Houston County 24 Hour Booking
Houston County 24 hour booking records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Caledonia. This county sits in the far southeast corner of Minnesota along the Iowa and Wisconsin borders. About 19,000 people live here. When someone is arrested in Houston County, they get booked into the county jail. Officers take fingerprints and photos, then enter the data into the state system within 24 hours as required by law. You can call the sheriff's office to ask about who is currently in custody or how to request booking records.
Houston County Overview
Houston County Sheriff and Jail Booking
The Houston County Sheriff's Office is at 304 S Marshall St in Caledonia. The sheriff handles law enforcement across the county and runs the jail where all 24 hour booking takes place. When local deputies or city police bring someone in, the jail staff begin the booking process right away.
Booking involves taking fingerprints, a photo, and personal details from the arrested person. Staff log all the charges and check for warrants. Under Minnesota Statute 299C.10, the fingerprint data must be entered into the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension database within 24 hours. This applies to felonies, gross misdemeanors, and targeted misdemeanors like DWI and domestic assault. Houston County follows this rule just like every other county in the state.
The sheriff must also check each new intake against the predatory offender registry. Statute 641.05 requires the sheriff to notify the BCA if a registered offender is booked into the jail. When the person is released, the sheriff collects a change of address form.
| Office | Houston County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 304 S Marshall St, Caledonia, MN 55921 |
| Phone | (507) 725-3379 |
| Emergency | 911 |
Finding Houston County 24 Hour Booking Records
To check on booking records in Houston County, call the sheriff's office at (507) 725-3379. Staff can tell you if someone is in the jail and share basic booking data. The Houston County Jail page may have further details about current inmates and jail services.
Booking data is public under Minnesota law. Statute 13.82 says that arrest information, including the person's name, the time and date of the arrest, the charges, and where they are being held, is open to anyone. You can ask for this data without giving a reason. Booking photos are public too, with rare exceptions for active investigations. The sheriff's office must respond to requests in a reasonable time.
For court records related to Houston County bookings, use Minnesota Court Records Online. You can search by name or case number to find charges, court dates, and case outcomes.
Note: Online inmate lists show only people currently in the jail. For past booking records, contact the sheriff's office directly.
Houston County Jail Booking Process
Every person arrested in Houston County goes through the same booking steps at the jail in Caledonia. Staff take their fingerprints and a photo. They get the person's full name, date of birth, and home address. Charges from the arresting officer get logged into the system. The jail also checks for outstanding warrants and prior records.
After booking, the fingerprint data goes to the BCA. The 24 hour rule means this must be done quickly. The jail operates under Minnesota Rules Chapter 2911, which sets standards for the facility, staffing, and inmate care. The Department of Corrections inspects the jail on a regular schedule to check for compliance. Even in a small county like Houston, the standards match what larger facilities must meet.
Houston County Resources
The VINE notification system covers Houston County. Victims can register to get alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or changes custody status. The service is free and runs around the clock.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the state agency that stores all 24 hour booking data from every county in Minnesota. Below is a screenshot of the BCA website.
The BCA keeps fingerprint records and criminal history data from all 87 counties, including Houston County.
The Minnesota Sheriffs' Association has contact information for every county sheriff. Booking fees may apply under Statute 641.12. If charges are dismissed, the person can request a refund of the booking fee.
Houston County Booking Record Retention
Houston County keeps booking records for years after an arrest. State retention standards say arrest reports must stay on file for at least six years. Booking data, including charge details and bail amounts, is kept for six to ten years. Fingerprint records go to the BCA and are stored permanently. Mugshots are also retained for a minimum of six years.
If you need records from an old booking at the Houston County Jail, contact the sheriff's office in Caledonia. File a data request under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The sheriff must respond within a reasonable time. For people who went from county jail to state prison, the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator shows conviction data, sentence information, and current facility. Data on convictions stays public for 15 years after the sentence is complete.
Cities in Houston County
Houston County includes Caledonia, which is the county seat. Other communities include Houston, La Crescent, Spring Grove, Hokah, and Brownsville. All arrests in these areas go through the Houston County Jail for 24 hour booking. There are no cities in the county large enough for their own pages.
Nearby Counties
Houston County is on the far southeast edge of Minnesota where the state meets Iowa and Wisconsin. These nearby counties each run their own jail and booking system.