Sheriff

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COVID-19 Response

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is taking precautions to protect staff and inmates from contacting COVID-19 infections. Our lobby is open to the public with social distancing guidelines in place. Whenever possible, our staff are conducting business through telephone, email, and US mail. Visitation for jailed inmates is being conducted by appointment only on jail visiting days. To make an appointment to visit an inmate, please call 320-968-8180 at least 24 hours in advance of your visit. We are accepting applications for permits to carry in person in our lobby Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Applications for permits to purchase a pistol may be submitted to our office in person, via US mail, or via email to sheriff.inbox@co.benton.mn.us. 

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Sheriff’s Office to keep Benton County safe by enforcing laws, providing public safety services, and building community partnerships with respect and integrity.

Vision Statement

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office strives to reduce crime and build community trust while ensuring accountability to the people we serve.

Strategic Plan

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office has created a strategic plan to assist in guiding and focusing our efforts on the mission of keeping Benton County safe by enforcing laws, providing public safety services, and building community partnerships with respect and integrity. To access the overview of this strategic plan and a graphic representation of the plan:

Key Responsibilities

The sheriff, as chief county law enforcement officer, is charged with keeping and preserving the peace of the county. The sheriff’s duties include:

  • Investigating felonies and arresting those responsible
  • Housing inmates in the county jail
  • Transporting inmates through the court system
  • Providing for the security of the court
  • Conducting search and rescue operations within the county
  • Serving civil actions and notices
  • Collecting delinquent taxes
  • Executing other processes as required by law to be served or posted on behalf of the state or county

Employee Makeup

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office employs 84 people including 29 licensed peace officers and 8 public safety dispatchers. The 8 public safety dispatchers answer 911 calls made from the unincorporated areas of Benton County as well as the cities of Rice, Sauk Rapids and Foley. 

Citizen Volunteers

Trained citizen volunteers assist the Sheriff’s Office in the 20 member Mounted Patrol Unit, the 10 member Reserve Deputy Unit, and in a variety of program for inmates in the jail.

Jurisdiction

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office, while maintaining law enforcement jurisdiction throughout the entire county, exercises primary law enforcement jurisdiction in the unincorporated areas of the county. The Sheriff’s Office works in close cooperation with our partner law enforcement agencies who share jurisdiction in all or part of Benton County. 

Sheriff’s Office Building

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office was built in 1996 and its jail can house up to 102 inmates. 

Fees for service

Payment for any fees to the Sheriff’s Office must be made in cash or by check. We are unable to accept credit card payments at this time.