Search Otter Tail County Arrest Records
Otter Tail County arrest records and jail custody information are managed by the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office in Fergus Falls. The sheriff's office posts public records, maintains a custody list, and publishes more than 17 agency policies online as required by Minnesota law. You can contact the office by phone or email to ask about current inmates, request copies of records, or get information on active warrants.
Otter Tail County Overview
Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office
The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office is at 417 Court Street S, Level 1-A in Fergus Falls. The office handles patrol coverage for the county, jail operations, civil process, and warrant service. Otter Tail County is a large county by land area, with hundreds of lakes and rural townships spread across western central Minnesota. The sheriff's department covers a wide geography with multiple deputy patrol zones.
The sheriff's office publishes its agency policies online in compliance with MN Rule 6700.1615, which requires law enforcement agencies to post certain policies publicly. There are 17 or more policies posted on the sheriff's website. These include use of force, vehicle pursuits, body worn cameras, domestic abuse response, and more. This is part of the department's commitment to transparency in law enforcement operations.
| Office | Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 417 Court Street S, Level 1-A, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 |
| Phone | (218) 998-8555 |
| sheriff@ottertailcounty.gov | |
| Website | ottertailcounty.gov |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, business hours |
The screenshot below shows the Otter Tail County main website, which serves as the portal for county services including the sheriff's department.
Visit ottertailcounty.gov to reach the sheriff's page, jail custody information, and other county services.
The county portal provides direct access to sheriff services, jail info, and public records resources in Fergus Falls.
Otter Tail County Jail Custody List
The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office maintains a custody list showing current jail inmates. This is available through the sheriff's page on the county website. The list includes names, charges, and photos for people currently held in the county jail. If you cannot find it directly on the website, call the sheriff's office at (218) 998-8555 or send an email to sheriff@ottertailcounty.gov. Staff can confirm custody status and booking details.
VINELink at vinelink.com also covers Otter Tail County. This free service lets you search for an inmate by name and sign up for notifications when their custody status changes. It is a useful backup if you cannot reach the county website or the sheriff's office by phone. VINELink covers all 87 Minnesota counties, so it works no matter which facility holds the person you are searching for.
For court records tied to an arrest in Otter Tail County, use Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). The MCRO system covers the 7th Judicial District, which includes Otter Tail County. You can search by name or case number to find filings, hearing schedules, and case outcomes.
Note: Otter Tail County is a large county with many communities. If you are searching for a record from a specific city, confirm which law enforcement agency handled the arrest, as some larger cities like Fergus Falls have their own police departments.
Publicly Posted Agency Policies
One thing that sets Otter Tail County apart is the breadth of agency policies published online. Under MN Rule 6700.1615, Minnesota law enforcement agencies must post certain policies. The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office goes further, posting more than 17 policies on their website. These policies govern how deputies are trained to handle specific situations and are public records. They include:
- Policy 300: Use of Force
- Policy 307: Vehicle Pursuits
- Policy 310: Domestic Abuse
- Policy 326: Registered Predatory Offender
- Policy 401: Bias-Based Policing
- Policy 431: Body Worn Cameras
- Policy 601: Sexual Assault Investigations
These are available at ottertailcounty.gov/department/county-sheriff. Reviewing these policies can help you understand how deputies are expected to handle specific situations, including the use of force and the handling of domestic calls. This level of transparency is part of Minnesota's broader push for law enforcement accountability.
The screenshot below is from the Otter Tail County sheriff's office page, showing the department's public-facing resources including posted policies.
The Otter Tail County Sheriff page links to published policies, the custody list, and contact information for the department.
The sheriff's page includes patrol information, agency policies, and how to reach the office for records or custody inquiries.
Requesting Otter Tail County Arrest Records
Arrest records in Otter Tail County are public under Minn. Stat. ยง 13.82. This covers basic booking data: name, charges, date and time of arrest, and arresting agency. For copies, contact the sheriff's office at (218) 998-8555 or sheriff@ottertailcounty.gov. You can submit a written request by mail to 417 Court Street S, Level 1-A, Fergus Falls, MN 56537, or visit in person during business hours.
The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act governs how requests are handled. Agencies must respond within 10 business days. Standard copy fees of about $0.25 per page apply. Some data, including active investigation records and juvenile files, is withheld. For court case records, use the free MCRO system. For statewide conviction records, the BCA criminal history search at chs.state.mn.us is the main tool.
The screenshot below is from the Otter Tail County court records page, which covers how to access case filings and related records.
Court records for Otter Tail County cases are available through the MCRO system, and the county also links to court resources from the main website.
Court case records for arrests in Otter Tail County are searchable through the statewide MCRO system and linked from the county portal.
Statewide Records Tools
Several state tools supplement what Otter Tail County provides locally. The BCA criminal history search returns conviction records statewide for a fee. This is more complete than arrest records because it includes court outcomes, not just bookings. The Minnesota DOC Public Viewer shows people currently in state prison. If someone was sentenced to a state facility rather than the county jail, look there. VINELink at vinelink.com covers both county and state facilities and allows release notifications.
Nearby Counties
Otter Tail County is in west-central Minnesota. These bordering counties also maintain public arrest records.