St. Cloud 24 Hour Booking Records
St. Cloud 24 hour booking records are managed by the St. Cloud Police Department and the Stearns County Jail. St. Cloud is in central Minnesota with about 69,000 people. It is the largest city between the Twin Cities and Fargo. When St. Cloud Police make an arrest, the person is booked at the Stearns County Jail. Fingerprint and arrest data must reach the state BCA database within 24 hours. You can search for inmates through the county sheriff and look up court records for free online. All booking data is public under Minnesota law.
St. Cloud Overview
St. Cloud 24 Hour Booking Process
The St. Cloud Police Department is at 101 11th Ave N, St Cloud, MN 56303. For non-emergency calls, dial (320) 251-1200. Officers patrol the city, respond to calls, and make arrests. After an arrest, the person goes to the Stearns County Jail for processing.
At the Stearns County Jail, staff take fingerprints and a booking photo. They run background and warrant checks. Minnesota Statute 299C.10 requires that fingerprint records be entered into the BCA database within 24 hours. That is the 24 hour booking rule. It applies to all felonies, gross misdemeanors, and targeted misdemeanor arrests in St. Cloud. The BCA stores this data in the statewide criminal history system.
St. Cloud actually spans parts of three counties: Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne. Most of the city is in Stearns County, so most bookings go through the Stearns County Jail. Depending on where in the city the arrest takes place, the booking could end up at a different county jail.
Note: The Stearns County Sheriff checks all new jail intakes against the predatory offender registry per Statute 641.05.
Search St. Cloud Booking Records
The Stearns County Jail page on the sheriff's website is the starting point for finding St. Cloud inmates. It shows current custody information and recent bookings. The data includes names, charges, and booking dates.
The city of St. Cloud provides information through its website.
This page links to the police department and city services for St. Cloud.
Court records from St. Cloud cases are available on the Minnesota Court Records Online system. It covers Stearns County District Court and lets you search by name or case number. The VINE system provides free custody status alerts for anyone booked at the Stearns County Jail.
What St. Cloud Booking Data Is Public
Minnesota Statute 13.82 makes arrest data from St. Cloud public. The person's name, age, sex, last known address, charges, and booking date are all available. Booking photos are public too. You have the right to ask for this data from the St. Cloud Police or Stearns County Sheriff without giving a reason.
The sheriff maintains permanent records of all jail bookings under Statute 641.05. These records include commitment dates, charges, and release information. They stay on file and can be looked up at any time. The BCA also keeps statewide booking data, but public access to the BCA system is limited to background check requests.
What Charges Lead to St. Cloud Bookings
The 24 hour booking process in St. Cloud applies to certain charge types. All felonies trigger full booking. So do gross misdemeanors. Targeted misdemeanors are listed in the statute and include DWI, domestic assault, fifth-degree assault, harassment order violations, and indecent exposure. When St. Cloud Police arrest someone on any of these charges, the booking data must go to the BCA within 24 hours.
Minor offenses in St. Cloud usually end with a citation. No jail intake means no booking record. But if a warrant check during a stop shows the person is wanted, the officer can arrest and book them at the Stearns County Jail. After booking, a court date is set. St. Cloud cases go to Stearns County District Court. The judge sets bail and the case moves through the system. Track case progress through the Minnesota Court Records Online portal for free.
Because St. Cloud spans three counties, where the arrest happens matters. Most of the city is in Stearns County, so most bookings go through the Stearns County Jail. Arrests in the Benton County or Sherburne County parts of St. Cloud could be processed at those county jails instead. The same 24 hour booking rule applies in all three counties.
St. Cloud Booking Fees and Costs
Stearns County can charge booking fees under Minnesota Statute 641.12. The fee must not exceed the actual cost of housing the person. If all charges are dropped, a refund can be requested. Police report copies from the St. Cloud Police have a per-page charge. Background checks through the BCA cost about $10 for fingerprint-based searches. Court record copies have separate fees through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
The Minnesota DOC offender locator is free and covers people in state prison. This is separate from county jail booking records. For the latest fee information, contact the St. Cloud Police at (320) 251-1200 or the Stearns County Sheriff. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, you can submit a written request for any public booking data. The Minnesota Sheriffs' Association provides additional resources about jail standards and booking procedures across the state.
Stearns County 24 Hour Booking
St. Cloud is the county seat of Stearns County. Most jail bookings from St. Cloud go through the Stearns County system. For full details on the county jail, booking procedures, and inmate search, visit the Stearns County page.
Nearby Cities
St. Cloud is in central Minnesota. These other cities have 24 hour booking information: