Find Minnesota Recent Arrests Online
Minnesota recent arrests are public records held by county Sheriff's Offices, local police departments, and state agencies. You can search arrest data, jail rosters, and booking records online or by contacting the agency in the county where the arrest took place. This site brings together resources from all 87 Minnesota counties and major cities so you can find the right office, the right database, and the right way to get the information you need fast.
Minnesota Recent Arrests Overview
Where to Find Minnesota Recent Arrests
Arrest records in Minnesota sit with several different agencies. The county Sheriff's Office is the most direct source for recent booking data. Each of the 87 counties runs its own jail. When someone gets arrested and booked, that record goes into the Sheriff's Office system first. Many counties post that data online through a jail roster page. Others keep it in-house and ask that you call or visit. The starting point for any arrest search in Minnesota is the Sheriff's Office for the county where the arrest happened.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, or BCA, maintains the state's central criminal history system. The BCA collects arrest data from law enforcement agencies across Minnesota and compiles it into a statewide record. You can learn more about the BCA's data and request process at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca. The BCA system covers arrests from cities, counties, and state agencies, so it reaches further than any single county roster. A criminal history report from the BCA gives a more complete picture than a booking record from one jail.
Court records add another layer. Once someone is charged after an arrest, the case goes into the Minnesota court system. The Minnesota Judicial Branch keeps case data at mncourts.gov, where you can search by name or case number. This covers all 87 counties. The court record shows what charges were filed, the case status, and hearing dates. It does not contain the full arrest report, but it confirms a case was filed and tracks what happened after the initial arrest.
Note: Arrest records show who was booked and on what charges. Criminal history reports include arrests, charges, and case outcomes over time. The BCA handles full statewide history requests. County Sheriff's Offices hold the most current local booking data.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension serves as the state's primary agency for criminal history records, collecting arrest data from law enforcement agencies in all 87 Minnesota counties.
Requests for statewide criminal history reports and background checks go through the BCA, which draws data from police departments, sheriff's offices, and other agencies across the state.
How to Search Minnesota Recent Arrests
You have a few ways to search for recent arrests in Minnesota. Online is the fastest. Dozens of Minnesota counties post live jail rosters that update hourly or daily. VINELink at vinelink.com gives you a statewide inmate search by name or offender ID. It covers most Minnesota counties and lets you sign up for alerts when someone's custody status changes. That is useful if you need to know when a person gets released or transferred.
When you search online, you will usually need the person's full name. Date of birth helps a lot when names are common. Knowing which county the arrest happened in narrows things down. The county roster will only show bookings in that county's jail. VINELink pulls from a wider pool. Minnesota Court Records Online at mncourts.gov lets you check if a criminal case was filed after an arrest.
For in-person requests, go to the county Sheriff's Office records division where the arrest took place. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can pull up booking records and make copies of arrest reports. Processing time for formal written requests is typically 10 business days. Phone requests work for basic status checks. The records division can tell you if someone is currently in custody and confirm charges without a formal request in most cases.
Minnesota Court Records Online at mncourts.gov provides public access to criminal case filings from courts in all 87 Minnesota counties, letting you track charges and case status after a recent arrest.
Search by name or case number to see what charges were filed following an arrest and to follow how a case moves through the Minnesota court system from filing to disposition.
Minnesota Statewide Arrest and Inmate Databases
Several state-level databases give access to different pieces of Minnesota arrest and incarceration data. Each one covers a different slice, so knowing which to check first matters.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections runs an offender search at coms.doc.state.mn.us. This system shows people currently held in state prison and those released and still under supervision. It does not include county jail bookings. If you are looking for someone serving a felony sentence in a state facility, the DOC search is where to go. New commitments may take a few days to appear after sentencing.
The Minnesota Predatory Offender Registry at por.state.mn.us covers registered sex offenders in the state. You can search by name, city, county, or zip code. This registry is separate from general arrest records and only includes people required to register under Minnesota law. Photos, addresses, and registration status appear for offenders in your area. It is updated regularly by the BCA.
The Minnesota Sheriff's Association at mnsheriffs.org lists current sheriffs and contact information for all 87 counties. This is useful when you need to reach a specific county office and can't find the right number on the county website.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections offender search at coms.doc.state.mn.us covers anyone currently held in state prison or under supervised release, including those whose cases originated in any Minnesota county.
Use the DOC search when looking for someone serving a state felony sentence. It is the right tool for state prison records, separate from county jail rosters and booking data.
Minnesota Jail Rosters and Recent Arrest Data
County jail rosters are the most direct way to find recent arrests in Minnesota. The roster shows who is currently in custody at a county jail. Most include the person's name, booking date, charges, and bond amount. Some also show court dates and housing unit. Data quality and freshness vary a lot by county. Large counties like Hennepin and Ramsey update rosters hourly. Smaller counties may update once a day or post a PDF roster on a set schedule.
Hennepin County runs one of the most detailed jail rosters in the state. The live roster at jailroster.hennepin.us updates every hour and shows current inmates plus those released in the past 7 days. It includes booking photos, charges, bail amounts, and court dates. Ramsey County provides a roster through its Sheriff's Office at ramseycountymn.gov. The county also provides criminal history arrest reports to the public through its Criminal History Unit.
Smaller counties work differently. Some post a PDF with basic booking data. Others rely on VINELink or phone-based lookups. If you are searching for someone in a rural Minnesota county and there is no online roster, call the jail directly or use VINELink at vinelink.com to check custody status across multiple counties from one search.
Note: A booking record is not proof of guilt. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 13.82, arrest data is public, but agencies may withhold records when an investigation is active or when release would jeopardize someone's safety.
VINELink at vinelink.com provides a free statewide inmate search for Minnesota, allowing you to check custody status across county jails and register for alerts when a person is released or transferred.
VINE covers most Minnesota counties and is one of the most reliable ways to find someone in custody when you don't know which county jail they are being held in.
Minnesota Laws on Recent Arrests and Public Access
Minnesota law makes most arrest data public through the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, often called the MGDPA. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 13.82, arrest and booking data held by law enforcement agencies is classified as public. This covers the person's name, age, residence, the date and time of arrest, the charges, and the name of the arresting agency. Agencies must release this information when asked. They cannot charge high fees or require reasons for the request.
Jail roster data follows similar public access rules under Minnesota Statutes Section 13.85. This section sets the requirements for what jails must make available about current and recently released inmates. The standard data includes names, booking dates, current charges, and release information. Agencies can withhold records if disclosure would interfere with an active investigation, jeopardize a person's safety, or disclose techniques used in an ongoing criminal matter.
Records involving juveniles are mostly protected. The default is that booking data for people under 18 is not public. Some exceptions apply for serious felony charges when a case is certified to adult court. For adults, the default is openness. The full text of all relevant statutes is at revisor.mn.gov. The Minnesota Legislature website at leg.state.mn.us tracks bills and changes that may affect public records access in the state.
The Minnesota Revisor of Statutes at revisor.mn.gov publishes the full text of all Minnesota laws governing public access to arrest records, booking data, and criminal history information.
Reference the Government Data Practices Act and related laws here to understand exactly what arrest data must be released and what may be withheld by Minnesota law enforcement agencies.
How to Request Minnesota Arrest Records
Getting a copy of an arrest report in Minnesota starts with knowing which agency made the arrest. City police departments handle arrests within city limits. County Sheriff's Offices cover unincorporated areas and run the county jails. State agencies like the Minnesota State Patrol handle arrests on state highways and in state facilities. Each agency keeps its own records and handles its own requests.
For recent arrests at the county level, contact the Sheriff's Office records division in the county where the booking happened. You can ask in person, by phone, or in writing. Some counties accept email requests. Bring or include your name, the arrested person's full name and date of birth, and the approximate date of the arrest. Processing time is typically up to 10 business days. Copy fees vary by county but are generally a few cents per page. Some counties waive fees for short requests.
For a full statewide criminal history report, go through the BCA at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca. This type of report covers arrests and outcomes across all Minnesota agencies over time. The BCA process has its own fee schedule and forms. It is the most complete source for a long-term criminal history in Minnesota. Court records, which are separate from arrest reports, are available at any courthouse or through the Minnesota Judicial Branch site at mncourts.gov.
The Minnesota State Legislature at leg.state.mn.us is the source for current and proposed legislation affecting public records access, law enforcement data practices, and related statutes governing recent arrest disclosures in Minnesota.
Track changes to Minnesota public records laws and monitor legislative activity related to law enforcement data, criminal history access, and jail roster requirements through the legislature's official website.
Browse Minnesota Recent Arrests by County
Select a county below to find local Sheriff's Office contact info, jail roster links, and resources for recent arrest records in that area.
View All 87 Minnesota Counties
Recent Arrests in Major Minnesota Cities
Find recent arrest records and local police resources for major cities in Minnesota. Select a city to see the local police department, county jail, and how to access booking records in that area.