Steele County Jail Mugshots
Steele County jail mugshots and inmate records are available through the Steele County Detention Center in Owatonna. The facility publishes an inmate roster as a PDF document that includes front booking photos, names, booking dates, arresting agency, hold reasons, and charges. The Detention Center is at 2500 Alexander Street SW in Owatonna, with the Sheriff's Office at 204 East Pearl Street. This page covers how to access the roster, how to submit a records request, and what Minnesota public records law says about jail data in Steele County.
Steele County Overview
Steele County Detention Center and Sheriff's Office
The Steele County Detention Center is at 2500 Alexander Street SW, Owatonna, MN 55060. The detention center phone is (507) 446-7000, and the fax is (507) 446-7050. The Sheriff's Office is at a separate address: 204 East Pearl Street, Owatonna, MN 55060, with a phone of (507) 444-3800. Sheriff Lon Thiele leads the department. Jail Administrator Anthony Buttera oversees detention center operations.
The facility has an approved capacity of 154 beds, though only 138 are currently operational. As of recent reporting, 48 beds are offline due to a unit closure, which has reduced available space while construction is underway for a remodel and addition. The detention center also houses inmates from Dodge County under an intergovernmental agreement. Advanced Correctional Healthcare provides medical services at the facility.
| Detention Center Address | 2500 Alexander Street SW, Owatonna, MN 55060 |
|---|---|
| Detention Center Phone | (507) 446-7000 |
| Detention Center Fax | (507) 446-7050 |
| Sheriff's Office Address | 204 East Pearl Street, Owatonna, MN 55060 |
| Sheriff's Office Phone | (507) 444-3800 |
| Sheriff | Lon Thiele |
| Jail Administrator | Anthony Buttera |
The Steele County Detention Center page has facility information including visiting hours, inmate services, and the current roster PDF. The Sheriff's Office page covers department information and contact options.
Steele County Jail Mugshots: PDF Roster
The Steele County inmate roster is published as a PDF document. You can download it directly at the Inmate Roster PDF link on the county's website. The PDF is updated on a regular basis and includes front-facing booking photos for each inmate. Other data in the PDF includes the inmate's name, date booked, arresting agency, hold reason, and current charges.
Because the roster is in PDF format, there is no search form. You download the file and browse it in a PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat. You can use the reader's built-in search function (Ctrl+F or Command+F) to look for a specific name. The file is updated regularly, so check the date on the document to confirm you have the most current version.
If the PDF roster doesn't have what you need, you can also try the statewide VINE inmate locator, which covers Steele County and updates in real time. For state prison inmates, use the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator. Court records for Steele County cases are available through the Minnesota Trial Court Public Access system.
Note: The PDF roster is updated regularly but may not reflect the most recent bookings. For real-time custody status, use the VINE system or call the detention center at (507) 446-7000.
How to Request Steele County Booking Photos
Many Steele County jail mugshots are already available in the public PDF roster. For official copies or photos not in the PDF, contact the Detention Center at (507) 446-7000 or the Sheriff's Office at (507) 444-3800. Written records requests are accepted.
Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, booking photographs are classified as public data in Minnesota. You do not need to explain why you want them. The county has 10 business days to respond to a records request under Minnesota Statute 13.03. For written requests, send to: Steele County Sheriff's Office, 204 East Pearl Street, Owatonna, MN 55060, Attention: Records - Mugshot Request. Include the full name of the person and approximate booking date if you know it.
Minnesota Law and Steele County Jail Records
Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act is the foundation for public access to jail records. Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, arrest and booking data is public. That includes names, booking dates, charges, and photos. Steele County follows this law. The PDF roster is a direct result of the county's obligation to make this data available to the public.
Two sheriff-specific statutes round out the legal framework. Minnesota Statute 641.05 requires the sheriff to keep a jail register for everyone in custody. That register is public. Minnesota Statute 641.08 sets out what the public can access from that register. Both statutes support your right to request records from Steele County. The county's publication of a PDF roster with booking photos is a practical way of meeting these obligations.
For inmates who move to state prison after time in Steele County, their records come under Minnesota Statute 13.85, which governs correctional data held by the DOC. Criminal background checks go through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at chs.state.mn.us.
Note: All persons listed in the Steele County detention system are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Steele County Detention Center Images
The screenshot below shows the Steele County Detention Center main page at steelecountymn.gov, where the public inmate roster PDF is linked.
Access the Steele County Detention Center page to find the current inmate roster PDF and facility information.
The image below shows the Steele County Sheriff's Office page with department contact information.
Contact the Steele County Sheriff's Office at (507) 444-3800 for formal records requests and mugshot inquiries.
The county's official page shown below provides general access to Steele County departments and services.
Visit steelecountymn.gov for the full range of Steele County government services, including the Sheriff's Office and Detention Center links.
Nearby Counties
Search jail mugshot records in counties near Steele County in south central Minnesota.