Scott Co Jail in Shakopee, MN is a county detention facility operated by the Scott County Sheriff's Office. Most people here are awaiting trial or sentencing - this is not a prison, and most stays are measured in days or months, not years. If someone you care about was just booked here, you have questions. Start with the one that matters most right now.
If you are not certain they are there, the fastest way to confirm is the Scott County inmate search or InmateAid's inmate locator, which searches across Minnesota facilities by name.
Booking takes time - sometimes several hours after arrest. If the search comes back empty, wait a few hours and try again before assuming they have been transferred somewhere else. You can also pull their arrest record and booking details to confirm the charges and facility assignment. For the most direct answer, call Scott Co Jail at 952-496-8314.
Most people booked at Scott Co Jail appear before a judge within 24 to 48 hours. At that first appearance the judge sets the bail amount - or denies bail - based on the charges, the person's history, and whether they are considered a flight risk.
If bail is set, your family member can be released by paying the full amount or by using a bail bondsman, who typically charges 10 percent of the total as a non-refundable fee. If bail is denied or the amount is unaffordable, they remain at Scott Co Jail until the case resolves. InmateAid's bail and bond guide walks through every option including what to do if you cannot afford a bondsman.
Right after arrest, your family member goes through intake at Scott Co Jail - identity verification, medical screening, property inventory, and classification. Classification places them in a housing unit based on the charges, prior record, and intake behavior. It is not a punishment. It is how the facility manages a population that ranges from people picked up on minor warrants to individuals facing serious charges.
For the first 24 to 48 hours, phone access and visitation are typically unavailable while booking completes. Once they are assigned to a housing unit, those channels open up. InmateAid's what happens in jail guide covers the full intake process step by step so you know what to expect.
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them. Calls from Scott Co Jail go through Inmate Calling Solutions (ICSolutions) and all calls are recorded except attorney calls. Set up a Inmate Calling Solutions (ICSolutions) account before the first call so the connection goes through without delay.
Phone contact is more important than most people realize going into this. A regular call - even a short one - makes a measurable difference in how someone holds up inside. Do not let the setup friction stop you. Visit InmateAid's jail calls page for step-by-step account setup, current rate information, and tips for keeping funds available.
Visitation hours at Scott Co Jail are set by the facility and can change without much notice. Before making the trip, call 952-496-8314 to confirm current hours, any advance registration requirements, and what you are allowed to bring.
The most common mistake families make is showing up without confirming first - and that results in a wasted trip and a missed visit for your family member. General rules across most Minnesota county jails: dress conservatively, avoid colors that resemble inmate uniforms, leave your phone in your car, and bring valid government-issued ID. Children may be permitted with specific requirements depending on the facility. InmateAid's visitation guide has a full checklist you can run through before you go.
Visitors to the Scott County Jail must register with ICSolutions, the designated provider for video visitation and phone services. Registration can be completed online at www.icsolutions.com, or via an on-site kiosk at the jail. Scheduling is required for all visits, and late arrivals will not be accommodated with extensions. Inmates actively engaged in programs, medical appointments, or work details will not be excused for visitation. Visitors who have been incarcerated at the Scott County Jail within the past six months are ineligible to visit. Additionally, inmates may choose to decline any visit.
On-Site Visitation Rules
On-site visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance by contacting 952-496-8327 during business hours (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM). Only one adult visitor per session is permitted, and they must be at least 18 years old with valid identification. Visitors exhibiting illness or symptoms will have their visits canceled and may be asked to leave the premises. Inmates are allowed up to two visits per day, and minors cannot be left unattended in the lobby.
Behavioral guidelines are strictly enforced. Disruptive visitors, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, use offensive language or engage in inappropriate conduct, including sexual gestures, will have their visits terminated and may be barred from future visits. Tampering with or damaging facility equipment will result in immediate termination of the visit and potential legal consequences. Bringing contraband, such as weapons or controlled substances, into the facility is strictly prohibited and will result in arrest.
On-site visits for children are permitted only on Wednesdays and must adhere to specific conditions. Visiting minors, aged 0-17, must be the child or sibling of the inmate and preapproved for the visit. Only one child may accompany an adult visitor per session, and the inmate must request approval for the child to be added to the visitation list.
For on-site visiting hours, visitors should consult ICSolutions.
Off-Site (Remote) Visitation Rules
Remote visits must be scheduled at least 16 hours in advance through ICSolutions and cost $7.50 per session. Each visit is limited to 30 minutes and is monitored and recorded. Inappropriate behavior, noncompliance with facility rules, or revealing attire will result in the termination of the visit without a refund. Visits may be canceled by either party before the scheduled start time for a refund. Cell phones are prohibited during remote visits unless used for the session itself. Visitors are encouraged to check ICSolutions for available visiting times.
Money on the books - also called the commissary or trust account - gives your family member access to hygiene items, snacks, phone time, and postage. It is one of the most practical things you can do and it has a direct effect on their daily comfort.
Scott Co Jail accepts deposits through approved channels that typically include online deposit, phone deposit, or a kiosk at the facility. Use your family member's full legal name and booking number exactly as they appear in the jail's system - any error in the name or number will delay or reject the deposit. InmateAid's send money page lists the specific deposit methods accepted at Scott Co Jail and walks through the process.
A letter or a printed photo costs almost nothing to send and means far more than most people outside appreciate. Scott Co Jail accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 301 Fuller St S. Put their full legal name and booking number on every piece of mail.
Standard rules at most Minnesota county jails: plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Photos should be standard print size with nothing written on the back. Mail that does not meet the facility's standards will be rejected - and the facility may not notify you that it was. Keep it simple.
InmateAid's send mail service lets you write and send directly from your phone or computer. We print on approved stock and mail it for you, so rejection for formatting is not a risk.
Books and magazines must come new, ordered directly from the publisher or through an online retailer - not shipped from your home address. Facilities require this to prevent contraband. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher. Anything shipped from a personal address will be turned away.
County jail procedures, visitation rules, phone rates, inmate search tools, bail processes, and what happens at release all vary by state. Minnesota has its own rules and its own agencies, and what applies in one state does not always apply here.
InmateAid's Minnesota prison resources hub covers all of it - written specifically for families navigating the Minnesota system. Start there when you need answers that go beyond what this facility page covers.
County jail time is hard in a way that is different from anything else. The uncertainty - not knowing how long, not knowing what comes next - wears on everyone. What you can control is the connection. Calls, letters, visits, money on the books. Every one of those things tells your family member that someone out here is paying attention and is not going anywhere.
InmateAid was built for exactly this. Use us.