Otter Tail County Booking Reports
Otter Tail County Booking Reports are public records maintained by the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The Sheriff's website hosts a live in-custody list with detailed data fields including photos, charge descriptions, bond amounts, and projected release dates, making it one of the more complete county booking portals in western Minnesota. This page explains how to use that portal, what each data field means, and where to find court and state records connected to Otter Tail County arrests.
Otter Tail County Booking Reports
Otter Tail County In-Custody List
The Otter Tail County Sheriff publishes a live in-custody list at co.otter-tail.mn.us. The list is generated directly from the jail management system and reflects the current population at the jail on South Mill Street in Fergus Falls.
The data fields in the Otter Tail County custody list are more detailed than most counties. Each entry shows the person's MNI number, sex, age, booking number, intake date, charges, photo, bond amount, and projected release date. The MNI is the Minnesota statewide identification number assigned to individuals in the criminal justice system. Having the MNI makes it easier to cross-reference records across agencies.
The photo field is notable. Many counties do not publish booking photos online. Otter Tail County includes them in the public portal, which makes visual identification possible without a separate records request. Bond amounts and projected release dates help family members and attorneys track custody status without calling the jail for every update.
The list refreshes automatically. If a person is released or a new booking occurs, the portal updates without manual intervention. Check the timestamp on the page to see when data was last pulled from the jail system.
Sheriff's Office Contact Information
| Sheriff Office Address | 417 Court Street S., Fergus Falls, MN 56537 |
|---|---|
| Jail Address | 416 S. Mill St., Fergus Falls, MN 56537 |
| Sheriff Phone | 218-998-8555 |
| Jail Info Phone | 218-998-8556 |
| County Website | co.otter-tail.mn.us |
| Judicial District | Seventh Judicial District |
| County Seat | Fergus Falls |
The jail and Sheriff's Office are on adjacent streets in Fergus Falls. For general inquiries, call the main line at 218-998-8555. For specific questions about a person's custody, call the jail info line at 218-998-8556. Written public data requests should be mailed to the Court Street address.
Understanding the Data Fields
The Otter Tail County in-custody list uses several fields that are worth explaining. The MNI is not an arrest number. It is a permanent state ID assigned to a person when they first enter the Minnesota criminal justice system. The same MNI follows the person across agencies and counties.
The booking number is specific to the current custody event. Each time someone is booked into the Otter Tail County jail, they get a new booking number. If the same person is booked multiple times over the years, each event has a different booking number. The MNI stays the same.
The intake date is when the person was first processed into the jail on this booking. The projected release date is an estimate based on sentence length or bail conditions, and it can change if a court modifies the terms. Bond amount reflects what a judge set for release. Not all entries have a bond amount set, particularly for people being held without bail.
Charge information in the portal shows the offense as recorded at booking. Under Minn. Stat. ยง 13.82, this data is public. The charge may be updated as the case proceeds through court, but the booking portal reflects the arrest charge unless manually updated.
Note: The projected release date is an estimate and may change due to court modifications, new charges, or hold requests from other jurisdictions.
Court Records for Otter Tail County Cases
Otter Tail County is in the Seventh Judicial District. The district court in Fergus Falls handles criminal cases from county arrests. Court records are available for free through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). Search by name or by the case number if you have it from the booking record.
MCRO shows filed documents, scheduled hearings, and current case status. It does not include the full content of every document, but it tells you what has been filed and when. For full case files or certified copies, contact the Otter Tail County Court Administrator. Fees apply for certified documents.
If a booking in the portal shows charges that have been dismissed or reduced, the court record will reflect the updated charge. The jail portal does not always update charge information after a court hearing, so MCRO is the more accurate source for current case status.
Statewide Minnesota Booking Resources
The Otter Tail County in-custody list covers the local jail only. For records from other counties or the state prison system, use these tools.
The Minnesota BCA Criminal History Search pulls records from all 87 Minnesota counties. A BCA search returns any criminal history statewide, not just Otter Tail County. Some search types carry a fee.
The Minnesota DOC Offender Locator covers people serving time in state prisons. If a case from Otter Tail County resulted in a prison sentence, that person will be in the DOC system rather than on the county jail roster. Both tools are needed for a complete picture.
VINE sends automatic alerts when a person's custody status changes. Register at vinelink.com or call 1-877-MN-4-VINE. The service is free and covers both county jails and state facilities in Minnesota.
Nearby Counties
Otter Tail County is in west-central Minnesota. It borders Douglas, Todd, Wadena, Becker, Wilkin, and Grant counties. Each runs its own jail and booking records system.