Cook County Released Inmates

Cook County released inmate records are available through a jail roster PDF published by the Cook County Sheriff's Department in Grand Marais. Cook County is Minnesota's easternmost county, bordering Canada and Lake Superior, and it operates a small jail that houses adult males and females awaiting trial or serving short sentences. This page explains how to access the local jail roster, use statewide search tools, and track custody changes in one of Minnesota's most remote counties.

Cook County Jail Roster

The Cook County Sheriff maintains a jail roster in PDF format, accessible through the Cook County Sheriff's Department page at cookcountymn.gov. PDF rosters are common for small county jails, which may not have the resources to host a fully interactive search system. To search for a specific name, open the document and use your browser or PDF viewer's search function (Ctrl+F on most systems).

The Cook County Law Enforcement Center is located at 143 Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604. The main phone number is 218-387-3030. The fax number is 218-387-3032. If you cannot find a name on the PDF roster or want to confirm a release, calling the Sheriff's Office directly is the most reliable approach. The small staff means phone inquiries are often handled quickly.

The jail houses adult male and female offenders. Juvenile offenders are not housed at the Cook County Jail. Long-term pre-trial inmates, meaning those awaiting court proceedings for extended periods, may also be held at the facility. If someone has been released from Cook County custody and their name still appears in the PDF, the document may not have been updated yet. Always call to confirm.

The Minnesota DOC Offender Locator tracks people transferred from Cook County to state prison facilities and those under supervised release statewide.

VINE Notifications for Cook County

Cook County jail and inmate records can be monitored through VINELink, the statewide victim notification service. VINE lets you search by offender ID or name and register for automatic alerts when someone's custody status changes. Registration is free and open to anyone. You can sign up online at vinelink.com or call 877-664-8463.

Notification options include phone call, text message, or email. Because Cook County is very rural and the jail is small, the PDF roster may not update as frequently as a larger county's digital system. VINE provides a more reliable way to track release events in real time than checking the roster document manually. For victims, family members, and attorneys tracking someone's custody in Cook County, VINE removes the guesswork from monitoring status changes.

Register with VINE at vinelink.com or call 877-664-8463 to get free automatic alerts when a Cook County inmate is released or transferred.

Minnesota Public Records Laws

Cook County makes jail records public under Minnesota Statute 13.82. This law requires law enforcement to disclose basic booking information, including names, charges, and dates. The jail roster PDF satisfies this legal requirement. Anyone can access the document without filing a formal records request.

Minnesota Statute 13.85 governs corrections and detention data. It sets clear categories for what is public and what must remain private. Booking records and custody status are public. Medical records, mental health data, and other sensitive information are protected. If you need records not available through the PDF roster, submit a written request to the Cook County Sheriff's Office at 143 Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604, under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

Statewide DOC Locator and Court Records

If a person convicted in Cook County was sentenced to a state prison, use the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator to find them. The local roster only shows people currently at the Cook County Jail. The DOC Locator covers all Minnesota state correctional facilities and supervised release programs. Search by name at no cost. Results include current facility, sentence information, and projected release dates.

For registered sex offenders in Cook County, the Predatory Offender Registry is searchable by name or address. Offenders must register under Minnesota Statute 243.166. Risk levels are set under Minnesota Statute 244.052. For court records in Cook County criminal cases, use Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). Statewide criminal history records are held by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

About the Cook County Jail

The Cook County Jail is a small facility serving one of Minnesota's least populous counties. It houses adult males and females but does not hold juvenile offenders. Pre-trial detainees waiting on court proceedings make up a portion of the population at any given time. Due to the small size of the county, the jail does not see the booking volumes of metro-area facilities. Most people who pass through Cook County custody are either released quickly or transferred to larger facilities for longer stays.

Because of the facility's size and remote location, some services available at larger county jails may not be offered at Cook County. For questions about visiting, phone access, mail, or other services for a specific inmate, contact the Sheriff's Office directly at 218-387-3030. Staff can provide current information about what services are available and any rules or restrictions in effect.

Cities in Cook County

Grand Marais is the county seat of Cook County and the largest community in the area. No cities in Cook County meet the population threshold for a dedicated released inmate city page.

Cook County is one of Minnesota's most rural counties, bordering Canada and Lake Superior. All residents are served by the Cook County Sheriff's Office at 143 Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604. Phone: 218-387-3030.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Cook County. Each has its own released inmate records.