Find Released Inmates in Rochester

Rochester released inmate records are processed and held by the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center, which serves as the only jail for Rochester and all of Olmsted County in southeastern Minnesota. Rochester is the state's third-largest city, with about 125,000 residents. The Rochester Police Department does not run its own detention facility. All people arrested in Rochester are transferred to the Olmsted County ADC, located at 101 4th Street SE, Rochester, which also happens to be in the same building as the police department itself.

Olmsted County Adult Detention Center

The Olmsted County Adult Detention Center (ADC) handles all jail functions for Rochester and Olmsted County. The facility is at 101 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904. Call (507) 328-6790 for custody information. The ADC is a medium to maximum security jail licensed by the State of Minnesota. It is operated by the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office and houses both pre-trial detainees and those serving short sentences in county custody.

The in-custody list at the ADC is updated daily and shows who is currently held. To find out if a specific person is in custody, call (507) 328-6790. All social visits at the ADC are conducted by video. Visits must be scheduled 24 hours in advance, and all video visits are recorded and may be monitored. A key convenience here: the police department and county jail share the same building, which streamlines the booking and transfer process after an arrest.

Olmsted County Community Corrections provides probation, electronic home monitoring, and pre-trial services from a location at 151 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904, phone (507) 328-7200. The Sheriff's Office also maintains daily activity logs showing incident type, date, time, and address, which are publicly accessible. Online warrant searches and inmate searches are available through the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office website.

Rochester Police Department Records

The Rochester Police Department is at 101 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904. Main phone is (507) 328-6800. The Law Enforcement Records unit handles public data requests at (507) 328-6811 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also email LECRecords@rochestermn.gov. For dispatch or after-hours questions, call (507) 328-6800.

In-person records requests can be made at the Records window on the second floor of the Law Enforcement Center, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The department follows the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act for all data release decisions. Rochester PD publishes annual crime reports and maintains records of calls for service, arrest statistics, and crime trend data. For non-emergency online reporting, check the city's website. Emergencies always require 911.

Statewide Inmate Search Tools

If the person you are looking for was sentenced to state prison rather than county jail, use the MN DOC Offender Locator. This state tool searches all individuals committed to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, including those currently in prison and those on supervised release. It does not include county jail inmates. Search by name, date of birth, or DOC offender ID. Results include facility, conviction details, sentence dates, and a photo when one is available.

The VINE system is the right tool for checking on county jail custody. VINE covers the Olmsted County ADC. You can look up an individual and register to get automatic alerts when their custody status changes. Alerts arrive by phone, email, or text. Call the Minnesota VINE line at 877-664-8463 or visit vinelink.com. The service is free and runs 24/7. It does not cover federal facilities. For DOC supervised release inmates, use Minnesota Haven instead, at 1-800-657-3830.

For DOC supervised release notifications, Minnesota Haven is a free service run by the DOC Victim Assistance Program. Families and victims can register to receive notifications when an offender's custody status changes, including early release, transfers, and escape notifications. Register by downloading a form from the DOC website and emailing it to victimassistance.doc@state.mn.us or mailing it to 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200, Saint Paul, MN 55108.

Predatory Offender Registry

The Minnesota Predatory Offender Registry covers individuals required to register under Minnesota Statute 243.166. Registration applies to those convicted of criminal sexual conduct, murder with sexual motivation, kidnapping, and child exploitation offenses. The minimum registration period is ten years. High-risk cases can require lifetime registration.

The public database lists Level II and Level III offenders only. Level III offenders represent the highest assessed risk and receive broader community notification. Results show name, photo, address, offense, and risk level. A map view lets you see registered offenders by area. Failing to register is a felony under state law, carrying up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. For questions, contact the DOC Community Notification Unit at (651) 361-7340 or toll-free at (866) 396-9953, weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Court Records

Rochester criminal cases go through Olmsted County District Court. The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system provides free public access to case summaries and docket entries. Search by name, case number, attorney, or citation. Viewing case summaries and the register of actions is free. Court documents from July 1, 2015, forward are available electronically. Certified copies cost $10 per document. For older records or full case files, contact the court clerk directly at the Olmsted County Courthouse.

Full criminal history background checks go through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The public online search costs $15 per person and is available at ch.state.mn.us. It returns conviction data from Minnesota courts. Conviction records are public for 15 years after sentence discharge. For help, call the BCA Criminal History Unit at (651) 793-2400. The BCA office is in St. Paul at 1430 Maryland Avenue East.

Minnesota Public Records Law

Minnesota Statute 13.82 defines what law enforcement data is public. Arrest data is public from the moment of booking. This includes the time and place of arrest, the charge, the person's name, age, sex, and last known address, and whether they were released or held. Booking photos are public but can be withheld temporarily during an active investigation.

Under Minnesota Statute 13.85, most corrections and detention data is private. Exceptions include arrest data and summary statistics. Medical, psychological, and financial records held by correctional facilities are not publicly releasable. Conviction data under the BCA's records is public for 15 years following discharge of sentence. If investigative data is at issue, it remains confidential while a case is active and becomes public once the investigation closes.

Nearby Cities

Rochester is in southeastern Minnesota. Other qualifying cities are in the Twin Cities metro area.