St. Louis County Jail & Inmate Roster
Arrests in St. Louis County, Minnesota are booked into the county jail, which is run by the sheriff's office. The county publishes its own roster, and it is separate from the state prison system.
St. Louis County jail and sheriff
| County | St. Louis County |
|---|---|
| Population | 200,794 (2024) |
Where a field is blank, the county does not publish that detail on an official source we can cite.
How to find someone in the county jail
- If the person has already been sentenced, search the Minnesota Department of Corrections offender locator instead.
- Have their date of birth ready — it is the detail that separates people with common names.
- If the charge is federal, search the Bureau of Prisons system, which is separate from both.
- Call the jail directly if the name does not appear; online rosters lag behind actual bookings.
- Search the county's official roster for the person's full legal name.
Cities in St. Louis County
1 city in St. Louis County is covered, each with its own inmate search and bail information.
The Minnesota state prison system
Sentenced prisoners in Minnesota are held by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, not by St. Louis County. A person stops appearing on the county roster once transferred.
How the St. Louis County jail system works
St. Louis County is the facility that takes bookings for arrests in Minnesota. County jails are short-stay by design: people move through them to court, to release, or on to a state prison. That turnover is why a roster can look empty one day and full the next.
From booking, a case moves to a first appearance and then to whatever the court decides about release. Everything that follows — plea, trial, sentencing — depends on that first decision.
What to ask when you call
A single call to the jail or the sheriff's office can answer most of what a family needs to know in the first days. Having the questions ready makes the call much shorter.
- The booking number and the facility housing unit.
- The next court date and the courtroom.
- The bail amount and the accepted payment method.
- Whether the person has already been assigned counsel.
- What identification you need to visit, and the visiting hours.
- Whether there are any restrictions on calls or visits in this case.
Bail in Minnesota
Bail for arrests in St. Louis County is set under Minnesota law. The governing provisions are listed below.
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Minn. Code § 542.04
ACTIONS ON FORFEITED BAIL BONDS
Actions and proceeding prosecuted upon forfeited bail bonds or recognizances shall be heard and tried in the county in which the forfeiture was adjudged. History: ( 9209 , 10596 ) 1923 c 100 s 1 Official Publication of the State of Minnesota Revisor of Statutes
Minnesota Statutes (official, Office of the Revisor of Statutes) (opens in a new tab) -
Minn. Code § 588.06
ADMISSION TO BAIL
When a warrant of arrest is issued pursuant to sections 588.01 to 588.15 , the court or officer shall direct whether the person charged may be admitted to bail for appearance, or detained in custody without bail, and, if admitted to bail, the amount thereof.
Minnesota Statutes (official, Office of the Revisor of Statutes) (opens in a new tab)
Bail in Minnesota
-
Minn. Code § 542.04
ACTIONS ON FORFEITED BAIL BONDS
Actions and proceeding prosecuted upon forfeited bail bonds or recognizances shall be heard and tried in the county in which the forfeiture was adjudged. History: ( 9209 , 10596 ) 1923 c 100 s 1 Official Publication of the State of Minnesota Revisor of Statutes
Minnesota Statutes (official, Office of the Revisor of Statutes) (opens in a new tab) -
Minn. Code § 588.06
ADMISSION TO BAIL
When a warrant of arrest is issued pursuant to sections 588.01 to 588.15 , the court or officer shall direct whether the person charged may be admitted to bail for appearance, or detained in custody without bail, and, if admitted to bail, the amount thereof.
Minnesota Statutes (official, Office of the Revisor of Statutes) (opens in a new tab)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · retrieved 2026-09-16
Frequently asked questions
Where are people arrested in St. Louis County held?
At the county jail, operated by the county. Cities within the county generally do not run their own long-term jails, so bookings are transferred to the county facility.
How do I find someone in St. Louis County jail?
Contact the St. Louis County sheriff's office directly. Where no public online roster is published, a phone call is the only reliable route.
What is the county seat of St. Louis County?
St. Louis County publishes its county seat, as does the U.S. Census Bureau.
How do I post bail in St. Louis County?
Bail is set by a judge under Minnesota law and is normally paid to the court or the county, not to the jail. Confirm the accepted payment method and the exact amount with the court before travelling.
Does St. Louis County publish mugshots?
Some sheriffs publish booking photographs and some do not. Where a roster is published, the sheriff's own site governs what is shown and for how long. We do not republish individual records.
How long are people held in St. Louis County jail?
That depends on the case. People awaiting trial are held until bail is posted or the case concludes; people serving a sentence are held for its duration, then transferred or released.
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