Big Stone County Jail Roster

The Big Stone County jail roster tracks inmates held in custody in Ortonville, Minnesota. Big Stone County is a small, rural county on the western edge of the state, right along the South Dakota border. The sheriff's office runs the jail and keeps booking records. To search for inmates, VINELink is the main online tool since the county does not maintain a large standalone roster website. You can also call the sheriff's office to ask about a person in custody. If someone was arrested in Big Stone County, the jail roster and VINELink are where you look for booking details, charges, and custody status.

Big Stone County Inmate Search

Big Stone County uses VINELink as its primary online inmate tracking system. The county does not have a large dedicated jail roster website of its own. Instead, you go to VINELink and search by the inmate's name or offender ID. The results show custody status, which facility holds the person, and other basic booking data. VINELink updates about every 15 minutes for participating counties.

You can also register for notifications through VINELink. If someone on the Big Stone County jail roster gets released, transferred, or has any status change, the system alerts you by phone, email, or text. Call 1-877-MN-4-VINE (1-877-664-8463) to use the phone-based version. This is free and works around the clock.

Under MN Stat. § 13.82, booking data is classified as public in Minnesota. That means the sheriff must make basic arrest and custody information available to anyone who asks for it.

Big Stone County Jail

The Big Stone County Jail sits at 20 Second St. SE in Ortonville. It is a small facility, which fits the county's population. Big Stone County has fewer than 5,000 residents, making it one of the least populated counties in Minnesota. The jail handles a low volume of bookings compared to metro-area counties. Despite its size, the facility still maintains a jail roster and follows all state regulations under MN Stat. § 641.05.

The sheriff is responsible for all jail operations in the county. That includes booking, holding, releasing inmates, and keeping records. Big Stone County sometimes transfers inmates to larger facilities if it lacks the space or resources to hold them. When that happens, the inmate may appear on another county's jail roster instead. VINELink tracks these transfers across the state, so you can still find the person even if they moved to a different jail.

Big Stone County Jail Contact

For questions about who is on the Big Stone County jail roster, call (320) 839-3558. The sheriff's staff can confirm if someone is in custody, tell you their charges, and explain the bail process. This is often the fastest way to get information in a small county where the online tools may be limited.

Jail Roster Records in Big Stone County

Even in a small county, jail roster records are public data. MN Stat. § 13.82 applies the same way here as it does in Hennepin or Ramsey County. The law does not make exceptions based on county size. Arrest records, booking data, and charges are open to the public. You have the right to see them without giving a reason.

If you want copies of records beyond what VINELink or the jail staff give you over the phone, submit a written request to the Big Stone County Sheriff's Office. Send it to 20 Second St. SE, Ortonville, MN 56278. Standard copy fees may apply. MN Stat. § 13.85 requires the county to respond to data requests within a reasonable time. For most simple requests, that means a few business days.

Note: Some inmate data like medical records or juvenile information is not public even in small counties.

Using VINELink for Big Stone County

Since Big Stone County relies on VINELink for its online jail roster access, here is how to use it. Go to www.vinelink.com and select Minnesota as the state. Then type in the person's name. The search covers all participating counties in the state, including Big Stone. If the person is in custody anywhere in Minnesota's VINE system, they will show up in the results.

VINELink is run by Appriss Safety. It is free for the public. The system works on phones, tablets, and computers. You can also download the VINELink app for mobile devices. For people who want to check the Big Stone County jail roster without calling the sheriff every time, VINELink is the most practical option available. MN Stat. § 387.03 gives the sheriff authority over how jail information is shared, and Big Stone County has chosen VINELink as its main distribution method.

Big Stone County Jail Screenshot

The Minnesota Court Records Online portal covers Big Stone County court cases, which can help supplement jail roster searches.

This statewide search tool lets you look up court cases in Big Stone County by name or case number to see charges and court dates for people on the jail roster.

Bail in Big Stone County

If someone on the Big Stone County jail roster has bail set, you can post it through the sheriff's office. Call (320) 839-3558 to ask about the bail amount and how to pay. In smaller counties like Big Stone, the process is straightforward. You deal directly with the sheriff's office rather than going through a separate booking desk. Local bail bond agents serve the area as well if you need help posting bond for a larger amount.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Big Stone County. If someone was arrested near the border, they may appear on a neighboring county's jail roster.