Benton County Released Inmate Lookup

Benton County released inmate records are posted online through the Benton County Sheriff's Office, which maintains a current inmate list on the county website. If you are looking for someone who was recently in custody at the Benton County Jail, the online list is the quickest place to start. The jail is in Foley, the county seat, and handles bookings, short-term sentences, and pre-trial holds. For people no longer on the local list, tools like the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator and VINE provide additional ways to search for released inmates and track custody changes across the state.

Benton County Current Inmate List

The Benton County Sheriff's Office posts a current inmate list on the county website. You can view it at the Benton County Current Inmate List page. The list shows who is in custody at the time of the search. It does not always include individuals who have been released, so if someone is no longer shown, that typically means they have been let out or transferred.

The jail is located at 581 Highway 23 in Foley. The direct jail phone number is 320-968-5196. General Sheriff's Office inquiries can be directed to 320-968-7201. The Government Center address is 531 Dewey St in Foley. If you cannot find someone through the online list and need to verify their status, a phone call to the jail is the most reliable option during business hours.

For custody searches through a statewide system, use the VINELink inmate locator. VINE covers Benton County and lets you search by name or offender ID. You can also register for automatic alerts if you want to be notified when a custody status changes. Call VINE at 877-664-8463 to register by phone.

The Minnesota DOC Public Viewer is a free tool for searching released inmates statewide, including those transferred from Benton County to state prison facilities.

Visiting the Benton County Jail

Visiting hours at the Benton County Jail are limited to specific days and times. Visits happen on Tuesdays from 7 to 10 p.m., Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m., and Saturdays starting at 8:30 a.m. Each visit is limited to 20 minutes. The jail may restrict visitation for disciplinary reasons or based on an individual inmate's classification. It is a good idea to call ahead before making the trip, especially for first-time visitors.

Inmate mail can be sent to Benton County Jail, PO Box 159, Foley MN 56329. Include the inmate's full name on the envelope. The jail has specific rules about what can and cannot be included in mail. Contact the jail directly at 320-968-5196 to ask about current mail policies and any restrictions on commissary or packages. Policies can change, and what was allowed in the past may have been updated.

Public Records Law for Benton County Inmates

Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act governs what inmate information the Benton County Sheriff's Office releases to the public. Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, law enforcement must make basic booking data available, including names, charges, booking dates, and release information. This is why the online inmate list exists as a public resource rather than an internal document you need special access to view.

Minnesota Statute 13.85 sets the rules for corrections data. It protects certain private information, including medical records, mental health data, and case planning details. The public inmate list reflects only what the law allows to be shared. If you need records that are not on the public list, you can submit a written data practices request to the Benton County Sheriff's Office. The fax number for that is 320-968-6885.

Minnesota Statute 641.05 covers county jail operations and adds additional rules specific to local detention facilities. Together, these three statutes form the legal basis for how Benton County manages and releases inmate records to the public.

VINE Notifications for Benton County

VINE, the Victim Information and Notification Everyday service, covers jails and prisons across Minnesota including Benton County. If you want to be notified when someone is released, transferred, or has another custody change, register at VINELink or by calling 877-664-8463. You can set up notifications by phone call, text, or email.

VINE is free and does not require you to explain your reason for registering. It is used by victims, family members, legal representatives, and others who have a need to track someone's status. Registration requires the person's name or offender ID and your contact information. Once set up, the system runs automatically and sends alerts when the jail records a change.

The Minnesota DOC victim notification page has more detail on how VINE works and what types of events trigger alerts in Minnesota jails and prisons.

VINE monitors custody status at the Benton County Jail and sends free alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or has a change recorded in the system.

Court Records in Benton County

Court records are different from jail records. The jail roster shows who is in custody. Court records cover the full legal process: what charges were filed, what hearings took place, what plea was entered, and what sentence was imposed. For Benton County cases, the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system is the main free public tool. You can search by name or case number and see documents filed in the Benton County District Court.

The Benton County Court Administrator is located at 615 Highway 23 East, PO Box 189, Foley MN 56329, and can be reached at 320-968-5205. Court staff can help with questions about accessing records, certified copy requests, and fees for document copies. For a broader statewide criminal history check, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) handles those requests for a fee.

Predatory Offender Registry

Minnesota requires qualifying offenders to register under Minnesota Statute 243.166 when they are released from custody. The Predatory Offender Registry is searchable online and covers registered individuals living in Benton County. Risk levels assigned under Minnesota Statute 244.052 determine how much public notification is required when a person is released. Level III offenders, the highest risk, are subject to the broadest community notification. The Benton County Sheriff's Office handles local notification for releases in the county.

Cities in Benton County

Benton County's county seat is Foley. No cities in Benton County meet the population threshold for a dedicated released inmate city page.

Other communities in Benton County include Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud (portions), Rice, and Gilman. Sauk Rapids and nearby St. Cloud are among the larger communities in the area. Any Benton County resident's jail records are processed through the Benton County Sheriff's Office at 581 Highway 23 in Foley.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Benton County. Each has its own jail and released inmate records.