Grant County Booking Reports
Grant County Booking Reports are public records created by the Grant County Sheriff's Office in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, when someone is arrested and processed into the county jail. This page explains how to find booking records, contact the sheriff's office, and use statewide Minnesota systems for related arrest and inmate history searches. Grant County is a small rural county in west-central Minnesota served by the 8th Judicial District.
Grant County Booking Reports
Grant County Sheriff's Office
The Grant County Sheriff's Office is located at 10 2nd St. NE in Elbow Lake. Sheriff Jon Combs leads the department. Chief Deputy Jennifer Vipond assists with operations. The sheriff handles patrol across the county, civil process, and oversees the county jail. All booking records for Grant County are maintained at this office.
| Website | co.grant.mn.us/sheriff |
|---|---|
| Address | 10 2nd St. NE, Elbow Lake, MN 56531 |
| Phone | (218) 685-8280 |
| Sheriff | Jon Combs |
| Chief Deputy | Jennifer Vipond |
| Judicial District | 8th |
The sheriff's page at co.grant.mn.us/sheriff provides department contact details and access to county services. For current custody status or booking record requests, calling 218-685-8280 is the most direct approach. Staff can confirm whether someone is in custody and walk you through the formal request process if needed.
About Grant County Booking Records
Grant County is a small county with a population under 6,000 people. The sheriff's office processes a lower volume of bookings than larger counties, but Minnesota law applies the same way. Booking reports are public records. Minnesota Statute 13.82 classifies arrest data as public and requires agencies to make it available on request.
Each booking report captures key information at the time of arrest. Standard fields include the person's name, date of birth, booking date and time, charges, and bail amount. This data is created by jail staff during the booking process and held by the sheriff's office. It is a public document unless a specific statutory exception applies, such as juvenile records or active investigative data.
Grant County does not appear to offer a live online jail roster available to the public without contact. The most direct way to check current custody status is to call the sheriff's office at 218-685-8280. For formal records requests, written submissions under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act are the appropriate route.
Note: Grant County's small population means some detainees may be transferred to neighboring county jails for longer-term holds; check Douglas or Otter Tail County if you cannot locate someone locally.
How to Request Booking Records
Formal requests for Grant County booking records are governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, found at Minnesota Statute Chapter 13. Section 13.82 covers arrest data specifically. You can request records by writing to the Grant County Sheriff, 10 2nd St. NE, Elbow Lake, MN 56531.
Include the person's full name, approximate date of arrest if you have it, and your contact information. You are not required to give a reason for the request. Public arrest data must be provided by the agency within a reasonable time. Basic arrest data does not typically carry a fee. If the agency needs to prepare copies or documents in a specific format, a per-page fee may apply.
If your request includes data protected under Section 13.87, such as active criminal investigation records, the agency may consult the county attorney before responding. Once an investigation ends, previously protected data may become available. If you believe a denial is improper, the Information Policy Analysis Division at the Minnesota Department of Administration can provide guidance.
Minnesota BCA Criminal History Records
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the best resource for researching arrest history that goes beyond Grant County or covers a longer time period. The BCA aggregates criminal history data from all 87 Minnesota counties. Records include arrests, charges filed, and case dispositions. The BCA system is updated as agencies submit records, though there may be a short delay for very recent bookings.
Search the BCA at Minnesota BCA Criminal History Search. A fee applies for public record checks. The BCA is especially useful when you need to look at records across multiple counties or jurisdictions. For Grant County specifically, the BCA may be the most practical tool for researching past arrests when no online local roster is available.
The BCA database includes the MNI number, which is a statewide identifier used to tie records together across agencies. If you have an MNI number from a booking record, using it in the BCA search will pull up linked records from other sources as well.
Minnesota DOC Offender Locator
If someone arrested in Grant County was later convicted and sentenced to state prison, they leave the county jail system and move into the Minnesota Department of Corrections. The county roster will not show them at that point. Use the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator to search for state prison inmates.
The tool is free and searches by name or DOC number. It shows current facility, sentence length, and supervised release status. County jail records and DOC records are entirely separate. For a complete picture, you may need to check both systems depending on what happened after the arrest and booking.
Court Records for Grant County Cases
Criminal cases arising from Grant County arrests go through the 8th Judicial District. Court records are held by the district court administrator, separate from the sheriff's office. A booking report captures the arrest. Court records capture everything that happens in the legal process after the arrest.
Search Grant County court cases at Minnesota Court Records Online. Searches are free for basic lookups by name or case number. You can view charge descriptions, hearing dates, and case status. For certified copies, full case files, or records involving restricted matters, contact the Grant County court administrator's office in Elbow Lake.
Together, booking reports and court records give a full view of a criminal matter. The booking report shows who was arrested and when. The court record shows what charges were pursued and how the case ended. Both are public records for most adult cases under Minnesota law.
VINE Custody Notifications
VINE is a free service that sends custody alerts for all Minnesota county jails and state correctional facilities. If you need to know when someone is released, transferred, or when their supervised release status changes, VINE handles that notification. Register online at VINELink or call 1-877-MN-4-VINE (1-877-664-8463). Alerts can be sent by phone, text, or email. The service runs around the clock at no charge and covers Grant County along with all other Minnesota facilities.
Nearby Counties
Grant County borders several west-central Minnesota counties. Use these links to search booking records in neighboring areas.