About the Swift County Jail
The Swift County Jail is operated by the Swift County Sheriff's Office and serves as the primary detention facility for Swift County, Minnesota. Under the Minnesota Department of Corrections 2025 inspection, the jail is classified as a Rule 2911 Local Adult Detention Facility with 12 approved secure coed beds and an operational capacity of 9.6. Sheriff John Holtz leads the agency, and Jail Administrator Tracy Koosman oversees daily jail operations, including intake, housing, visitation, and inmate programs.
The facility's current authority to operate runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027. In the 2025 DOC inspection, Swift County Jail scored 98.37% on mandatory standards (121 of 123 compliant) and 99.06% on essential standards (105 of 106 compliant), with the Minnesota DOC confirming that the county's corrective actions adequately addressed the cited items.
- Facility
- Swift County Jail
- Address
- 301 14th Street North, Suite 4, Benson, MN 56215
- Main Phone
- (320) 843-3133
- Operated By
- Swift County Sheriff's Office
How the Swift County Inmate Search Works
The roster at the top of this page is the Swift County inmate search tool. It is synced directly from official booking data, so there is no need to check a separate county or state database. Each record includes the inmate's name, intake date, listed charges, bail or bond information, and current custody status.
To search, type a full or partial name, a booking number, or a charge keyword into the search bar. The list filters live as you type. Click View Details on any record to expand the full charge list and facility contact information.
Swift County bookings display standard fields including Photo, MNI, Name, Sex, Age, Booking Number, Intake Date, and Charges. Charge entries may include severity levels (F for felony, G for gross misdemeanor, M for misdemeanor) and case status codes such as COURT PENDING, A & D HOLD, or BOND/BAIL SET. Bail and bond information may show the amount, whether conditions apply, and whether bail or bond has been received.
It's important to know that the Swift County jail roster and the court docket are not the same thing. The roster shows current custody and booking information. Court case records are separate and maintained through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO).
Posting Bail at Swift County Jail
Bail amounts for inmates held at Swift County Jail are set by a judge at the Swift County District Court, not by the jail. The amount depends on the charges, criminal history, and any conditions the court orders in the case. Some bookings will list the bail amount and any attached conditions directly on the roster.
Before heading to the jail to post bail, call (320) 843-3133 to confirm the inmate is still in custody, verify the current bail amount, and ask whether any non-monetary release conditions apply. Common additional conditions in Minnesota cases include:
- No-contact orders in domestic abuse cases or cases involving an Order for Protection (OFP) or Domestic Abuse No Contact Order (DANCO)
- Firearm surrender requirements in crimes-against-persons cases
- Additional conditions specific to DWI cases
- Pretrial bail evaluation in violent crime cases, which may delay release until the evaluation is complete
Surety bonds posted through a licensed Minnesota bail bond agent are also an option, especially when the cash amount is too high to cover directly. Release does not occur until all attached conditions are satisfied, even after payment is made.
Sending Money to an Inmate
Inmates at Swift County Jail use commissary funds for hygiene items, snacks, writing supplies, and communication credits. Call the jail at (320) 843-3133 to confirm current approved deposit methods and the information you'll need - typically the inmate's full legal name and booking number, both visible on the roster above.
Swift County also charges specific fees that may affect an inmate's account balance during their stay, including a $25 booking fee for incarcerated inmates, a $20 per day pay-to-stay fee, a $20 per day work release fee, and a $10 inmate co-pay for medical expenses. Out-of-county boarding is billed at $75 per day, and electronic home monitoring is $20 per day when ordered.
Inmate Communication
Inmates at Swift County Jail cannot receive incoming phone calls. All calls are placed outgoing from the inmate, either as collect calls or through a prepaid account funded by the recipient. Call the jail at (320) 843-3133 to confirm the current phone service provider and account setup instructions.
Mail sent to inmates must include the inmate's full legal name and the facility address: Swift County Jail, 301 14th Street North, Suite 4, Benson, MN 56215. All calls and mail are subject to monitoring and inspection, with the exception of confidential legal communication.
Visitation at Swift County Jail
Visitation schedules and formats at Swift County Jail can change based on facility operations, staffing, and inmate classification. Call (320) 843-3133 before planning a visit to confirm the current schedule, whether your visit will be in-person or video, and whether the inmate is cleared to receive visitors.
Standard visitor rules at Minnesota jails include:
- Government-issued photo ID required for entry
- Adults and minors subject to facility age and supervision rules
- Dress code and behavior standards enforced
- Visits may be denied if the inmate has court, a transport, or a disciplinary status at the time
Swift County Court Information
Criminal cases for inmates booked into Swift County Jail are heard at the Swift County District Court, which sits within Minnesota's Eighth Judicial District. Court Administrator Katie Bloch oversees court operations.
- Court
- Swift County District Court
- Address
- 301 14th Street N., Benson, MN 56215
- Phone
- (320) 843-2744
- Judicial District
- Eighth Judicial District
- Hours
- Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
Hearings and Calendar
The court handles arraignments, bail hearings, pretrial conferences, plea hearings, trials, and sentencing for offenses charged in Swift County. The Minnesota Judicial Branch confirms that some hearings are conducted remotely using telephone conference calls and Zoom when the court orders it. The hearing notice issued by the court is the controlling document for the date, time, and format of any hearing.
The Swift County District Court publishes a public court calendar as a searchable PDF on the court's webpage. The calendar is released each business day at 7:00 a.m. and updated hourly throughout the day. It lists only scheduled courtroom hearings.