Grand Forks County Jail & Inmate Roster
Arrests in Grand Forks County, North Dakota are booked into the county jail, which is run by the sheriff's office. The county publishes its own roster, and it is separate from the state prison system.
Grand Forks County jail and sheriff
| County | Grand Forks County |
|---|---|
| Population | 73,771 (2024) |
Where a field is blank, the county does not publish that detail on an official source we can cite.
How to find someone in the county jail
- Call the jail directly if the name does not appear; online rosters lag behind actual bookings.
- Search the county's official roster for the person's full legal name.
- If the person has already been sentenced, search the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation offender locator instead.
- Have their date of birth ready — it is the detail that separates people with common names.
- If the charge is federal, search the Bureau of Prisons system, which is separate from both.
Cities in Grand Forks County
1 city in Grand Forks County is covered, each with its own inmate search and bail information.
The North Dakota state prison system
Sentenced prisoners in North Dakota are held by the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, not by Grand Forks County. A person stops appearing on the county roster once transferred.
How the Grand Forks County jail system works
A county jail holds people from the moment of arrest until the case is resolved or a sentence is served. It is run by the county sheriff, funded by the county, and is entirely separate from the state prison system. Anyone sentenced to more than a short term will eventually be transferred out of it.
The sequence is normally booking, a first appearance, then either release on conditions or continued detention. Bail is decided at that appearance, and it can be revisited later if circumstances change.
What to ask when you call
A single call to the jail or the sheriff's office can answer most of what a family needs to know in the first days. Having the questions ready makes the call much shorter.
- The booking number and the facility housing unit.
- The next court date and the courtroom.
- The bail amount and the accepted payment method.
- Whether the person has already been assigned counsel.
- What identification you need to visit, and the visiting hours.
- Whether there are any restrictions on calls or visits in this case.
Bail in North Dakota
Bail for arrests in Grand Forks County is set under North Dakota law. The governing provisions are listed below.
-
N.D. Code § 29-08-02
Admission to bail defined - Delegation of authority by magistrate
Admission to bail is the order of a competent court or magistrate that the defendant be discharged from actual custody upon an undertaking with sufficient sureties for the defendant's appearance.
North Dakota Century Code (official, North Dakota Legislative Branch) (opens in a new tab) -
N.D. Code § 29-21-21
Admission to bail
If an offense which the court is without jurisdiction to try was committed within the jurisdiction of another county of this state, the court may direct the defendant to be committed for such time as it deems reasonable to await a warrant from the proper county for the defendant's arrest, or if the…
North Dakota Century Code (official, North Dakota Legislative Branch) (opens in a new tab)
Bail in North Dakota
-
N.D. Code § 29-08-02
Admission to bail defined - Delegation of authority by magistrate
Admission to bail is the order of a competent court or magistrate that the defendant be discharged from actual custody upon an undertaking with sufficient sureties for the defendant's appearance.
North Dakota Century Code (official, North Dakota Legislative Branch) (opens in a new tab) -
N.D. Code § 29-21-21
Admission to bail
If an offense which the court is without jurisdiction to try was committed within the jurisdiction of another county of this state, the court may direct the defendant to be committed for such time as it deems reasonable to await a warrant from the proper county for the defendant's arrest, or if the…
North Dakota Century Code (official, North Dakota Legislative Branch) (opens in a new tab)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · retrieved 2026-09-16
Frequently asked questions
Where are people arrested in Grand Forks County held?
At the county jail, operated by the county. Cities within the county generally do not run their own long-term jails, so bookings are transferred to the county facility.
How do I find someone in Grand Forks County jail?
Contact the Grand Forks County sheriff's office directly. Where no public online roster is published, a phone call is the only reliable route.
What is the county seat of Grand Forks County?
Grand Forks County publishes its county seat, as does the U.S. Census Bureau.
How do I post bail in Grand Forks County?
Bail is set by a judge under North Dakota law and is normally paid to the court or the county, not to the jail. Confirm the accepted payment method and the exact amount with the court before travelling.
Does Grand Forks County publish mugshots?
Some sheriffs publish booking photographs and some do not. Where a roster is published, the sheriff's own site governs what is shown and for how long. We do not republish individual records.
How long are people held in Grand Forks County jail?
That depends on the case. People awaiting trial are held until bail is posted or the case concludes; people serving a sentence are held for its duration, then transferred or released.
Last reviewed and updated: