Winona County Released Inmate Records

Winona County released inmate records are maintained by the Winona County Sheriff's Office, which operates the county jail in Winona along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. The Sheriff's Office handles all county detention and is the main contact for finding someone recently booked into or released from Winona County custody. For individuals transferred to state corrections, the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator and VINE provide statewide search tools.

Winona County Sheriff's Office and Jail

The Winona County Sheriff's Office is located at 201 W. 3rd St. in Winona, MN 55987. The main phone is (507) 457-6500. The fax is (507) 457-6501. For emergencies, call 911. Jail Administrator Steven Buswell can be reached at sbuswell@co.winona.mn.us for administrative matters. The Sheriff's Office is the central contact for all custody and released inmate inquiries in Winona County.

The Winona County Jail provides comprehensive booking, detention, and inmate services. The facility includes medical care and access to rehabilitation programs. When local police departments in Winona County make arrests, individuals are transported to the county jail for processing. The jail serves all of Winona County, including the city of Winona and smaller communities throughout the county.

Winona is a college town with Winona State University and Saint Mary's University, which adds a distinct character to local law enforcement operations. The Winona County Sheriff's Office website is the starting point for any public online resources. For real-time custody status, calling the Sheriff's Office directly at (507) 457-6500 is the fastest approach.

The Minnesota DOC Offender Locator covers individuals transferred from the Winona County Jail to a state corrections facility or placed on supervised release statewide.

About the Winona County Jail

The Winona County Jail provides booking, detention, and inmate services along with medical care and access to rehabilitation programs. The jail serves as the county's only detention facility and handles all county-level bookings. People arrested by the Sheriff's Office, Winona Police Department, and other local agencies are all processed through the county jail. There is no separate city jail in Winona or any other Winona County community.

The facility operates around the clock. Bookings and releases happen at any hour. People who are arrested on a Friday evening might be released the same night if they post bail quickly, or they may remain through the weekend depending on the charges and circumstances of their case. The jail runs day and night without interruption.

When someone is sentenced to more than one year in prison, they are transferred to a Minnesota DOC facility. At that point, the local jail roster no longer shows them. The DOC Offender Locator is the right tool for tracking these individuals. For shorter sentences served locally, the Sheriff's Office can confirm custody and release information.

Public Data Rules for Winona County Jail Records

Booking data at the Winona County Jail is public information under Minnesota Statute 13.82. The statute requires basic booking information, including name, booking date, charges, and arresting agency, to be publicly available. A call or visit to the Sheriff's Office is all that is needed for standard custody inquiries. No formal legal process is required for basic booking data.

Some records are protected. Medical records, mental health data, and certain investigative files are private under Minnesota Statute 13.85. If you need records beyond standard booking information, file a written data practices request with the Winona County Sheriff's Office. The office must respond within the timeframe set by Minnesota law.

For court records tied to Winona County criminal and civil cases, use the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system for free. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) processes statewide criminal history requests for broader background checks.

Statewide Released Inmate Search Tools

When a Winona County inmate is transferred to a state prison or placed on supervised release, the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator tracks them from there. Search by name to find current facility, sentence details, and projected release date. The tool is free and available at all hours.

VINE covers the Winona County Jail and allows you to check custody status or register for alerts at no cost. Visit vinelink.com or call 877-664-8463. Register to receive automatic alerts when a specific person's custody status changes. VINE is confidential and available 24 hours a day. Alerts can come by phone call, text, or email.

VINE covers the Winona County Jail and provides free, confidential custody change alerts for anyone who registers, including notifications when an inmate is released or transferred.

Sex Offender Registry for Winona County

The Minnesota Predatory Offender Registry lists individuals required to register under Minnesota Statute 243.166. The registry covers all registrants statewide, including those who report addresses in Winona County. It is searchable by name and location and is updated as registrants report address changes. Registrants must report to local law enforcement on a schedule based on their risk level.

Risk levels are assigned under Minnesota Statute 244.052. Level III offenders require active community notification by the Winona County Sheriff's Office when they move into the county. Level I and Level II have more limited notification requirements. Contact the Sheriff's Office at (507) 457-6500 for questions about specific registrants in your area of Winona County.

Court Records for Winona County Cases

Winona County district court records are accessible through the MCRO system at no charge. Search by name or case number to find criminal, civil, and family court filings. The system shows case status, charges, hearing dates, and final dispositions. Court records complement jail records by showing the legal outcome of each case after the initial booking.

Winona County is served by the 3rd Judicial District. If you need certified copies of court documents, contact the court administrator for the 3rd Judicial District. Certified copies are required for official use in legal proceedings, employment background checks, and licensing applications. MCRO allows informal viewing, but the court administrator's office handles certified copy requests.

For a statewide criminal history check, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) handles formal requests. BCA records pull from all Minnesota court cases and law enforcement contacts and provide broader coverage than individual county records, particularly for people with cases in multiple counties or jurisdictions.

Cities in Winona County

Winona is the county seat of Winona County. No cities in Winona County meet the population threshold for a dedicated released inmate city page on this site. Winona city has a population of approximately 25,000, which is below the qualifying threshold.

Other communities in Winona County include St. Charles, Lewiston, and Altura. All jail and released inmate records for residents of these communities are handled through the Winona County Sheriff's Office at 201 W. 3rd St. in Winona.

Nearby Counties

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