Search Minnesota Booking Releases
Minnesota booking releases are public records that show who has been booked into a county jail, along with arrest charges and release status. Each of Minnesota's 87 counties maintains its own jail roster, and most are searchable online. You can look up an inmate by name, check booking dates, view charges, and find out if someone is still in custody or has been released. State law under Minnesota Statute 13.82 makes most booking and arrest data public, so access is free and open to anyone who needs it.
Minnesota Booking Releases Overview
What Are Minnesota Booking Releases
Booking releases in Minnesota are records created each time law enforcement brings someone into a county jail. The sheriff or jail staff records the person's name, date of birth, arrest date, charges, arresting agency, and bail or bond status. When that person is released, the record gets updated with a release date and reason. Both parts of the record, the booking and the release, make up what people call a booking release record.
These records are not the same as a conviction. Most people booked into a Minnesota jail are charged but not yet found guilty. Under state law, an arrest is public information, but it does not mean the person broke the law. Jails include a standard disclaimer with every roster stating that all parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The charges listed may also be the initial booking charge, which can later be amended or dropped.
Minnesota's Minnesota Statute 13.82 is the main law that makes arrest data public. It spells out what must be disclosed, including the arrestee's name, age, sex, address, the time and place of arrest, and the legal basis for the action. Information like medical records, juvenile data, and active investigation details stays private under the same statute.
Most county jails update their online rosters throughout the day. Some update every hour. Others refresh every four to twelve hours. A few post rosters twice daily. If you need the most current information, call the jail directly. Online records can lag behind real-time custody changes by several hours.
How to Search Minnesota Booking Releases Online
Most Minnesota county sheriffs post their jail rosters online. You can go directly to the county sheriff's website and look for an inmate roster, in-custody list, or booking report link. Some counties have their own searchable database. Others post a PDF that lists everyone currently held. A few use third-party platforms to host their roster data.
For larger counties, the official sheriff websites tend to have the most complete and current data. Hennepin County's roster at jailroster.hennepin.us goes back 90 days and updates hourly. Ramsey County posts both inmate custody reports and a warrant search tool at its sheriff's site.
The VINE system (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) lets you search for offenders in custody across Minnesota and sign up for automatic alerts when someone's status changes. It covers both county jails and state prisons. You can also call the VINE hotline at 1-877-664-8463 any time, day or night.
To search booking releases, you typically need:
- Full name of the person (last name, first name)
- Date of birth (helps narrow results with common names)
- The county where the arrest occurred
- Booking number (if you have it)
If you don't know which county to search, start with the city or area where the arrest happened. Each city's arrests go to the county jail that serves it. Minneapolis arrests go to Hennepin County. St. Paul arrests go to Ramsey County. Rochester arrests go to Olmsted County. Pick the right county and you'll find the record faster.
Minnesota BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) runs a public criminal history search at chs.state.mn.us. This is different from a jail roster. The BCA system shows conviction data going back 15 years after sentence completion. It does not show current bookings or arrests without a conviction. If you need current custody status, use the county jail roster. If you need past convictions, use the BCA system.
The BCA search costs $8.00 per name online. You need the person's first name, last name, and date of birth. There's also a free option. You can go to the BCA headquarters in person at 1430 Maryland Ave E, St. Paul, MN 55106, and view records at no cost. Copies are $4.00 each. Phone inquiries go to (651) 793-2400.
The BCA system does not include juvenile records, federal records, arrests in other states, or arrest data without a conviction. Keep that in mind when deciding which tool fits your need. Booking releases from county jails give you current arrest information. The BCA gives you conviction history.
The screenshot below shows the BCA Criminal History Search portal used by the public to look up conviction records in Minnesota.
Visit chs.state.mn.us to run a public criminal history check. Note that this tool covers convictions, not current bookings.
Minnesota Court Records and Booking Data
After someone is booked into a Minnesota jail and charged, a court case is opened. You can track that case through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system. MCRO covers all 87 counties and shows case status, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions. It is free to use and works for criminal cases filed in district court.
MCRO and jail rosters work together but are not the same. The jail roster shows who is physically in custody right now. MCRO shows the court case that was filed after the booking. Search MCRO by name or case number at the courts website. Some records have restricted access, and juvenile cases are not public.
The image below shows the MCRO access page at the Minnesota courts website.
MCRO is a free public tool. Use it to find charging documents, court dates, and case outcomes for anyone arrested in Minnesota.
Minnesota Laws That Govern Booking Releases Access
Three main statutes shape how Minnesota handles public access to booking releases and jail data. Knowing which law covers what will help you understand what you can get and where to ask for it.
Minnesota Statute 13.82 covers law enforcement data. It makes arrest records public. The law says that the name, age, sex, and address of an adult arrestee is public. The time and place of the arrest is public. The charges and the basis for the action are public. Medical information, juvenile records, and active investigation details are not.
The screenshot below shows Minnesota Statute 13.82, which governs what law enforcement data is public and what stays private.
Note: Statute 13.82 applies to arrest data. It is part of the broader Minnesota Government Data Practices Act found in Chapter 13 of state law.
Minnesota Statute 13.85 covers correctional facility data. Under this law, inmate rosters are public. The location of an inmate is generally public. Medical records, financial records, and visitor logs are private. The statute screenshot below shows the full text of this section.
Minnesota Statute 641.05 requires sheriffs to keep records of all inmates in their jails. It is the reason every county sheriff publishes a jail roster in the first place. Sheriffs must record booking information and make the roster available as public data. See the statute below.
These three statutes work together. They create the legal basis for public access to booking releases across all Minnesota counties.
What Minnesota Booking Releases Contain
The data in a booking release varies some by county, but most Minnesota jails include a standard set of fields. Name and date of birth are always listed. The booking number is the unique ID assigned when someone enters the jail. The intake date and time show exactly when the booking happened. Charges are listed by description and often include the Minnesota statute number that applies.
Many counties also include the arresting agency, which tells you whether local police, the county sheriff, a state trooper, or another agency made the arrest. Bail or bond amounts show how much it costs to get out before trial. Some rosters show the projected release date for sentenced inmates. Mugshots appear on some county rosters and are generally public data under state law.
Here is what you can typically find in a Minnesota booking release record:
- Full name and date of birth
- Booking number and intake date
- Arresting agency and arrest date
- Charges with statute references
- Bail or bond amount and conditions
- Current custody status
- Projected or actual release date
Not every county lists all these fields. Some jails post basic name and charge data only. If you need more detail, call the jail directly or submit a data request under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Agencies must respond to requests within a reasonable time, typically 10 business days.
State-Level Offender Search Tools
Beyond county jails, Minnesota has two more systems worth knowing. The Minnesota DOC Public Viewer tracks offenders in state prison or under DOC supervision. You can search by name or offender number. This system covers people sentenced to longer terms in state facilities, not county jails. County jail records are handled separately at the local level.
The Minnesota Predatory Offender Registry is another state tool. It lets you search for registered predatory offenders by name, address, city, or county. This is separate from booking releases but useful when researching criminal history in a specific area.
Each tool serves a different purpose. County jail rosters give you current booking and release data at the local level. The DOC system covers state prison populations. The BCA covers conviction history. The Predatory Offender Registry covers registered sex offenders. Use the right tool for what you need.
Browse Minnesota Booking Releases by County
Each of Minnesota's 87 counties runs its own jail and publishes its own booking releases. Pick a county to find the local sheriff's contact info, inmate search tools, and booking records for that area.
View All 87 Minnesota Counties
Booking Releases in Major Minnesota Cities
City arrests go to the county jail that covers that city. Select a city below to find local booking records and the jail that handles arrests in that area.