How to Find Out if Someone Is in Jail in Minnesota

Minnesota has no single statewide jail search. Where you look depends on who made the arrest and how far along the case is. Work through these in order and you'll find almost anyone in custody.

Last reviewed October 31, 2026.

1. Start with the county where the arrest happened

City police in Minnesota almost always book people into the county jail, so the sheriff's roster for the county where the arrest happened is the best first stop. Most counties post a searchable roster or a PDF list, and many show charges, bail, and the next court date.

Pick the county to get its official roster link, jail phone number, and how long records stay up after release. Some rosters drop people within days of release, so check soon.

A few small counties don't run their own jail. Rock County, for example, holds people at the Nobles County Jail, and Red Lake County uses a regional facility in Crookston. The county pages note this where it applies.

2. If they're not on the roster, call the jail

Rosters lag. Someone still in intake may not appear until they have a booking number, and some counties only update once or twice a day. Call the jail, give the person's full name and date of birth, and ask whether they're in custody. Jails will generally confirm custody status, though they won't discuss case details.

3. Check state prison if they've been sentenced

People sentenced to more than a year usually go to a state prison run by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. The DOC Offender Locator searches by name or offender ID and covers everyone in prison or on supervised release. See our prison locator guide.

4. Check federal and immigration custody

5. Use VINE for status changes

Minnesota VINE is a free service for checking custody status and getting notified when it changes, such as a release or transfer. Use VINELink online or call 877-664-8463.

6. Look for the court case

Once charges are filed, the case appears in Minnesota Court Records Online. An open criminal case won't come up in a name search there, so you'll need the case number from the roster or charging paperwork. See how to look up a court date.

Common questions

Is there a statewide Minnesota jail roster?

No. Each county sheriff publishes its own roster, and some small counties don't post one at all. Minnesota VINE is the closest thing to a statewide lookup for people in county jails, but it's built for custody notifications.

How soon does a new arrest show up on a roster?

It depends on the county. Some update every 30 minutes or hourly, others once or twice a day, and a few only on weekdays. People still in intake usually don't appear until they get a booking number.

How long can someone be held before seeing a judge?

For a warrantless arrest, Minnesota's court rules require a first appearance within 36 hours, not counting the day of arrest, Sundays, or holidays, and a judge must find probable cause within 48 hours.

Related guides

How to Check for a Warrant in MinnesotaWhere county warrant lists live, what they miss, and what to do if you find one.How to Find Someone in a Minnesota PrisonUsing the DOC Offender Locator, and when to check federal or county records instead.How Bail Works in MinnesotaYour right to bail, conditional release, bail schedules, and how fast you see a judge.How to Look Up a Court Date in MinnesotaUsing MCRO's Hearing Search, and what to do when an open case won't show up by name.Minnesota county guidesJail roster links and contacts for each county

Sources

Checked against official pages on October 31, 2026. Agencies change their sites, so confirm details before you act on them.