Goodhue County Inmate Records
Goodhue County inmate population records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Red Wing, Minnesota. This southeastern Minnesota county borders the Mississippi River and covers a mix of farmland and small towns. The Goodhue County jail processes bookings for all arrests made within county lines, and those records are public under state law. The county seat sits in Red Wing, where the Sheriff's Office runs day-to-day jail operations. If you need to find out who is in custody or look up past booking data, the sheriff's staff can help with that. The county also complies with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act for all records requests.
Goodhue County Overview
Goodhue County Sheriff and Jail
The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and holds responsibility for all inmate population records. The office mission is "to effectively promote the safety, health, and well-being of our residents." Staff handle bookings, track who is in the jail, and process releases. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 641, the sheriff must keep detailed logs for every person booked into custody. This means recording the inmate's name, charges, arrest date, and release date. Those records make up the core of Goodhue County inmate population data.
The jail in Red Wing serves all of Goodhue County. It holds people waiting for trial and those serving short sentences. The sheriff sends reports on the inmate population to state agencies on a set schedule. These reports go to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and other bodies as laid out in Minn. Stat. 641.05. Goodhue County follows the Data Practices Act for all records requests, meaning most booking data is open to the public. Private data like medical records stays off limits.
| Office | Goodhue County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Location | Red Wing, MN 55066 |
| Emergency | 911 |
| Website | goodhuecountymn.gov |
Search Goodhue County Inmate Population
There are a few ways to search for Goodhue County inmate population records. The most direct route is to call the Sheriff's Office. Give them a full name and date of birth. Staff can tell you if someone is in the jail right now. They can also look up past bookings if you need older records.
For people who ended up in state prison, the Minnesota DOC Inmate Locator is the tool to use. It covers adults committed to the Commissioner of Corrections. County jail inmates do not show up in that system. But if a Goodhue County case led to a felony sentence, the person may appear in the DOC database after transfer. The DOC Search Portal also lists fugitives and lets you check on people in state custody. Written requests for inmate population data can go to the sheriff's office under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Arrest data is public. That covers the time and place of arrest, charges filed, and the holding location.
Tip: County jail records may not appear in state-level databases. Check with the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office for current inmate population information.
Goodhue County Booking Process
When someone gets arrested in Goodhue County, booking takes place at the jail in Red Wing. The person is searched, photographed, and fingerprinted. Staff record all personal details along with the charges. This data goes into the inmate population log right away. The booking record becomes public almost at once, though certain details stay private under state law.
Goodhue County sits in the 1st Judicial District. Cases move from arrest to the Goodhue County District Court. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website lets you search court records tied to arrests and bookings. Sentencing data, case status, and docket entries are all searchable online. If a judge orders someone held in the Goodhue County jail pending trial, that shows up in the inmate population count. Under Minn. Stat. 641.14, the jail must separate inmates by gender and keep juveniles away from adult inmates at all times.
Inmate Population Data Rules
Goodhue County follows state law on what inmate data is public and what is not. Under Minn. Stat. 13.85, corrections and detention data has specific classifications. Public data from the Goodhue County jail includes the inmate's name, age, sex, and last known address. Charges and the arrest date are also public. Medical records, mental health evaluations, and financial details about an inmate stay private.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension also maintains criminal history records linked to Goodhue County arrests. You can request a background check through the BCA, though fees apply. If data has been presented in open court, it becomes public to the extent the court record reflects it. Victims can access certain inmate information for restitution purposes even when it would not be available to the general public.
Jail Operations in Goodhue County
The Goodhue County jail provides services required by state law. Discharge planning is mandatory under Minn. Stat. 641.155. That means the jail must help inmates get ready for release by connecting them to community resources. Housing, treatment programs, and basic social services are all part of the plan. The goal is to reduce the number of people who end up back in jail.
Goodhue County inmate population numbers change with arrest trends and seasonal patterns. The county is home to Red Wing, which has a moderate population. Rural areas around the county see fewer arrests overall but still contribute to the jail count. When the jail gets close to full, the county can transfer inmates to nearby facilities through agreements. The sheriff tracks these numbers and reports them to the state. Private jails are not allowed in Minnesota under Minn. Stat. 641.015, so the Goodhue County jail runs entirely under county control.
Statewide Inmate Search Tools
Beyond Goodhue County resources, several state tools can help with inmate population searches. The Minnesota DOC publishes statistics and annual reports at its website that show population trends across all state facilities. This data gives useful context for local numbers.
The DOC Victim Services program lets victims sign up for custody status alerts. If someone from Goodhue County gets sent to a state prison, victims can get notices about transfers, releases, or escapes. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 243, the Commissioner of Corrections has to track and report population data for the whole state corrections system. This includes people who started their cases in Goodhue County and later moved to state custody.
The Goodhue County government website provides access to local public safety information and resources.
This page covers Goodhue County services including the Sheriff's Office, which manages all inmate population data for the county jail in Red Wing.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Goodhue County. If you need to check on an inmate who may have been moved, try the neighboring jails as well.