Find Duluth Booking Releases
Duluth booking releases are public records of arrests made in Minnesota's largest city on the North Shore. The Duluth Police Department makes arrests within city limits, and those arrested are held at the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth. You can search for current inmates, request police reports from the Duluth Police Department Records Unit, and use statewide tools to track cases through the court system. This page covers all of those options and explains what Minnesota law requires law enforcement to disclose when an arrest is made.
Duluth Overview
Duluth Police Department Records
The Duluth Police Department handles law enforcement within city limits. When Duluth officers make an arrest, the person is transported to the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth. If you need records from the Duluth Police Department, including incident reports, accident reports, or arrest records, you contact the Records Unit directly.
| Agency | Duluth Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 2030 Arlington Ave, Duluth, MN 55811 |
| Phone | (218) 730-5030 |
| Records URL | Duluth Police Records |
Duluth PD accepts records requests in person, by mail, and through an online form on their website. The records unit handles incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records. Under Minn. Stat. 13.82, basic arrest data must be released upon request. This covers the name of the person arrested, the date and time, the charges, and the arresting officer. The department has 10 business days to respond to written data requests.
Incident reports and police reports often contain more detail than the basic booking record. If you need information from a specific case, a written records request is the best approach. Include the date of the incident, the address, and any case number you have. The more information you give, the faster staff can locate the record.
Note: Some Duluth police records are active investigative data and cannot be released while the case is open. Once a case closes or goes to prosecution, more data typically becomes public.
St. Louis County Jail - Duluth Booking Records
Duluth sits in St. Louis County, and all city arrests go through the St. Louis County Jail system. St. Louis County has multiple jail facilities. The Duluth facility handles bookings for city arrests. The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office also makes arrests in areas outside the city.
| Facility | St. Louis County Jail (Duluth) |
|---|---|
| Phone | (218) 726-2345 |
| Sheriff's Office | 1001 E Hwy 2, Hibbing, MN 55746 |
| Sheriff Phone | (218) 262-2021 |
| Inmate Search | VINE Inmate Locator (1-877-664-8463) |
To check if someone is in custody at the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth, use the VINE system. VINE covers all Minnesota county jails including St. Louis County. You can search by name to find current custody status. VINE also lets you register for alerts so you're notified if the person is released, transferred, or has a court date change.
Booking data follows the requirements of Minn. Stat. 13.82. This law requires law enforcement to make basic arrest data public. The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office and Duluth Police must both follow this law when you ask for booking information. Requests can be made in person or in writing to either agency.
What Duluth Booking Records Contain
Booking releases in Duluth must follow state data practices law. The public portion of a booking record is available to any member of the public who asks for it. You don't need a reason or a lawyer to request basic arrest data.
Public data in a Duluth booking release includes:
- Full name of the person arrested
- Date, time, and location of the arrest
- Charges filed at time of booking
- Name and badge number of the arresting officer
- Bail information if set
- Case or incident number
Private data is protected. This includes victim information in certain cases, active investigative details, and all records involving juveniles. Minnesota Statute 13.85 covers corrections and detention data and applies to the St. Louis County Jail. County jail operations also fall under Minn. Stat. 641.05.
Charges in the booking record are just the initial charges. After prosecutors review the case, charges may be amended or dropped. A booking entry is not a conviction. To see what happened with the charges after arraignment, check MCRO for the court case status.
State Resources for Duluth Arrest Records
Several statewide systems help you track a Duluth arrest from booking through the court process.
VINE - Victim and Public Notification
VINE is free and covers all Minnesota county jails. Call 1-877-664-8463 or visit vinelink.com to search custody status or sign up for notifications. This is particularly useful for St. Louis County because the county is large and has multiple jail facilities.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
After a Duluth arrest, the case goes to St. Louis County District Court. Once charges are filed, the case appears in MCRO at mncourts.gov. MCRO is free and public. Search by name or case number to find hearing dates, docket entries, and case status for Duluth cases in the 6th Judicial District.
The image below shows the MCRO court records portal, which covers all Minnesota counties including St. Louis.
Source: mncourts.gov - Access Case Records
MCRO shows party names, charges, attorney information, and future court dates. It updates when court staff enter new activity. Check back after hearings to see new entries.
BCA Criminal History
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at chs.state.mn.us maintains statewide criminal history records. Public searches show conviction records for Minnesota cases. The BCA can tell you whether a prior Duluth arrest led to a conviction or was dismissed. More detailed searches require authorization and fees.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Minnesota cities also have booking release information available.
St. Louis County Booking Releases
All Duluth arrests are booked through the St. Louis County Sheriff. Visit the county page for complete jail roster access and additional resources.