Grant County Released Inmates

Grant County released inmate records are handled by the Grant County Sheriff's Office in Elbow Lake, Minnesota. The Grant County Jail holds inmates for the county in west-central Minnesota, and custody information can be accessed through the VINE system and the state's offender tools. This page explains how to find released inmate records in Grant County, how to contact the sheriff's office directly, and which state and regional resources cover individuals who have moved through the local jail system.

Grant County Sheriff and Jail

The Grant County Sheriff's Office is located at 10 2nd St. NE, Elbow Lake, MN 56531. The main phone number is (218) 685-8280. The fax number is (218) 685-5319. The Grant County Jail is also located in Elbow Lake. This is where individuals arrested in Grant County are booked and held pending court proceedings or transfer to a state facility. The county is small, and the jail population reflects that.

For a current view of who is in custody at the Grant County Jail, contact the sheriff's office directly at (218) 685-8280. You can also use the MN DOC Offender Locator or VINE to check on individuals who may have moved through the local jail system. For confirmed custody information, a direct call to the sheriff's office is the most reliable method.

The Grant County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for custody information. Call (218) 685-8280 to confirm details or ask about a specific person.

VINE Victim Notification

Grant County jail and inmate records are searchable through VINELink. You can look up inmates by name or offender ID and check their current custody status. VINE also provides automatic notifications when an inmate's status changes. This includes releases from the Grant County Jail, transfers to state facilities, and court-related movements. The service is free and covers all Minnesota county jails and DOC facilities.

Register at VINELink.com or call the VINE hotline at 1-877-664-8463. You can choose to receive alerts by phone, text, or email. Registration is confidential. The inmate is not told that you have registered to monitor their custody status. VINE is used by victims, family members, and others with a legitimate need to follow custody changes without calling the jail repeatedly.

Grant County is a smaller county, and the jail staff will generally try to answer basic custody questions over the phone. But if you need a reliable automated alert system, VINE is the better long-term solution, especially if someone is transferred out of Elbow Lake to a larger facility.

Minnesota DOC Offender Locator

When someone moves from the Grant County Jail to a state prison after sentencing, the local jail roster will no longer show them. The Minnesota Department of Corrections offender locator is the right tool at that point. It covers all adults under DOC supervision in Minnesota, whether they are serving a prison term or on post-release supervision back in Grant County or another part of the state.

Search the MN DOC Offender Locator by name or offender ID number. Results include supervision status, facility location, and projected release information where available. No account is needed. The tool is updated regularly and free to use. It does not cover county jail records. Use VINELink for Grant County Jail searches and the DOC locator for state prison and supervised release tracking.

The DOC locator is the best tool for tracking Grant County residents who were sentenced on felony charges and sent to a state institution.

Grant County Court Records

Court records for Grant County are part of the Eighth Judicial District. The Minnesota Court Records Online portal gives public access to criminal, civil, and family case records. MCRO shows filings, hearing dates, charges, and case dispositions for adult cases in the district. Juvenile and sealed records are not available through the public portal.

Access MCRO at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. Search by name or case number. Court records and jail records are separate. Someone on the jail roster may have a related case in MCRO, but you need to search each system separately. For certified copies or filing questions, contact the Grant County District Court clerk in Elbow Lake.

Most adult criminal case information is public under Minnesota law. This includes charge information, hearing dates, plea records, and sentencing outcomes. The BCA and DOC maintain separate records on criminal history and supervision status.

Predatory Offender Registry

The Minnesota Predatory Offender Registry is maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It covers individuals convicted of qualifying sex offenses and other predatory crimes who are required to register their home address under Minnesota Statute 243.166. Anyone released from the Grant County Jail who has a qualifying conviction may appear on this registry.

Search the registry at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicRegistrantSearch. The registry shows name, photo, current address, offense details, and tier level. Community notification rules are set by Minnesota Statute 244.052. Tier III offenders are subject to the highest level of public notification. The registry is not a list of all inmates or all released individuals. It applies only to those with qualifying predatory offense convictions who are required to register.

Minnesota Public Records Law

Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, basic arrest and booking data is public law enforcement data. The name of the arrested person, the date and time of arrest, the charges, and the arresting agency are all public records in Minnesota. Grant County follows these rules. The sheriff's office is the primary custodian of local jail records.

Some records are not public. Active investigation data, victim identities in sensitive cases, and juvenile records are protected. Minnesota Statute 13.85 covers prosecutorial records and criminal complaint data. If you are denied a record you believe is public, ask for the specific statutory basis for the denial. The Minnesota Department of Administration handles data practices complaints and can provide guidance on your rights.

For background check services or access to statewide criminal history data, contact the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The BCA provides certified criminal history records to authorized requestors.

Contacting Grant County About Inmate Records

The Grant County Commissioners and general county administration are located at 10 2nd St. NE, Elbow Lake, MN 56531-4400. For jail and inmate-specific questions, use the sheriff's main line at (218) 685-8280. This is a small county office, and staff can typically help with basic custody and release questions during business hours.

If you need to send mail to an inmate at the Grant County Jail, address it to the inmate's full name and the jail address in Elbow Lake. Ask the sheriff's office about any specific mail rules or restrictions before sending anything. Some county jails in Minnesota have moved to digital mail systems that require mail to be submitted online rather than through the postal system.

Grant County is in the west-central area of Minnesota. People booked locally may be transferred to a larger regional facility if the Grant County Jail is at capacity. In that case, VINE is the best way to track where someone has been moved. Contact the sheriff's office to ask about current housing arrangements if you cannot locate someone through the online tools.

Cities in Grant County

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

Nearby Counties

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