Minnesota Inmate Search & Jail Information
How to Find Someone in Jail in Minnesota
If someone you know has been arrested in Minnesota, finding out where they are being held is often the first step toward helping them.
Minnesota county jails, state correctional facilities, and public custody notification systems maintain different types of records. Knowing which resource to check can save time and help you understand what to do next.
This guide explains how to search Minnesota jail rosters, locate a person after an arrest, understand booking information, and find out whether bail assistance may be available.
Updated
- Open 24/7Available 24/7
- MN StatewideServing Minnesota Statewide
Quick answer
The Short Answer: How to Find Someone in Jail in Minnesota
Start with the official jail roster for the county where the arrest may have occurred. Search using the person's full name when available. If you do not know the county, try Minnesota VINE or contact the appropriate local law enforcement agency. For someone sentenced to state prison or otherwise under DOC jurisdiction, use the Minnesota Department of Corrections locator. If the person does not appear, the booking may not yet be published, they may have been transferred, or their record may not be publicly available.
On this page
Guide Contents
Section 01 of 15
Where to Start Looking for Someone in Jail
Minnesota does not have one public roster that covers every jail, prison and detention facility. Different agencies hold people at different stages, and each keeps its own records. Knowing which system someone is likely in is the fastest way to find them.
- County jails hold most people right after an arrest, while they wait for a first court appearance, and people serving shorter local sentences. Each county sheriff runs its own jail and roster.
- Local detention facilities include county workhouses and regional or shared jails. Anoka County, for example, runs both a jail and a workhouse, so it can matter which one you check.
- Minnesota state prisons are run by the Department of Corrections. Under Minnesota Statutes §609.105 (opens an official external site in a new tab), a felony sentence of one year or more commits the person to the Commissioner of Corrections.
- Federal custody applies to federal charges and immigration holds. Some federal detainees are housed in county jails under agreements; others appear in the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator (opens an official external site in a new tab) or the ICE detainee locator (opens an official external site in a new tab).
Which tool to use
- 01
Arrested recently
Check the county jail roster where the arrest happened, then call the jail if the name is missing.
- 02
County unknown
Search Minnesota VINE, then check nearby county rosters or call the arresting agency.
- 03
Sentenced to prison
Use the Minnesota DOC locator for people committed to the Commissioner of Corrections.
- 04
Court dates or charges
Use MCRO for court records — usually by case number for a pending criminal case.
Section 02 of 15
How to Search Minnesota County Jail Rosters
Most searches start and end with a county jail roster. The steps are similar in every county, even though the websites look different. Our Sherburne County inmate search guide walks through one county's tool in detail.
- 01
Identify the jurisdiction
Work out where the arrest most likely happened — the city, the highway or the county — and which agency made it.
- 02
Find the official site
Go to the county sheriff's office or detention center website. Use the official government page, not a third-party listing site.
- 03
Open the roster
Look for a link labelled jail roster, inmate search, in-custody list or booking report.
- 04
Enter identifying details
Start with the last name, then add the first name. Some tools also accept a booking number or date of birth.
- 05
Review the record
Note the booking date, holding facility, custody status and any charges or bail shown.
- 06
Contact the jail
Call the jail when the record is missing, unclear or may be out of date. Staff can confirm what they are allowed to share.
Common search problems
A search that comes back empty does not always mean the person is not there. Name spelling is the most common problem: try a shorter version of the last name, check hyphenated and double last names both ways, and search a legal first name instead of a nickname. Some people are booked under an alias or a different legal name.
Timing matters too. Booking can take several hours, and a roster may update on a schedule rather than instantly. Some records are also restricted from public release, so they never appear online.
Section 03 of 15
Minnesota County Jail & Inmate Search Directory
Choose a county below. Each GPS county guide explains that county's official inmate search, what its roster shows and how to confirm custody, and each jail guide covers booking, visits and release at that facility.
GPS county guides
Counties with GPS inmate search and jail guides
Step-by-step guides for the counties GPS Bail Bonds serves most. Every button opens a published GPS page.
The Sherburne County Jail in Elk River — how its online inmate locator works and how to confirm custody.
The Wright County Jail in Buffalo — searching the roster, booking details and posting bail.
The Stearns County Jail in St. Cloud — finding someone in custody and what the roster shows.
The Anoka County Jail and the separate Workhouse, both in the city of Anoka — which facility to check.
The Isanti County Jail in Cambridge — custody checks, booking information and release.
Official county websites
Other Minnesota county jail rosters
We have not published GPS guides for these counties yet. These links go straight to each county's official jail page, which may change without notice.
Official site · Hennepin County Sheriff's Office
Hennepin County
Minneapolis-area jail roster. The Sheriff's Office says it updates hourly and shows people released in the last 7 days.
Jail roster — Hennepin County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Official site · Ramsey County Sheriff's Office
Ramsey County
Adult Detention Center in St. Paul. The county says its roster updates every 30 minutes.
In-custody booking reports — Ramsey County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Official site · Dakota County
Dakota County
The county's official jail page, with its inmate information and contacts.
Dakota County Jail — Dakota County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Official site · Benton County Sheriff's Office
Benton County
The county jail in Foley, with visiting and inmate information.
Jail Division — Benton County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Official site · Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office
Mille Lacs County
The county jail in Milaca, with inmate, court-appearance and bail information.
County Jail — Mille Lacs County (opens an official external site in a new tab)
Rosters belong to the county
Every jail roster is run by the sheriff's office or the agency that operates the jail — not by GPS Bail Bonds. Information may lag behind a booking, transfer or release, so call the facility to confirm.
Section 04 of 15
How to Find Someone When You Don't Know the County
Families often know only that someone was arrested — not where. Narrow it down with what you do know:
- Last known location. Where were they going, and where were they last seen?
- Where the arrest happened. A traffic stop on a highway may be handled by the State Patrol or the county sheriff.
- The arresting agency. City police usually take people to their county's jail.
- Nearby county rosters. Border areas can involve more than one county — for example Wright and Anoka both border Hennepin County.
- Minnesota VINE. One search covers participating facilities.
- A phone call. The non-emergency line of the likely arresting agency can often tell you where people are taken.
The arresting jurisdiction and the holding facility may differ. A person arrested in one county can be held in another county's jail under a contract, or transferred to answer a warrant elsewhere. No single search system covers every facility or is always complete.
Section 05 of 15
Minnesota VINE Custody Search
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) lets anyone check the custody status of a person held in a participating facility and sign up for notifications when that status changes — for example, a release or transfer. Minnesota's VINE service is offered through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Office of Justice Programs, and searches run through the national VINELink website (opens an official external site in a new tab) or by phone at 1-877-664-8463.
VINE is useful when you don't know the county, because one search covers many facilities. Its records depend on the information each participating facility sends, so a recent booking or release may take time to appear. If VINE and a county roster disagree, the jail itself is the best source.
Section 06 of 15
Minnesota Department of Corrections Inmate Locator
The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) locator is for people who have been committed to the Commissioner of Corrections and are still under DOC jurisdiction. That includes people in state prison and some people released from prison who are still under supervision.
Use the DOC locator when someone has been sentenced to state prison, is on supervised release, or may have been returned to prison on a violation. It is not the right tool for a recent arrest: a person waiting in a county jail for a first court appearance is in county custody, not DOC custody.
Newly sentenced individuals may not appear right away. The DOC says it can take several business days for a newly sentenced person to display in the locator. Its name search matches the beginning of a name and includes names associated with the person's convictions.
Section 07 of 15
How to Read Minnesota Jail Booking Information
Public jail records can include the fields below. Available fields differ by facility — some rosters show bail and court dates, others show only a name and booking date. Our Minnesota jail roster guide explains roster terms and update schedules in more depth.
| Field | What it usually means | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The name the person was booked under. | May be a legal name, an alias or a misspelling. |
| Booking number | The jail's reference number for this stay. | Useful when you call the jail or a bail agent. |
| Booking date | When intake at the jail began. | Not always the same as the arrest time. |
| Custody status | In custody, released or transferred. | May lag behind the jail's actual status. |
| Charges | The offenses listed at booking. | Allegations only — not convictions. Charges can change once a prosecutor files. |
| Bail amount | Money bail set by the court or a warrant. | May be blank before a judge decides, and can change at a hearing. |
| Holding facility | The jail or unit holding the person. | Can change after a transfer. |
| Court information | Case number, court date or courtroom. | Confirm in court records or with the defense attorney. |
| Release status | Whether and how the person was released. | Some rosters keep released records only for a few days. |
Section 08 of 15
Why Someone May Not Appear in a Jail Search
An empty result is common, especially in the first hours after an arrest. Here is what it may mean and what to try next.
| Reason | What to do next |
|---|---|
| Booking not completed | Wait a few hours and search again. Booking can take several hours when a jail is busy. |
| Roster update delays | Many rosters refresh on a schedule. Check again later, or call the jail. |
| Wrong county or facility | Search neighboring counties and VINE, or call the arresting agency. |
| Name differences | Try a legal first name, a partial last name, hyphenated names and common misspellings. |
| Transfer to another facility | Ask the original jail where the person was sent. Transfers often follow a warrant from another county — see our warrant bail bonds page. |
| Release from custody | The person may have been released on a citation or by the court. Some rosters drop released records quickly. |
| Restricted public information | Some records are not published. The jail may confirm only limited details by phone. |
| Technical problems with the roster | Try another browser or later in the day, or call the jail directly. |
Section 09 of 15
How to Confirm an Inmate's Location
When you call a jail, have this ready so staff can find the right record quickly:
- The person's full legal name, including middle name if known.
- Date of birth, if known.
- The approximate date and time of the arrest.
- Where the arrest may have happened, and which agency was involved.
Facilities may limit what they can disclose by phone. Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act controls what information about people in custody is public, and staff must follow it. Be polite, ask what they are able to share, and never try to get around those privacy protections.
Each GPS jail guide lists the facility's official phone numbers — for example, the Sherburne County jail guide.
Section 10 of 15
How to Find Out if Bail Has Been Set
Some jail rosters list bail once it is set; many do not. Use more than one source when the amount matters. Once bail is confirmed, our guide to posting bail in Minnesota explains the next steps.
- 01
Official jail information
Ask the jail whether bail has been set and whether there is more than one bail option.
- 02
Court records
Look up the case in MCRO (opens an official external site in a new tab) once charges are filed. A pending criminal case is usually found by case number.
- 03
Defense attorney
The defense attorney or public defender can confirm bail after the first appearance.
- 04
Court administration
Court administration in the county handling the case can confirm what the court has ordered.
- 05
An authorized bail agent
A court-approved bail bond agent can help you confirm the amount and whether a bond is allowed.
Minnesota Court Records Online has limits. The court's MCRO FAQ (opens an official external site in a new tab) explains that a pending criminal case — one with no conviction — is not returned when you search by the defendant's name, so you usually need the case number. MCRO is a court record, not a live inmate search.
Many release orders list two choices: a higher amount with no conditions, and a lower amount (or no money) with conditions. Our guide to conditional vs. unconditional bail explains the difference, and the How Bail Bonds Work guide covers what to write down. Bail differs by charge — a misdemeanor is handled very differently from a felony.
Section 11 of 15
What Happens After Someone Is Booked Into Jail?
Booking is the start of the process. The steps below are typical; timing varies by circumstances and jurisdiction. Our How Bail Bonds Work in Minnesota guide covers each step, and our jail release timeline guide explains what affects timing.
- 01
Intake & identification
Staff confirm identity, take fingerprints and photographs, and store property.
- 02
Administrative processing
Records checks, medical screening and checks for holds from other agencies.
- 03
Release eligibility
Some people are released by citation or on their own promise to appear.
- 04
Court appearance
Someone held after a warrantless arrest must see a judge within the time limit in Rule 4.02 (opens an official external site in a new tab).
- 05
Bail determination
The court decides whether release is with or without bail.
- 06
Release conditions
The court may add conditions such as no-contact orders or alcohol monitoring.
- 07
Posting bail
When money bail is set, it can usually be posted in cash or with a surety bond.
- 08
Release processing
The jail completes its own release steps after bail is accepted.
Conditions depend on the charge
Some charges commonly come with specific release conditions — for example, alcohol monitoring after a DWI arrest or no-contact conditions in a domestic assault case. No one can promise a specific release time.
Section 12 of 15
How to Arrange Bail Assistance
Once you know where someone is held, these six steps make a bail inquiry faster and clearer.
Step 1 of 6
Identify the person in custody
Confirm the full legal name and date of birth.
Step 2 of 6
Confirm the holding facility
Make sure you have the right jail — and that they have not been transferred.
Step 3 of 6
Check whether monetary bail is set
Not everyone has money bail. Some people are released without it; others are held until a judge decides.
Step 4 of 6
Collect available details
Booking number, charges, bail amount, any conditions and the next court date.
Step 5 of 6
Contact GPS Bail Bonds
Call or send the form below. We can review the situation and explain the options.
Step 6 of 6
Review agreements and payments
If a bond is appropriate, read the agreement and payment obligations before you sign.
Not every case is eligible for a commercial bail bond, and the court — not a bail agent — decides release. Our Minnesota bail bond cost guide explains premiums and payments, including questions to ask before signing.
Found them? We can help with the next step.
Send what you know through the form on this page, or call us any time, day or night.
Section 13 · FAQs
Minnesota Jail Search FAQs
Short answers to the questions families ask most when they are trying to find someone in a Minnesota jail.
Search the official jail roster for the county where the arrest likely happened. If you can't find them, try Minnesota VINE, check neighboring counties, or call the jail or arresting agency. Use the DOC locator only if they may be in state prison or under DOC supervision.
Section 14 · Official sources
Official Minnesota Inmate Search Resources
The official tools and rules this guide relies on. These sites are run by government agencies or, for VINELink, by a notification service for participating agencies. GPS Bail Bonds does not operate them and is not affiliated with them.
- Official government source · Minnesota Department of CorrectionsMinnesota DOC — Search for Individuals & Fugitives (opens an official external site in a new tab)The Department of Corrections' search page for people committed to the Commissioner of Corrections, with links to its locator and related searches.
- Official government source · Minnesota Department of CorrectionsMinnesota DOC Locator (opens an official external site in a new tab)Searches adults committed to the Commissioner of Corrections who are still under DOC jurisdiction — in prison, or released and still under supervision.
- Notification service · Minnesota VINE · VINELinkVINELink — Minnesota VINE Custody Search (opens an official external site in a new tab)Custody status and release notifications based on information supplied by participating facilities. Phone: 1-877-664-8463. VINELink is run by a private vendor for participating agencies.
- Official government source · Minnesota Judicial BranchMinnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) — Overview (opens an official external site in a new tab)What MCRO includes and its limits, including that pending criminal cases are not returned by a defendant-name search.
- Official government source · Minnesota Judicial BranchMCRO Case Search (opens an official external site in a new tab)Search public district court cases by case number, citation or name. A court record, not a live jail roster.
- Official government source · Minnesota Judicial BranchMinnesota Judicial Branch — Bail Bond Program (opens an official external site in a new tab)Explains appearance-only bail bonds, Form 702 and the court's list of approved bail bond agents.
- Official government source · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of StatutesMinnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 4 (Procedures on Arrest) (opens an official external site in a new tab)Rule 4.02, subd. 5 sets the 36-hour limit for bringing a person arrested without a warrant before a judge.
- Official government source · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of StatutesMinnesota Statutes §609.105 — Sentence of Imprisonment (opens an official external site in a new tab)A felony sentence of one year or more commits the person to the Commissioner of Corrections (state prison).
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and court procedures can change; check the official source or ask a Minnesota attorney about a specific case. GPS Bail Bonds is an independent bail bond company and is not a government agency.
