Washington Co Jail in Stillwater, MN is a county detention facility operated by the Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington Co Jail at 651-430-7900.
Most people booked at Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington Co Jail go through Securus Tech® and all calls are recorded except attorney calls. Set up a Securus Tech® 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 Washington Co Jail are set by the facility and can change without much notice. Before making the trip, call 651-430-7900 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.
Visitation at the Washington County Jail in Minnesota is subject to strict guidelines to ensure safety, security, and compliance with data privacy laws. To visit an inmate, you must be listed on their approved visitation list. Jail staff cannot confirm whether you are on an inmate's list due to privacy regulations, so it is possible to have an appointment but still be turned away if you are not listed.
Visiting Hours
- Friday - Monday: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Visitors are encouraged to call 651-430-7900 before their visit to confirm visitation has not been canceled for the day. It is also recommended that visitors review jail rules and prohibited items prior to arrival.
Visiting Requirements and Rules
Visitors must present a valid government-issued photo ID with a date of birth. IDs from schools, workplaces, or stores are not acceptable. Free lockers are provided in the jail lobby for storing personal items, including outerwear, cell phones, purses, and keys. All visitors must pass through a metal detector and adhere to appropriate clothing standards; revealing attire will result in denied visitation.
The jail prohibits contraband, and any attempt to bring unauthorized items will lead to arrest and charges. Visitors with outstanding warrants will also be taken into custody. Inmates in segregation are limited to one pre-approved visit per week, while those on lockdown are not permitted to receive visitors. Inmates may decline visits, and they will not be removed from programs or work to accommodate visitation.
Special Considerations
Minor children of inmates are allowed to visit if they are listed on the inmate’s approved visiting list. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times and cannot be left unattended in the lobby or vehicles. Baby strollers, cribs, and carriers are not allowed in the facility. Visitors are responsible for supervising their children during visits, and disruptive behavior may result in the visit being terminated.
Sanitizing wipes are provided, and visitors are asked to clean their booth after use. Visits may also be terminated if a visitor needs to leave the booth during the session, so it is recommended that children use the restroom beforehand.
These policies ensure a safe and secure environment while facilitating meaningful connections between inmates and their loved ones.
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.
Washington 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 Washington 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. Washington Co Jail accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 15015 62nd St N. 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.