Minnesota Inmate Records

Minnesota State Records

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What are Inmate Records?

Minnesota inmate records are a compilation of official data on offenders held in correctional facilities across the state. This includes individuals booked, detained or incarcerated in state prisons, county jails, correctional inmate facilities, and other penal institutions. Inmate records may provide general information such as the inmate’s name, registration number, date of birth, and sex. Records may also include sentencing information, such as the type and class of offense, the county in which the case was tried, and the location of the facility holding the inmate. Minnesota inmate records are public records and as such, in compliance with the state’s data practices act, can be accessed by members of the public.

Minnesota’s Prison System

The Minnesota Department of Correction is tasked with the oversight and administration of correctional facilities run by the state. It oversees 13 facilities with varying security classes. Minnesota Correctional Facility St. Cloud serves as the intake facility where sentenced offenders are processed into the system by the department of corrections. MCF-Shakopee is the only all-female institution and houses all security levels. In 2010, the state’s first and only private correctional facility, Prairie Correctional Facility, was closed.

Understanding the between Jails and Prisons

Prisons are correctional facilities operated by the state. Prisons managed by the state fall under the purview of the Minnesota Department of Corrections. On the other hand, jails are correctional facilities managed by municipalities or counties.

How do I Contact an Offender?

Members of the public can contact offenders housed in correctional facilities by mail or email. All incoming mail must include the offender’s name and offender identification number. Accepted mail contents include drawings, photographs, and published materials. Postcards and greeting cards are allowed. Mail should be sent with the:

1. Offender's Name and OID# (Offender Identification Number)
2. MCF- (facility name where the offender is housed)
3. Facility Address

Interested parties can also send emails using the MN DOC’s online email system, JPAy. Emails require a known offender’s ID number.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in State Prison?

To find the right visiting schedule for a particular Minnesota facility, friends and family members are advised to contact the facility prior to the visit. Most facilities in Minnesota do not permit visits on state-recognized holidays. Although each facility governs with an established schedule and independent policies, certain guidelines are maintained across all the facilities.

Visitors are prevented from bringing in anything described as contraband, including drugs, firearms, money, alcohol, or any item that could be used for a crime. A maximum of four visitors is permitted or each session with the exception of two additional kids under the age of two.

Can Anyone Visit an Inmate?

Not everyone may visit an inmate. Visits to an incarcerated offender are prohibited for victims of an active offense. Visitors are also required to submit an application form requesting addition to an offender’s visiting list. Applications may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. No visit is permitted until this process is completed and the application is approved.

List of Facilities in Minnesota

All the facilities in Minnesota offer educational programming so offenders have the opportunity to find employment. The facilities are divided into four security levels, minimum, medium, close and maximum. Below are the contact details of each facility.’

Minnesota Correctional Facility – Faribault (Medium security)
1101 Linden Lane
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 334-0700

Minnesota Correctional Facility - Lino Lakes (Medium and minimum security)
7525 Fourth Avenue
Lino Lakes, MN 55014
(651) 717-6100

Minnesota Correctional Facility - Oak Park Heights (maximum and close custody)
5329 Osgood Avenue North
Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 779-1400

Minnesota Correctional Facility - Red Wing
1079 Highway 292
Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 267-3600

Minnesota Correctional Facility - Rush City
7600 - 525th St.
Rush City, MN 55069
(320) 358-0400

Minnesota Correctional Facility - Shakopee
1010 West Sixth Avenue
Shakopee, MN 55379
(952) 496-4440

Minnesota Correctional Facility - St. Cloud
2305 Minnesota Blvd
St. Cloud, MN 56304
(320) 240-3000

Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater (close and minimum security)
970 Pickett St
Bayport, MN 55003
(651) 779-2700

Minnesota Correctional Facility – Togo (minimum security)
62741 Co Rd. 551
Togo, MN 55723
(218) 376-7878

Minnesota Correctional Facility - Moose Lake (minimum security)
1000 Lake Shore Drive
Moose Lake, MN 55767
(218) 485-5000

Minnesota Correctional Facility - Willow River (minimum security boot camp)
86032 County Highway 61
Willow River, MN 55795
(218) 372-3101

How Do I Find and Offender in County Jails?

Most counties and municipalities in Minnesota provide online platforms where members of the public can obtain general information on offenders booked, detained, or incarcerated in local jails. For instance, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office maintains an online jail roster while Ramsey County provides a list of in-custody inmates booked into its adult detention center with regular online booking reports. Dakota County has an online jail inmate search platform while Anoka County maintains an online inmate locator tool that members of the public can use to search for people in custody.

How to Obtain Record from State Prison?

The Minnesota Department of Corrections maintains an online offender locator database that contains public information on adult offenders housed in correctional facilities maintained by the department. It includes individuals who are in prison, recently released from prison or still being supervised. Members of the public can conduct searches using an offender’s name or a known MNDOC offender ID. Search results contain general offender information such as the inmate’s name, birth date, sentence date, and anticipated release date. It also provides details of the inmate’s offense, related court file numbers, and the caseworker assigned to the offender. Records not available via this online service may be obtained by contacting the department at:

Minnesota Department of Corrections
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108
Phone: (651) 361-7200
Fax: (651) 642-0223
Offender Records Information: co-records.doc@state.mn.us

In addition, the department publishes facility inmate reports that detail the number of active sentences and a breakdown of offense types across the facilities managed by the state.

Note: Information on newly sentenced offenders may take several days before they are included in the database.