Sheriff’s office highlights inmate ‘REC’ weekend program, reports January case and jail statistics

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office presented its January report on March 11, covering complaint and citation counts, jail statistics and a detailed overview of the REC weekend program — a volunteer-run reentry and spiritual program that staff and volunteers said helps inmates prepare for release.

Monthly activity and enforcement figures

Sheriff’s office staff reported 766 complaints received in January, of which 42 were criminal complaints and 724 were noncriminal; they said 34 criminal cases were cleared. Civil process work included serving 46 papers and collecting $800 in civil-process receipts; 391 executions (money judgments) were received to process.

Traffic and criminal highlights for January included 14 speeding citations, 203 verbal warnings, 18 written warnings and 14 driving-after-revocation (DAR) citations. The office noted 8 probable-wrongdoing incidents categorized as PWIs (seven alcohol-related and one drug-related) and eight theft reports that month.

Drug enforcement and task-force work

The sheriff’s staff said drug-investigation numbers were down compared with the previous January partly because partner agencies — notably St. Cloud — handled investigations themselves, permitting local deputies to focus on county matters. The Central Minnesota Regional Drug Task Force partners with several county and city agencies; sheriff’s staff described drug interdiction stops and K-9 activity that led to methamphetamine detections.

Jail population and programs

Morrison County averaged about 20 in-county inmates in the local jail in January and an overall average near 41 when including out-of-county inmates. The office reported $35,420 in revenue tied to out-of-county housing for the month and described “pay-to-stay” and booking-fee collections; they said the jail collects a portion of those fees, but many inmates lack funds and outstanding balances can go to collections.

REC weekend program

Tim (REC coordinator) described REC 53 (the most recent weekend program) and said 24 offenders attended and completed the weekend. More than 40 volunteers helped deliver the program; volunteers run educational, spiritual and peer-support sessions, offer testimony, and provide a post-weekend “mini reunion.” Participants receive a packet, a cross handmade by volunteers, and a certificate of completion. Tim and sheriff’s staff said the program is volunteer-led, interdenominational, and a recurring activity that aims to reduce recidivism by providing faith-based mentoring and practical reentry support.

Selected quotes

- REC coordinator Tim: the weekend program “is huge… it is so important” and many participants keep the handmade crosses and certificates as reminders of the weekend.

Next steps and context

Sheriff’s staff said they are negotiating contract renewals for housing inmates with host counties and noted statewide corrections capacity and facility-age questions raised in other reports. No board action was requested during the presentation; commissioners thanked staff and volunteers and encouraged continued support for volunteer programs in the jail.