Minnesota Jail Rosters & Inmate Records
Minnesota Jail Roster & Inmate Search Guide
Minnesota county jails maintain inmate rosters and booking records that may help families locate someone in custody, review available booking information, and understand the next steps after an arrest.
However, jail rosters differ from county to county. Some provide current inmate lists, others provide searchable databases, and the information available to the public can vary.
This guide explains how Minnesota jail rosters work, what common inmate record fields mean, how to access official county searches, and what to do when records are missing or unclear.
Updated
- Open 24/7Available 24/7
- MN StatewideServing Minnesota Statewide
Quick answer
What Is a Minnesota Jail Roster?
A county jail roster is a public-facing list or search tool that shows certain information about people held in a county correctional facility. Depending on the county, a roster may include a person's name, booking date, listed charges, custody status, and sometimes bail or court details. It is published by the sheriff's office or jail — and each county decides what it shows.
On this page
Guide Contents
Section 01 of 15
What Is a Minnesota Jail Roster?
Every Minnesota county jail keeps records about the people it holds. The jail roster is the small part of those records that the county chooses to publish for the public, usually on the sheriff's website.
The sheriff's office or the jail administrator maintains the facility's records and decides how the public version looks: a live search tool, a daily list, or a printed report posted as a PDF. Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act decides which booking details are public, and each agency applies those rules to its own records.
That is why an online roster is never the full file. The agency may hold intake notes, medical information, holds from other agencies and other data that is private by law and will never appear online.
Section 02 of 15
How Minnesota Jail Rosters Work
Most rosters follow the same basic life cycle, but the timing and the details differ by county. No two counties publish on an identical schedule.
- 01
Booking and intake
Jail staff confirm identity, take fingerprints and photos, and record the charges and the arresting agency.
- 02
Record creation
The jail's management system creates a booking record and, usually, a booking number.
- 03
Verification
Staff check names, dates of birth and holds from other agencies. Errors may be corrected later.
- 04
Public publication
The public fields appear on the roster on the county's own schedule — live, several times a day, or daily.
- 05
Custody updates and transfers
Bail, court dates and transfers are added as they happen. Anoka County, for example, runs a Jail and a separate Workhouse, and notes transfers in the record.
- 06
Release, removal or archiving
After release, a record may drop off right away, move to a recent-release list, or stay for a set number of days.
Section 03 of 15
Minnesota County Jail Roster Directory
Use the directory to open a county's official roster. Where GPS has published a county guide, you'll also find a step-by-step inmate search guide and a jail guide for that county.
County roster directory
Official Minnesota jail rosters by county
Type a county or city to narrow the list. Official links open the county's own site in a new tab.
Showing 17 of 17 counties
Counties with GPS inmate search guides
Sherburne County Jail, Elk River
Roster type: Online inmate locator
Wright County Jail, Buffalo
Roster type: Jail census report (PDF snapshot)
Stearns County Jail, St. Cloud
Roster type: Current and past inmate roster
Isanti County Jail, Cambridge
Roster type: In-custody list
Anoka County Jail & Workhouse, Anoka
Roster type: Inmate locator (Jail and Workhouse)
More Minnesota county rosters
GPS has not published guides for these counties yet. Each link opens the county's own official website.
Hennepin County
Hennepin County Jail, Minneapolis
Roster type: Online jail roster
Official jail roster — Hennepin County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Ramsey County
Adult Detention Center, St. Paul
Roster type: In-custody booking reports
Official booking reports — Ramsey County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Benton County
Benton County Jail, Foley
Roster type: Jail information and inmate lookup
Official jail page — Benton County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Mille Lacs County
Mille Lacs County Jail, Milaca
Roster type: Jail and inmate information
Official jail page — Mille Lacs County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Meeker County
Meeker County Jail, Litchfield
Roster type: Daily jail roster (PDF)
Official jail page — Meeker County (opens an official external site in a new tab)McLeod County
McLeod County Jail, Glencoe
Roster type: In-custody list
Official in-custody list — McLeod County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Kanabec County
Kanabec County Jail, Mora
Roster type: In-custody inmate roster
Official jail page — Kanabec County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Morrison County
Morrison County Jail, Little Falls
Roster type: In-custody list
Official jail page — Morrison County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Dakota County
Dakota County Jail
Roster type: Jail and inmate information
Official jail page — Dakota County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Washington County
Washington County Jail, Stillwater
Roster type: Daily booking reports and inmate roster
Official booking reports — Washington County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Scott County
Scott County Jail, Shakopee
Roster type: Online jail roster
Official jail roster — Scott County (opens an official external site in a new tab)Carver County
Carver County Jail, Chaska
Roster type: Daily inmate roster (current and recent releases)
Official daily roster — Carver County (opens an official external site in a new tab)
Every roster is run by the county sheriff's office or jail — not by GPS Bail Bonds. County websites can change without notice; call the facility to confirm custody.
Section 04 of 15
How to Search a County Jail Roster
Search fields differ by county, but the routine is the same. Start on the county's official site — not a third-party listing — so you see the county's own data and disclaimers.
- Find the correct county source. Use the directory above or the sheriff's office website.
- Search by last name, then first name. Many tools match the start of a name, so a shorter entry often finds more.
- Use a booking or inmate number when supported. It is the most precise search when you have one.
- Understand filtered results. Some rosters default to current inmates only; check whether a past or released view exists.
- Open the record details. Charges, bail and court information are often one click deeper.
- Confirm with the correctional agency. Call the jail before acting on anything time-sensitive.
Some tools have their own quirks. Sherburne County's online inmate locator (opens an official external site in a new tab) needs JavaScript turned on, for example, and Wright County posts a printed jail census. Our Sherburne and Isanti county guides walk through those tools.
Section 05 of 15
Understanding Jail Booking Records
The table below explains fields you may see. Information and terminology vary by facility — a county may use different labels, or leave a field out entirely.
| Field | Explanation | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Booking number | A facility identifier for the booking record. | A new booking usually gets a new number. |
| Booking date | Date the individual was booked. | Not always the date of arrest. |
| Booking time | Time recorded during intake, if available. | Some rosters show only the date. |
| Charges | Listed allegations or legal counts. | Allegations, not convictions. They may change once a prosecutor files. |
| Custody status | Available information about current detention. | Labels such as "in custody" or "sentenced" differ by county. |
| Bail or bond amount | A reported monetary release amount, if displayed. | Can be blank, show two options, or change at a hearing. |
| Holding facility | Jail or detention location. | Matters in counties with more than one facility. |
| Court date | Listed upcoming hearing, if provided. | Confirm with the court or defense attorney. |
| Release date | Recorded release date, if published. | May be an estimate for a sentenced person. |
| Agency | Arresting or booking agency, when shown. | Often a city police department, the sheriff or the State Patrol. |
Section 06 of 15
Jail Roster Terms and Definitions
Plain-English meanings of common roster terms. Agencies don't all use these words the same way, so check the county's own definitions when they are posted.
Booking
The jail's intake process, and the record it creates.
In custody
Listed as currently held by the facility.
Released
No longer held by that facility — by bail, court order, citation or the end of a sentence.
Hold
A reason to keep someone in custody, such as a warrant or a request from another agency.
Warrant
A court order to arrest someone. See warrant bail bonds.
Bail
Money or conditions the court sets for release before the case ends.
Bond
A promise, often backed by a surety, that the bail amount will be paid if the person misses court.
Surety bond
A bond issued by a licensed bail agent for an insurance company. Compare cash and surety bail.
Cash bail
The full bail amount paid in money to the court or the jail.
Court appearance
A scheduled hearing the person must attend.
Transfer
A move to another jail, county or agency.
Detainer
A request from another agency to hold or notify it before release.
Release conditions
Rules the court sets for release, such as no-contact orders or monitoring.
Booking number
The jail's reference number for one booking.
Section 07 of 15
Current Inmates vs. Released Inmates
Some county tools list only people in custody right now. Others keep recently released people for a while, or offer a separate search for them.
- Stearns County has a current inmate roster (opens an official external site in a new tab) and a separate past inmate search (opens an official external site in a new tab) — see our Stearns County guide.
- Anoka County's Inmate Locator can list people released in the past 30 days, according to the county.
- Carver County says its daily roster (opens an official external site in a new tab) includes people released within the past 90 days.
- Ramsey County says its booking reports (opens an official external site in a new tab) keep a record for five days after release, and Hennepin County says its jail roster (opens an official external site in a new tab) shows people released in the last 7 days.
When someone disappears from a current inmate list, it does not prove they were released. They may have been transferred, their record may have been corrected or merged, or the system may be temporarily unavailable.
Section 08 of 15
How Often Are Jail Rosters Updated?
Publication and refresh schedules vary. Some county systems show a timestamp or a print date; others don't say when they last changed. A few counties publish their schedules:
Ramsey County
The county says its Adult Detention Center roster (opens an official external site in a new tab) is updated every 30 minutes, using data from arresting agencies, prosecutors and the courts.
Carver County
The county says its roster (opens an official external site in a new tab) updates six times a day, and people may not appear until intake is complete and a booking number is assigned.
Wright County
Wright County's jail census is a PDF snapshot that shows the date it was printed — explained in our Wright County guide.
The facility is the best source
Even a frequently refreshed roster can lag behind real events. For anything time-sensitive — a release, a transfer or posting bail — call the holding facility directly.
Section 09 of 15
Why Jail Records May Be Missing
If a search comes back empty, work through these common causes.
Wrong county
Next step: search the counties where the person lives, works or was last seen, and the county where the arrest happened.
Delayed booking
Next step: wait a few hours. Many rosters list people only after intake is complete.
Incorrect spelling
Next step: search by last name only, or by the first few letters.
Different legal name
Next step: try legal first names, hyphenated or double last names, and former names.
Recent transfer
Next step: ask the first jail where the person was sent, then check that facility.
Recent release
Next step: check a past or recent-release view if the county has one, or call the jail.
Nonpublic records
Next step: call the jail and ask what it can confirm. Some data is private by law.
Juvenile privacy restrictions
Next step: records about juveniles are generally not published on adult rosters. Contact the arresting agency.
Temporary technical problems
Next step: try another browser or device later, or call the jail.
Custody under another jurisdiction
Next step: for state prison, use the DOC locator; for federal custody, the federal locators. See the next section.
Section 10 of 15
Minnesota Jail Rosters vs. State Prison Records
County jails and state prisons are different systems with different public records. 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.
| Topic | County jail rosters | Minnesota DOC Locator |
|---|---|---|
| Who is listed | People detained in that county's facility — often recent arrests, people awaiting court and shorter local sentences. | Qualifying adults under Minnesota DOC jurisdiction, including people in state prison and some people under supervision. |
| Who runs it | The county sheriff or jail. | The Minnesota Department of Corrections. |
| Public rules | Each county's application of state data-practices law. | The DOC's own public-information rules. |
| Timing | Varies by county; can be frequent or daily. | The DOC says newly sentenced people may take several business days to appear. |
| What a result means | The person is or recently was listed at that county facility. | The person is under DOC jurisdiction — not necessarily inside a county jail today. |
Search the Minnesota DOC Locator (opens an official external site in a new tab) for someone sentenced to prison or on supervised release. A person returned to custody on an alleged violation may show up in a county jail first — see probation violation bail bonds.
Section 11 of 15
Jail Rosters, Bail Amounts & Court Records
A jail roster is not a complete court record. It reflects the jail's booking: the allegations listed at intake, and sometimes the bail amount, release conditions and next hearing that the jail has on file.
The court record is separate. Once a prosecutor files charges, the case, its formal charges, hearings and release orders live in the court system. Formal charges can differ from the booking charges.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) (opens an official external site in a new tab) is the court's public records system, not an inmate locator. The court explains that a pending criminal case without a conviction generally does not appear when you search by the defendant's name, although a case-number search (opens an official external site in a new tab) may find it. Our Minnesota court records & MCRO guide walks through each search.
To understand the bail decision itself, read how bail bonds work in Minnesota and conditional vs. unconditional bail. Missed hearings have their own consequences — see failure to appear bail bonds.
Section 12 of 15
What to Do After Finding an Inmate
Once you find a listing, this checklist helps you act on accurate information.
Step 1 of 6
Confirm the inmate's identity
Match the full name, age or date of birth — not just a similar name.
Step 2 of 6
Confirm the current holding facility
Make sure the person has not been moved since the record was updated.
Step 3 of 6
Review available booking information
Write down the booking number, listed charges and anything the jail shows about bail.
Step 4 of 6
Verify any monetary bail requirement
Not every case has money bail. Confirm with the jail, the court record or the defense attorney.
Step 5 of 6
Identify the next court appearance
Check the roster, the court or the attorney for the next hearing date, when available.
Step 6 of 6
Contact an authorized bail bond agent
If a bond is appropriate, a licensed, court-approved agent can explain the options.
Bail is not available or required in every case, and no one can promise a release time. Before signing anything, review our Minnesota bail bond cost guide and the questions to ask before signing. For a specific facility's posting rules, see a GPS jail guide such as Sherburne County.
Found them on a roster? 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 Roster FAQs
Detailed answers about how county jail rosters work in Minnesota and how to read what they show.
It is the public list or search tool a county sheriff or jail publishes about people held in its facility. It may show names, booking dates, listed charges, custody status and sometimes bail or court information. Each county decides its format and which fields it includes.
Section 14 · Official sources
Official Minnesota Government Resources
The official tools this guide relies on. Except for VINELink, a notification service used by participating agencies, these are government websites. GPS Bail Bonds is an independent bail bond company — it does not operate any jail roster or government database.
- Official government source · Sherburne County Sheriff's OfficeSherburne County Inmate Search (opens an official external site in a new tab)The county's official page for its online inmate locator for the Sherburne County Jail.
- Official government source · Stearns County Sheriff's OfficeStearns County Jail Roster — Current Inmates (opens an official external site in a new tab)The county-operated roster of current inmates, with a separate past-inmate search.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 · Carver County Sheriff's OfficeCarver County Daily Inmate Roster (opens an official external site in a new tab)Lists people in custody and those released in the past 90 days, and states its daily update times.
- Official government source · Ramsey County Sheriff's OfficeRamsey County Inmates In-Custody (Booking Reports) (opens an official external site in a new tab)Explains where its roster data comes from, how often it updates and how long released records stay listed.
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.