Find Released Inmates in Freeborn County

Freeborn County released inmate records are handled by the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The sheriff's office operates the county jail and maintains custody records for all individuals booked into the facility. This page explains how to look up released inmate data in Freeborn County, what state and local tools are available, and how the jail's operations and population break down. The county jail typically holds between 30 and 35 local inmates at any given time.

Freeborn County Sheriff and Jail

The Freeborn County Sheriff's Office and Jail are located at 411 Broadway S., Albert Lea, MN 56007. The main phone number is (507) 377-5200. The fax number is (507) 377-5257. The jail has a separate direct line at (507) 377-5299 for questions specifically about inmates in custody. Sheriff Ryan Shea leads the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office.

The jail typically holds between 30 and 35 local inmates at a time, with about 65 percent of local inmates being held for local charges. This is worth noting because the jail also houses federal immigration detainees. Freeborn County signed an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2009, and that agreement allows jail staff to serve ICE immigration warrants. The ICE Warrant Service Officer Program trains and certifies local officers to handle administrative warrants for people held in the county jail on immigration grounds. At times, the majority of the jail population in Freeborn County has consisted of ICE detainees rather than locally charged inmates.

If you are searching for a local released inmate, use the VINE system or contact the jail directly at (507) 377-5299. For ICE detainee information, contact the ICE field office separately.

VINE Inmate Notification

Freeborn County jail records are accessible through VINELink. You can search by offender ID or by name to check custody status at the Freeborn County Jail. VINE also supports automatic notifications, so if you register for a specific individual, you will receive a message when their custody status changes. This includes releases, transfers to other facilities, and court-related movements.

Register or search at VINELink.com or call the VINE hotline at 1-877-664-8463. The service is free and open to anyone. You do not have to be a crime victim to register. VINE covers the Freeborn County Jail and all other Minnesota county jails plus state DOC facilities. If someone is transferred from Albert Lea to a state prison, your VINE registration will still track them. This is one of the most reliable ways to follow custody changes without calling the jail every day.

VINE is confidential. The offender is not notified that you have registered to track their custody status.

Minnesota DOC Offender Locator

When someone moves from county jail to a state prison after sentencing, the Freeborn County jail roster will no longer show them. That is when the Minnesota Department of Corrections offender locator becomes the right tool. The DOC maintains records on all individuals currently under state supervision, whether they are serving a prison sentence, on parole, or on supervised release.

The MN DOC Offender Locator is free and searchable by name or DOC offender number. You can find current facility placement, supervision status, and projected release dates for those still under DOC control. This is the best tool for tracking someone who was sentenced on a felony after being booked at the Freeborn County Jail.

The DOC locator does not show county jail records. Use VINELink for jail-level searches and the DOC locator for state-level custody.

Court Records for Freeborn County

Freeborn County court cases are handled by the Third Judicial District. Case records including charges, hearing dates, and dispositions are available through Minnesota Court Records Online. MCRO is the public access portal for the Minnesota Judicial Branch and covers civil and criminal cases filed in district courts across the state.

Access MCRO at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. You can search by name or case number. Most adult criminal case information is public. Cases involving juveniles or sealed records are restricted. Court records and jail records are separate systems, so an individual on the jail roster may have a related case in MCRO that you need to search for separately.

For filing questions or to request certified copies of court documents, contact the Freeborn County District Court clerk's office in Albert Lea. Copies of court documents may involve a small fee depending on the type of record requested.

Predatory Offender Registry

Minnesota's Predatory Offender Registry is maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and covers individuals convicted of qualifying sex offenses who are required by law to register their address. Freeborn County residents who have been convicted of predatory offenses will appear on the registry if they are required to register under Minnesota Statute 243.166. This is a separate resource from the jail roster and applies only to a specific category of offenders.

Search the registry at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicRegistrantSearch. Results show the registrant's name, photo, current registered address, offense details, and tier level. Community notification requirements under Minnesota Statute 244.052 govern which offenders are publicly listed and how law enforcement communicates with the community about high-risk individuals.

Minnesota Public Records Law

Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, basic arrest and booking data is classified as public law enforcement data. This means the name of the arrested person, the date and time of arrest, the charges, and the arresting agency are all public records. The Freeborn County Sheriff's Office follows these rules when responding to records requests and posting data online.

Some information is protected. Active investigation data, victim identities in certain cases, and juvenile records are not public. If you need a record and are unsure whether it is public, contact the sheriff's office records division or the county attorney's office. Freeborn County also follows state rules under Minnesota Statute 13.85 for prosecutorial and criminal complaint data.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains criminal history records for the state. For background check requests or access to state-level criminal history, contact the Minnesota BCA directly. The BCA provides services to law enforcement agencies and, in some cases, to the public for authorized background check purposes.

Additional Inmate Resources

For families trying to stay in touch with someone held at the Freeborn County Jail, the main jail line is (507) 377-5299. This is the best number for asking about visiting hours, mail procedures, and inmate account deposits. General inquiries can go to the main sheriff's office line at (507) 377-5200.

The Freeborn County Sheriff's Office website may list additional services for inmates and their families. Court dates and future hearings can be tracked through the MCRO portal. For released individuals looking for reentry services in the Albert Lea area, county human services and local nonprofits can provide referrals to housing, employment, and treatment programs.

If you believe an inmate has been wrongly held or has a complaint about treatment at the Freeborn County Jail, contact the jail administrator or file a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, which licenses and regulates all county jails in the state.

Cities in Freeborn County

No cities in Freeborn County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. The county seat is Albert Lea. For released inmate records in this area, use the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office resources listed above.

Nearby Counties

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