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Stearns County Jail

807 Courthouse Sq
St. Cloud, MN 56303-4820
Phone: (320) 259-3750

Interview with Ryan

JM: How long was your sentencing for?
Ryan: 30 days

JM: Did you spend time in a holding cell after your sentencing? If so, what was that like? If you didn't where did they they take you instead?
Ryan: No time in a holding cell

If you or someone you know will be spending some time in Stearns County Jail, you may be wondering what to expect. Having an idea of what it will be like can help ease the anxiety as you prepare to serve your time. The following information was gathered through interviewing former inmates of the Stearns County Jail. Links to the left will lead you to interviews with ex-inmates, and can help inform you what life is really like in this jail.

Good Behavior
To help alleviate the growing problem of jail overcrowding, many facilities allow inmates to be released earlier than their sentence states if they are well behaved. Stearns County allows inmates to receive one day off for every two served, based on good behavior. To earn good time, it is important that you avoid fights, contraband, arguing with guards, and smoking.

Visits
Visits are allowed two times per week. Visitors are sent in on a first come, first serve basis. If you are visiting a loved one, it is best to arrive early, before visitation starts. When the doors open, you will put your name on a list and be called in the order you arrived. Visits can be up to 20 minutes, but they don't always end up to be this long.

Visits are held in a small room, with a glass wall dividing the inmate from the visitor. There is a speaker in the wall, allowing you to speak to each other. People who have visited loved ones in Stearns County have reported that sometimes the officers are rude to the visitors. It may be helpful to know this, so you don't take their rudeness personally should you encounter it.

Food
Food in this jail does not receive rave reviews. Inmates report that the jail serves just enough to get you through, and the food is very bland. The worst reported meal is the fish. On the bright side, the jail occasionally serves fresh fruits and vegetables. If you don't want to be hungry between meals, it is helpful to have money on your books so you can buy snacks from canteen.

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