Ever Wanted to See Inside the Stearns County Jail Without Going to Jail? Here’s Your Chance

(KNSI) — Due to popular demand, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office is offering another behind-the-scenes look at the justice center.

Sheriff Steve Soyka explained to KNSI News that they’re opening the doors for the public again because “we have the opportunity, much like we did last year, to engage the community, show them the jails, show them the sheriff’s office, show them dispatch, and [show them] our facility.”

The department held a similar event in January 2023, and so many people showed up that they had to stop giving tours well before the event was supposed to be over. Soyka wanted to give those left in the cold a chance to get a peek.

Registration is open for tours on Thursday, March 21st or Saturday, March 23rd. The guided tours take about 45 minutes to an hour and will be in groups of 20. The Thursday tour will be from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and the Saturday tour will be from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Anyone wanting to take the trip through the jail must dress appropriately and leave their cell phone in the car.

Registration is required. Email Lindsay.beckers@stearnscountymn.gov to sign up.

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