Aitkin County Booking Releases
Aitkin County booking releases are public records kept by the Aitkin County Sheriff's Office in north-central Minnesota. The sheriff's office runs an 89-bed jail and makes booking data available under state law. Each record shows who was arrested, when, by which agency, and what they were charged with. You can search by name using VINE or call the jail directly to confirm custody status. This page explains how to access Aitkin County booking releases, what state laws govern access, and what other resources are available once a case moves into the court system.
Aitkin County Overview
Aitkin County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Dan Guida runs the Aitkin County Sheriff's Office. The office handles law enforcement for both incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. Jail operations are handled at the same location. The facility houses both men and women and is staffed by 14 corrections officers. The sheriff's office charges inmates $20.00 per day to offset operating costs under Minnesota Statute 641.12.
| Sheriff | Dan Guida |
|---|---|
| Address | 217 2nd St. NW Room 185, Aitkin, MN 56431 |
| Phone | 218-927-7435 |
| Fax | 218-927-7359 |
| Jail Phone | 218-927-7456 |
| Hours | Admin: Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm | Jail/Communications: 24 hours |
| Website | co.aitkin.mn.us/departments/sheriff |
The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office page links directly to the inmate roster. The roster shows current inmates with booking date, arresting agency, charges, and hold reasons. The administration office is open during regular business hours, but jail staff are on duty around the clock.
How to Search Aitkin County Booking Releases
The primary way to search Aitkin County booking releases is through the county's own inmate roster, accessible via the sheriff's website at co.aitkin.mn.us. The roster lists current inmates with booking date, arresting agency, and charge or hold information. Each entry also carries a crime number you can use to cross-reference court records.
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is a free statewide tool that covers Aitkin County. Go to vinelink.com or call 1-877-664-8463 to search by name or inmate ID. You can also sign up for automatic alerts that notify you when someone's status changes. This is useful if you want to be notified of a release without checking the roster manually.
For court records linked to an Aitkin County arrest, use Minnesota Court Records Online at mncourts.gov. MCRO covers all 87 counties for free. Search by name or case number to find hearing dates and case status. Aitkin County District Court is in the 9th Judicial District.
Note: Booking records are public data under Minnesota law, but an arrest does not mean a person is guilty of any crime.
What Aitkin Booking Records Include
Each booking release entry in Aitkin County contains several key pieces of data. You will see the full name of the person booked, the date and time they were taken into custody, and the agency that made the arrest. The record also lists the charges or hold reasons and an associated crime number. This information is enough to identify a specific booking event and trace it to court records if needed.
Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, law enforcement agencies must make arrest and booking data available to the public. The booking date, arresting agency, and charges fall within the category of public data that cannot be withheld. If you need more detail beyond what the roster shows, you can contact the sheriff's office directly or search court records through Minnesota Court Records Online, which covers all 87 counties at no cost.
For conviction data specifically, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains a criminal history database. That service charges an $8 fee and covers statewide conviction records, not just current bookings.
Legal Framework for Booking Data in Aitkin County
Three state statutes govern how Aitkin County handles jail and booking records. Minnesota Statute 13.82 classifies most law enforcement data as public, including the name of the arrested person, the date and time of the arrest, the charges, and the agency involved. This is the primary law that makes booking releases accessible to anyone without a formal records request.
Minnesota Statute 13.85 covers data held by correctional facilities. It specifies what information about inmates is public and what may be private. Under this statute, the county must make inmate rosters available. Some data, such as medical information or security-related housing details, may be restricted, but the core booking and charge information stays public.
Minnesota Statute 641.05 requires sheriffs to maintain jail records. The law says the sheriff must keep a record of every person committed to the jail, including the time and cause of commitment and when the person was released. This creates the legal duty behind the roster you see online. Together, these three statutes ensure Aitkin County booking releases stay open to the public.
Visiting and Communicating with Aitkin County Inmates
If you need to visit someone at the Aitkin County Jail, visits are scheduled in 25-minute blocks on three days each week. You must call 218-927-744 during business hours Monday through Friday to set up an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Walk-in visits are not accepted. Visitation hours are Sundays 1pm to 4pm, Tuesdays 6pm to 9pm, and Thursdays 1pm to 4pm.
The jail does not accept incoming phone calls for inmates. You can leave a message at 218-927-2513. Inmates can make outgoing calls using collect calls or calling cards. Calling cards are available in $10 increments. For written communication, the preferred method is US Mail. Address letters to the inmate's full name at the Aitkin County Jail, using the facility address at 217 2nd St. NW, Aitkin, MN 56431.
Note: All visitors and mail are subject to review by jail staff under facility security policies.
Additional Resources for Aitkin County Records
Several state-level tools can supplement the local roster search. The VINE system (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) lets you look up offenders by name or ID number across Minnesota. VINE also provides automated notifications when an inmate's status changes. You can call 1-877-664-8463 to use the service by phone at no cost.
Minnesota Court Records Online gives free access to case files from all 87 counties. If a person was booked in Aitkin County and has a court case open, you can find the case number, hearing dates, and case status at the court records portal. This is separate from the jail roster but often links to the same underlying arrest. Combined, these tools give you a full picture of the public record for any Aitkin County booking.
Cities in Aitkin County
No major cities in Aitkin County have dedicated pages on this site. Residents use the Aitkin County Sheriff's Office for all booking release information.
Nearby Counties
Aitkin County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own booking release records.