St. Cloud Booking Releases
St. Cloud booking releases are public records of arrests made by the St. Cloud Police Department. St. Cloud spans both Stearns and Benton counties, but most city arrests are processed through the Stearns County Jail at the courthouse in St. Cloud. You can search Stearns County arrest records online and request records directly from the St. Cloud Police Department. This page covers how to access booking records, what data Minnesota law requires agencies to release, and how to use state tools to follow a case from arrest through the courts.
St. Cloud Overview
St. Cloud Police Department
The St. Cloud Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the city. St. Cloud is the largest city in central Minnesota and sits at the junction of Stearns and Benton counties. Most city arrests go through the Stearns County Jail since the majority of St. Cloud falls within Stearns County. The police department handles records requests for city incidents.
| Agency | St. Cloud Police Department |
|---|---|
| Website | St. Cloud Police Department |
Source: stcloudmn.gov - Police Department
Contact St. Cloud PD through the city website for records requests. Under Minn. Stat. 13.82, arrest data is public and must be released upon request. The basic information, including name, charges, date, and arresting officer, is available immediately after booking. More detailed reports may require a written request. The department has 10 business days to respond to formal data requests.
St. Cloud is the regional hub for central Minnesota. The St. Cloud Police Department handles a larger volume of cases than most outstate Minnesota cities. If you need records from a specific incident, having the case number and incident date will speed up the search. Records staff can usually pull basic report information quickly.
Stearns County Jail - St. Cloud Booking Records
Most St. Cloud arrests go to the Stearns County Jail, which is located at the Stearns County Courthouse in downtown St. Cloud. The jail is run by the Stearns County Sheriff's Office. You can access Stearns County arrest records through the county's online search tools.
| Facility | Stearns County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303 |
| Phone | (320) 259-3700 |
| Arrest Records | Stearns County Arrest Records |
The Stearns County arrest records portal lets you search for recent arrests in the county. Results include St. Cloud Police Department arrests as well as those made by the Stearns County Sheriff. The arresting agency is listed for each booking, so you can identify which are city arrests. Call the jail at (320) 259-3700 if you need information not available online.
St. Cloud spans two counties. If an arrest occurs in the part of St. Cloud that falls in Benton County, the person may be taken to the Benton County Jail in Foley instead of Stearns County. This is less common since most of the city is in Stearns County, but it does happen. If you can't find someone in the Stearns County system, try VINE which covers both counties.
Note: St. Cloud spans Stearns and Benton counties. Most arrests go to Stearns County Jail, but arrests in the Benton County portion of the city may go to the Benton County Jail in Foley. Check both if needed.
What St. Cloud Booking Records Contain
St. Cloud arrest data follows Minn. Stat. 13.82, the state law governing public arrest data. This law applies to the St. Cloud Police Department, the Stearns County Sheriff, and all other Minnesota law enforcement agencies.
Public data in a St. Cloud booking release includes:
- Full name of the person arrested
- Date, time, and location of the arrest
- Charges at the time of booking
- Name of the arresting officer
- Bail or bond information
- Incident or case number
Private data stays protected. Victim names in certain types of cases, active investigative material, and juvenile records are not public. Minnesota Statute 13.85 covers corrections and detention data held by county jails. Jail operations follow Minn. Stat. 641.05.
Booking records reflect charges at the time of arrest. The Stearns County Attorney or Benton County Attorney (depending on which county the arrest occurred in) reviews each case after booking. Charges may be changed, added, or dismissed. A booking record is not a conviction record.
State Resources for St. Cloud Arrests
These state systems let you track a St. Cloud arrest after the initial booking.
VINE Notifications
VINE covers both Stearns and Benton county jails. It's free. Call 1-877-664-8463 or go to vinelink.com. Search for a specific inmate or sign up for alerts when their custody status changes. This is useful for St. Cloud because of the two-county situation.
Minnesota Court Records Online
St. Cloud cases go to either Stearns County District Court (7th Judicial District) or Benton County District Court depending on where the arrest occurred. MCRO at mncourts.gov covers both counties. It's free and public. Search by name or case number to see hearing dates and case status.
BCA Criminal History
The BCA at chs.state.mn.us covers statewide conviction records. Use this to check if a prior St. Cloud arrest led to a conviction in Minnesota. Public searches show conviction data. Full records require authorization or fees.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Minnesota cities also have booking release information available.
Stearns County Booking Releases
All St. Cloud arrests are booked through the Stearns County Sheriff. Visit the county page for complete jail roster access and additional resources.