About the Wadena County Jail
The Wadena County Jail is operated by the Wadena County Sheriff's Office and serves as the primary detention facility for Wadena County, Minnesota. The facility has 27 approved beds and houses pretrial detainees, sentenced offenders serving short terms, and individuals held on warrants or holds for other agencies. Sheriff Michael D. Carr leads the agency, and Jail Administrator Timothy Stroeing oversees daily jail operations, including intake, housing, visitation, and inmate programs.
The jail is located in downtown Wadena and handles bookings for arrests made by the Wadena County Sheriff's Office, Wadena Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, and other agencies operating in the county. Anyone booked into the facility will appear on the roster above once the booking is processed in the official system.
- Facility
- Wadena County Jail
- Address
- 415 S Jefferson Street, Wadena, MN 56482
- Main Phone
- 218-631-7600
- Inmate Messaging Line
- 218-631-6963
- Operated By
- Wadena County Sheriff's Office
How the Wadena County Inmate Search Works
The roster at the top of this page is the Wadena County inmate search tool. It pulls current in-custody records directly from the jail's official booking system, so there is no need to check a separate county or state database. Each record includes the inmate's name, booking date, listed charges, 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 see the facility's direct contact information. If an inmate does not appear, they may not yet be processed into the booking system, may have been released, or may have been transferred to another facility.
Posting Bail at Wadena County Jail
Bail for inmates held at the Wadena County Jail can be posted in one of two places: at the jail itself (415 S Jefferson Street) or at the Wadena County criminal court location during court business hours. The court side accepts payments Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The jail accepts bail payments outside those hours.
Bail is accepted in cash only. Personal checks and credit or debit cards are not accepted for bail payment. Surety bonds through a licensed Minnesota bail bond agent are also accepted, which is the standard route when the cash amount is too high to cover directly.
Before heading to the jail to post bail, call 218-631-7600 to confirm the inmate is still in custody, verify the exact bail amount set by the court, and confirm whether any non-monetary release conditions apply. Common additional conditions 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, such as ignition interlock or alcohol monitoring
- Pretrial bail evaluation in violent crime cases, which may delay release until the evaluation is completed
Release cannot occur until all conditions attached to bail are satisfied, even after the money is paid.
Visitation at Wadena County Jail
Wadena County Jail offers in-person visitation on a set weekly schedule. Each visit is limited to one session of 20 minutes. Video visitation is also available through the facility.
| Day | Visitation Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Saturday | 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Sunday | 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM |
Visitor Rules
- Visitors must be 18 or older, or accompanied by an adult if under 18
- A valid government-issued photo ID is required for entry
- Arrive early. Late arrivals may forfeit the visit
- Dress code and behavior rules are enforced; check with the jail before your first visit
Call 218-631-7600 before visiting to confirm the inmate is still in custody, is cleared for visits, and has not been scheduled for court or transported at your visit time.
Sending Money and Commissary Deposits
Inmates at the Wadena County Jail use commissary funds to buy hygiene items, snacks, writing supplies, and phone or messaging credits. There are two ways to deposit money into an inmate's account.
| Method | How It Works |
|---|---|
| JailATM (online) | Deposit funds online or through the JailATM app using a debit or credit card. Funds typically post quickly. |
| Cash drop-off at the jail | Drop cash directly at the Wadena County Jail lobby, 415 S Jefferson Street, Wadena, MN 56482. |
When sending money, you will need the inmate's full legal name and booking number, both of which are listed on the roster above.
Inmate Phone Calls and Messaging
Phone and messaging services at Wadena County Jail are provided by Reliance Telephone. Inmates cannot receive incoming calls - all calls are placed outgoing from the inmate, either as collect calls or prepaid calls funded through a Reliance account.
To set up a prepaid account, create an account with Reliance Telephone and fund it with the inmate's name and the facility name (Wadena County Jail). Once the account is active, the inmate can call any approved number on their list.
For text messaging, the jail uses an inmate messaging line at 218-631-6963, and JailATM handles electronic messaging deposits. All calls and messages are recorded and subject to monitoring, with the exception of confidential legal calls.
Wadena County Court Information
Criminal cases for inmates booked into the Wadena County Jail are heard at the Wadena County District Court.
The court handles arraignments, bail hearings, pretrial conferences, plea hearings, trials, and sentencing for offenses charged in Wadena County. Remote hearings are supported through telephone conference calls, Zoom, and ITV assistance when ordered by the court. The hearing notice issued to the defendant or attorney is the controlling document for the date, time, and format of any hearing.
A public court calendar is available, and courthouse terminal access is provided for in-person record review at the courthouse. Pending criminal cases cannot be searched by defendant name through the public interface, and public access to certain records is restricted by Minnesota court rules. Recording of court proceedings by the public is not permitted.
- Court
- Wadena County District Court
- Address
- 415 S Jefferson Street, Wadena, MN 56482
- Phone
- 218-631-7650
- Hours
- Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.