how Cottonwood County meets that obligation.
Visitation and Inmate Communication
For visitation hours and scheduling at the Cottonwood County Jail, call 507-831-1375. Jail staff can provide current visiting schedules and rules. All visitors must bring valid government-issued photo ID. Visits may be subject to approval, and the jail can deny access for security reasons.
Mail for inmates should be addressed with the full legal name of the person and sent to the jail at 902 5th Avenue, Windom, MN 56101. All incoming mail may be inspected. Note that jail staff will not take phone messages for inmates and will not pass along verbal messages. Contact through mail, approved phone calls, and scheduled visits are the accepted communication methods.
State Resources for Cottonwood County Records
The VINE system covers Cottonwood County. Search by inmate name or ID and sign up for free custody status alerts. Call 1-877-664-8463 to use VINE by phone. For court case information linked to a Cottonwood County booking, use the free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). MCRO covers all 87 counties. The BCA Criminal History database provides statewide conviction records for $8 per search. Together these tools give a complete picture of where a booking record stands in the criminal justice process.
Cities in Cottonwood County
No qualifying cities (population 100,000+) have dedicated pages in Cottonwood County. Windom is the county seat and largest city. Residents use the Cottonwood County Sheriff's Office for all booking release information.
Nearby Counties
Cottonwood County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own booking release records.