Steele County Jail Roster
The Steele County jail roster lists everyone held at the Steele County Detention Center in Owatonna, Minnesota. You can view the roster online as a PDF file. It shows names, booking dates, charges, and hold information. The detention center has 154 beds and also houses inmates from Dodge County under a contract arrangement. Sheriff Lon Thiele and Jail Administrator Anthony Buttera oversee the facility. If you need to find out whether someone is in custody or check on recent bookings, the jail roster and VINELink are the main tools available.
Steele County Overview
Steele County Inmate Roster
The Steele County Detention Center posts its jail roster as a PDF file that you can view or download. The roster lists current inmates with their names, booking dates, arresting agency, hold reasons, and charges. It gets updated regularly so the information stays close to current.
You can find the roster link on the Steele County Detention Center page. The detention center page also has links to the county warrant list, inmate phone information, and a detainee handbook. The county warrants page is separate from the roster and shows people with outstanding warrants who may not be in custody yet.
Under MN Stat. § 13.82, all booking data on the Steele County jail roster is classified as public information. Anyone can view it without needing to give a reason.
How to Search Steele County Inmates
Open the PDF jail roster and use your browser's find function to search for a name. The file lists inmates with enough detail to identify each person. If you are on a phone, you can still open the PDF and scroll through the list. The warrant log is a separate PDF that you can also search.
VINELink is another search option. Steele County participates in this statewide system. Search by name or offender ID to get custody status. VINELink updates about every 15 minutes and offers free alerts when an inmate's status changes. Call 1-877-MN-4-VINE (1-877-664-8463) for the phone version.
Call the Steele County Jail at (507) 446-7000 for direct answers. Staff can confirm whether someone is in custody and share basic booking information. The sheriff's office main line is (507) 444-3800. Non-emergency dispatch is at 507-451-8232.
Steele County Detention Center
The Steele County Detention Center is at 2500 Alexander Street SW in Owatonna. The facility has 154 beds. It houses Steele County inmates and also holds inmates from Dodge County under a contract. Sheriff Lon Thiele oversees the sheriff's office, and Jail Administrator Anthony Buttera manages the detention center.
The detention center takes a program-based approach to incarceration. The mission is to provide safe and humane housing while focusing on reducing recidivism. The facility operates 24/7 for bookings and releases. The Steele County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement across the county, and the Steele County website has information about all county departments.
Inmates have access to a phone system that costs $0.21 per minute. Pre-paid phone accounts are available. Details are on the inmate phones page. The jail also handles mail and messaging for inmates. Under MN Stat. § 641.05, the sheriff must provide safe custody for all people held at the facility. MN Stat. § 387.03 gives the sheriff authority over jail operations.
Office hours for the sheriff's office are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The detention center itself runs around the clock. Bookings and releases happen at all hours, so the jail roster can change at any time.
Steele County Jail Records
Jail roster data in Steele County falls under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. MN Stat. § 13.82 makes arrest and booking records public. Names, charges, booking dates, hold reasons, and custody status are available to anyone. You do not need to be related to the inmate or provide a reason for your search.
For records beyond the roster, contact the Steele County Sheriff's Office. The main office is at 204 East Pearl Street, Owatonna, MN 55060. Phone: (507) 444-3800. Fax: (507) 444-3894. Jail fax: (507) 446-7050. Standard copy fees apply. Under MN Stat. § 13.85, the county must respond to data requests in a reasonable time. Medical and juvenile records are private.
Note: The Steele County Detention Center also houses Dodge County inmates. The roster may include people arrested by Dodge County law enforcement.
Steele County Jail Contact Details
| Facility | Steele County Detention Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 2500 Alexander Street SW Owatonna, MN 55060 |
| Jail Phone | (507) 446-7000 |
| Sheriff Phone | (507) 444-3800 |
| Non-Emergency | 507-451-8232 |
| Fax (Sheriff) | (507) 444-3894 |
| Fax (Jail) | (507) 446-7050 |
| Office Hours | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Jail Hours | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Capacity | 154 beds |
| Sheriff | Lon Thiele |
| Jail Admin | Anthony Buttera |
Steele County Jail Screenshots
The Steele County website links to the sheriff's office and detention center, where you can access the jail roster PDF.
The county site provides links to all county departments including the sheriff's office and detention center.
The Steele County Detention Center page has the jail roster PDF link, warrant list, inmate phone details, and facility information.
From this page you can download the current inmate roster, check county warrants, and find information about phone accounts and visitation at the 154-bed facility.
Bail at Steele County Detention Center
Call (507) 446-7000 to ask about bail for someone at the Steele County Detention Center. Staff will tell you the bail amount and payment methods. The jail runs 24/7, so bail can be posted at any time. Release processing takes several hours. Local bail bond agents are available in the Owatonna area. If the person was arrested by Dodge County, the same bail process applies since they are held at this facility under the contract arrangement between the two counties.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Steele County in southern Minnesota. Check their jail rosters if you need to find someone booked elsewhere.