Interacting with a jail system can be an intimidating task. At the Minnehaha County Jail, visiting inmates and interacting with jail staff is designed to be a comfortable and safe experience. How to visit an inmate, how to support an inmate, and how to bail someone out of jail are common ways the public may interact with the jail, but may not know how to do.
The Sheriff’s Office is committed to ensuring that inmates are able to interact with family members, and under Sheriff Milstead’s direction, there are two options for visitations. First is the more traditional visitation inside the facility. This option is free and allows visitors talk to inmates using a video visitation system. Visitors are asked to schedule their visit at least 24 hours in advance, but no more than four days prior. The second option allows visitors to use a web-based system, like a video-chat, to visit an inmate without having to come to the jail facility. This second option allows off-site visitation from anywhere in the world and has additional scheduling availability compared to the traditional in-person option. Keep in mind that the off-site video-chat option includes a $0.35 per minute charge for the visitor. The visitation schedule can be found on the Minnehaha County website, under the Sheriff’s Office page.
In addition to visiting an inmate, you may wonder how you can provide additional resources for an inmate. Minnehaha County Jail provides inmates an opportunity to purchase commissary items. Money can be deposited in an inmates account by making a deposit at the jail lobby kiosk, with staff at the jail front desk, or using an online option through www.jailatm.com.
Bailing someone out of jail requires the payment of a bond. Bonds, or the fees required to be paid, are set by the circuit court. A bond can be paid by bringing cash to make the payment; or, it may be made through surety bond which can be done using a bonding company. The Minnehaha County Jail also allows bonds to be posted using an online option through www.courtmoney.com. Inmates may also post bond using www.courtmoney.com or www.jailatm.com.
Sheriff Milstead appointed Warden Mike Mattson to oversee the jail operations and to ensure a safe environment for inmates and continued public safety. Sheriff Milstead states “The staff ensure that inmates are provided with the necessary medical, mental health, and dental services along with a variety of programs and services to encourage personal development. If you should have any questions, please contact the jail at 605-367-4321”.
