How to Find Someone in a Minnesota Prison

People serving prison sentences in Minnesota are under the Department of Corrections, and the DOC runs a free public locator. Here's how to use it, and where to look when someone isn't in it.

Last reviewed October 31, 2026.

Jail vs. prison

County jails hold people awaiting trial and people serving shorter local sentences. State prisons hold people committed to the Commissioner of Corrections, typically for felony sentences of more than a year. If the person was arrested recently or hasn't been sentenced, check the county jail roster instead.

Using the DOC Offender Locator

1. Open the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator.
2. Search by name, or by MN DOC Offender ID (OID) if you have it. Name searches include every name tied to the person's convictions, which helps if they've used other names.
3. Open the record to see the facility, or whether the person is on supervised release.

The locator covers adults committed to the Commissioner who are still under DOC jurisdiction, in prison or on supervised release.

Tips

• Write down the Offender ID once you find it. You'll need it for mail, money, and visits.
• New prison admissions can take several business days to appear.
• People required to register publicly, such as Level 3 offenders, are in a separate DOC public registrant search.
• For release or transfer alerts, the DOC uses a notification system called Minnesota Haven, and county jails use VINE.

Not in the DOC locator?

• Federal case: check the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. It covers federal inmates and some people held before trial.
• Still in county custody: use the county jail roster.
• Unsure where they are: see how to find out if someone is in jail.

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