The Mellette County Jail is a 10 bed jail in the city of White River, Mellette County, South Dakota. Offenders arrested for misdemeanors and felonies in this county are brought here for booking and processing, and if their crime requires it, are incarcerated until they either get bail or are released from custody on their own recognizance.
Those who are found guilty and sentenced to a term of less than one year, will do their time in this county. Those sentenced to longer terms will be sent to either the South Dakota State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 605-259-3384, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.
It's always a good idea to find out and save the inmate's jail ID number or booking number as you may need this for sending mail or other communication needs. If you can't locate it online, you can call the Mellette County Jail at 605-259-3384 to get it.
Phone: 605-259-3384
Physical Address:
South 2nd and Mickinley
White River, SD 57579-0189
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name
PO Box 189
White River, SD 57579-0189
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name
PO Box 189
White River, SD 57579-0189
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Mellette County Jail, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 605-259-3384 for the information you are looking for.
Mellette County Jail Inmate Search
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about finding an inmate in the Mellette County Jail, how the jail rosters work and what happens after an offender is arrested and booked. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-259-3384 for further assistance.
The Mellette County Jail maintains an average of 10 offenders in custody on any given day. The Mellette County Jail has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Mellette County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 200 offenders.
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Mellette County Jail is medium security to best meet the needs of the local community. It is located within White River, South Dakota and is operated by the Mellette County Sheriff’s Office. With the majority of inmates being released or transferred before two years have been reached, most of the inmates present are waiting for their trial or are waiting for their sentencing before their transfer. The facility offers a full range of services and permits inmates who meet the criteria to work jobs within the jail, including laundry, cleaning, and commissary duties. Those who are incarcerated for any amount of time will have access to make phone calls to their friends and family, which can be funded by through the jail.
Video visitation is provided and can be accessed from home on any internet device that has a camera and a microphone, allowing inmates to have visits with friend and family around the country. Visits are permitted between the hours of 9am and 6pm during all weekdays, and during some daytime hours during the weekends. Using video visitation offers increased flexibility on scheduling, concluding, and attending visits. The commissary account of an inmate can be funded at jailatm.com, and this will allow them to purchase additional clothing items as needed, as well as hygiene items and some food or games.
To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Mellette County Jail, call the jail’s booking line at 605-259-3384.
There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.
Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.
If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.
Mellette County Jail Booking Roster
After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Mellette County for booking.
Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.
Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Mellette County and other South Dakota and USA jurisdictions.
If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.
It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.
The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.
During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.
Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.
At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.
If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Mellette County Jail will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.
Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.
Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.
If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.
How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Mellette County Jail? What is the Schedule?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Mellette County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-259-3384 for further assistance.
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Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Mellette County Jail?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Mellette County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-259-3384 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Mellette County Jail?
Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Jail
Bring money to the jail in person.
Either the jail personnel will process the Inmate Account payment or you will use a Jail ATM self-serve kiosk in the lobbies that accepts cash, debit or credit cards.
Option 2 - Deposit Inmate Money Online
Mellette County Jail uses Jail ATM to process all online deposits to an inmate's account. The company charges you a small fee for doing so, but the fee probably isn't as much as gas and parking would cost to take it to the jail in person.
Option 3 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mailing a deposit takes more time to process than the other methods but can be done if you live too far away to bring it in person and you don't have a debit/credit card for online deposits. Never send cash. Always send a Money Order from the US Post Office, a reputable bank or Western Union. Call the Mellette County Jail first as they may want you to do this online or at the jail kiosk instead.
Make the Money Order out to the inmate's name and put their Inmate ID# in memo section of the Money Order.
Inmate's Full Name
PO Box 189
White River, SD 57579-0189
Option 4 - Make an Inmate Deposit with Jail ATM over the Phone by calling 877-810-0914
To do this you will need the inmate's offender # (inmate ID #) and full legal name.
To deposit money online for an inmate in Mellette County Jail follow these steps:
For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Mellette County Jail, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Mellette County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Mellette County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-259-3384 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Mellette County Jail?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Mellette County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-259-3384 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the Mellette County Jail, and what can I send them?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Mellette County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-259-3384 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Mellette County Jail, and what can I purchase?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Mellette County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-259-3384 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Mellette County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Mellette County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-259-3384 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the Mellette County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Mellette County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-259-3384 for further assistance.
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What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Mellette County?
This facility, known as "Mellette County Jail" is also known as Mellette County Jail & Sheriff, Mellette County Jail & Sheriff, South Dakota, Mellette.
