Albert Lea Jail Roster Search Starts With Freeborn County, Not a Separate City Jail
If someone is arrested in Albert Lea, the correct public jail lookup is the Freeborn County Jail Roster. Albert Lea Police makes city arrests, but the county’s Adult Detention Center at 411 Broadway S handles the local jail custody covered by this search.
Quick Answer: How to Find Someone Arrested in Albert Lea
Open Freeborn County’s official Jail Roster page and select the newest dated roster document. The county roster is the correct local custody source for the Freeborn County Adult Detention Center in Albert Lea.
The county posts its roster as a dated document rather than promising that an old saved PDF remains current. Go through the live roster page each time so you do not rely on a previous list after a release, transfer or new booking.
Albert Lea Police, Freeborn County Jail and the Court Answer Different Questions
Albert Lea Police Department
Albert Lea Police handles municipal policing and arrests in the city. For police and public-safety records, the City directs users to the Freeborn County public-safety data-request route.
Albert Lea Police →Freeborn County Adult Detention Center
This is the 138-bed county detention facility at 411 Broadway S in Albert Lea. Use the county Jail Roster page to check local in-custody status.
County roster →Freeborn County District Court
The Third Judicial District court handles criminal and traffic cases filed in Freeborn County. Use Minnesota court records and Court Administration for case status.
District Court →How to Search the Albert Lea / Freeborn County Jail Roster
- Start on Freeborn County’s Jail Roster page. Do not begin with a commercial “Albert Lea city jail” directory; those pages can describe the wrong custody system.
- Open the newest dated roster. The county page links a roster document by date. Choose the newest county-linked version instead of a saved or indexed older PDF.
- Search the document by name. On desktop use the PDF viewer’s find function; on a phone use the viewer or browser search option. Try the legal surname first and reasonable spelling variations if needed.
- Read the full roster entry. Compare the name with the listed charge and intake information rather than assuming every similar name is the same person.
- Call Intake when the booking is too recent or unclear. Freeborn County lists Intake at 507-377-4681 and Master Control at 507-377-4683.
- Move to the correct next system. Court records answer case questions; ICE, Minnesota DOC and BOP answer different custody questions after a transfer or when local custody is not the right jurisdiction.
What an Albert Lea Booking Search Can and Cannot Tell You
The county’s public roster is designed to help identify people in local custody and review the booking context the county chooses to publish. It is not a complete statewide criminal-history report.
| Information | Useful for | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Finding the likely detainee in the current roster. | A name-only match proves identity when people share similar names. |
| Listed charge | Understanding the custody allegation or reason shown when the roster was produced. | The charge is a conviction or the final charge filed in court. |
| Intake date / time when shown | Separating a new booking from an older custody event. | It is the offense time, court filing date or guaranteed release timeline. |
| Custody presence | Checking whether the person appeared on that dated county roster. | A saved roster proves the person remains in custody now. |
Albert Lea Mugshots: The Roster and Booking Photo Are Not the Same Record
The Freeborn County roster route should be used for current local custody first. If the roster document you open does not display a booking photograph, do not switch to an unverified mugshot archive and assume it is current.
Booking photographs are generally public data
Minnesota Statutes §13.82, subdivision 26 defines booking photographs and generally classifies them as public data. A law-enforcement agency may temporarily withhold access if release would adversely affect an active investigation.
Use the Freeborn County Records Department
The Sheriff’s Records Department processes crime and arrest records and public information requests. Ask specifically for the booking photograph or arrest record, using the person’s legal name and approximate arrest or booking date.
A booking photograph documents identification during an arrest. It does not show whether the person was convicted, acquitted, released, had charges dismissed or remains in custody.
If the Person Does Not Appear on the Albert Lea Jail Roster
| Problem | Possible explanation | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest was very recent | The person may still be going through officer paperwork and booking. | Recheck the newest roster and call Intake at 507-377-4681 if current custody must be confirmed. |
| Name search fails | Spelling, a former surname, hyphenation or another name format may differ. | Try reasonable variants and verify directly with the Detention Center rather than selecting a similar name. |
| Person appeared earlier but no longer does | Release, transfer, court action or movement into another custody system. | Call the facility, then check the court, Minnesota DOC, ICE or federal source that fits the situation. |
| Court case exists but roster is empty | A criminal case, citation or warrant can exist without current jail custody. | Search Minnesota court records and contact Freeborn County District Court when necessary. |
| Immigration custody is involved | Freeborn County says ICE detainees are included in its inmate population, but ICE maintains its own custody locator. | Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator and the facility or ICE contact appropriate to the case. |
| Person was sentenced to state prison | County-jail custody may have ended and Minnesota DOC jurisdiction may now apply. | Search the Minnesota DOC Public Viewer; newly sentenced people can take several business days to appear. |
What Happens After an Albert Lea Arrest
The arrest and release guidance linked by Freeborn County explains that an arrested person is typically brought to the Detention Center for booking. The arresting officer completes paperwork or interviews, then jail staff collect demographic information, fingerprints and a booking photograph, inventory property and money, and move the person through the booking and classification process.
First court appearance
The county-linked court-times document says new-arrest court times are Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m. and that a first appearance can occur the day after arrest or, depending on charges, the second day after arrest. It also says no court is scheduled on weekends, holidays or evenings.
Release timing is not guaranteed
The county-linked release guidance says detainees can be released after bail, sentence completion or court release, and describes a normal post-first-appearance release window of roughly 2:00-3:00 p.m. Treat that as facility guidance rather than a promise because holds, paperwork and later court orders can change the actual time.
Freeborn County Court and Bail Verification
Freeborn County District Court is at the courthouse at 411 S. Broadway in Albert Lea and is part of Minnesota’s Third Judicial District. The court has original jurisdiction over criminal and traffic cases filed in Freeborn County.
411 S. Broadway, Albert Lea
Phone: 507-668-6014
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Verify the hearing before travel
Minnesota Judicial Branch says the Freeborn daily calendar is posted for the next day and updated hourly beginning at 7:00 a.m., but not all matters appear and hearings can change. A missing calendar entry does not automatically mean a court appearance was cancelled.
Before you post bail
- Confirm the person is still held at Freeborn County Adult Detention Center.
- Ask which charge or case the bail applies to.
- Confirm the current amount and accepted method directly with the jail or court.
- Ask whether another warrant, detainer, ICE matter or court order prevents release.
- Do not send bail through an inmate commissary, phone or video-visitation account.
- Do not assume payment guarantees immediate release.
Freeborn County Video Visitation Rules
Freeborn County’s current linked visitation document says visitation is video only. Lobby video stations are available in the Law Enforcement Center, while online visitation is available through Inmate Canteen. The county says online visits have a fee and lobby visits are free.
- Lobby visitation is open Monday through Friday until 4:30 p.m.
- Minor children must be supervised during visits.
- People housed in Intake/Release or Segregation require special arrangement through Master Control or Intake.
- People in Intake must have made their first appearance before a Freeborn County judge before becoming eligible for visitation; the county document says Riverside hearings do not qualify as that first appearance.
- Cell-phone use is prohibited in visitation rooms.
- Visits are monitored and rule violations can end the visit or visitation privileges.
- Dress restrictions apply; recheck the county document before traveling.
Mail, Detainee Money and Phone Calls
County-linked mail format
The Sheriff mail guidance uses: Detainee’s name, P.O. Box 170, Albert Lea, MN 56007. It says mail must go through USPS, is inspected for contraband, and allows letters, plain greeting cards and up to three photos; Polaroid photos are not allowed.
TurnKey / Inmate Canteen
The county-linked money guidance says the lobby TurnKey kiosk accepts paper money and credit cards, but not personal checks or coins. Money orders payable to the detainee may be mailed. Online credit-card deposits are routed through Inmate Canteen.
Reliance Telephone
The county-linked phone guidance names Reliance Telephone for inmate phone cards and collect-call accounts. A newer county-hosted phone document lists the Freeborn County Jail inmate voicemail number as 507-391-9296.
Freeborn County Jail Also Houses ICE Detainees
This is a major local difference that makes an “Albert Lea jail” search more complicated. Freeborn County’s official Jail Roster page states that Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees are included in the inmate population and directs users to the ICE Online Detainee Locator for people currently in ICE custody or released from ICE custody within the previous 60 days.
ICE Online Detainee Locator
Use the federal locator when immigration custody is the actual question. ICE searches can use an A-number or biographical information depending on the search method.
Do not confuse immigration and local criminal bond
An immigration bond, immigration-court matter or federal ICE release process is not the same as a Freeborn County criminal bail process. Confirm which authority controls custody before paying or traveling.
Albert Lea Police Records and Freeborn County Sheriff Records
The City of Albert Lea directs public-safety records requests through Freeborn County’s records-request route. Freeborn County’s Records Department processes crime and arrest records, crash reports, citations and public information requests.
City police contact
Albert Lea Police lists its public-safety contact at 411 S. Broadway Avenue, with the main law-enforcement line at 507-377-5200 option 5. For public-safety data requests, the City points users to Freeborn County’s records-request system.
Records Department
Address: 411 Broadway S, Albert Lea
Phone: 507-377-5200 option 1
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
When the Freeborn County Roster Is No Longer the Right Search
State prison or DOC supervision
The Minnesota DOC Public Viewer covers adults committed to the Commissioner of Corrections who remain under DOC jurisdiction. DOC warns newly sentenced individuals may take several business days to appear.
Minnesota VINE
Minnesota DOC directs people to Minnesota VINE for county-jail release notifications. VINE can notify about custody changes such as release or transfer, but direct jail verification is still best when timing is urgent.
Bureau of Prisons Locator
Use BOP only when federal prison custody applies. ICE detention and federal BOP prison custody are separate systems.
Albert Lea Jail, Police and Court Contacts
| Office | Contact | Best reason to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Freeborn County Adult Detention Center | 411 Broadway S, Albert Lea, MN 56007 507-377-4683 |
Current custody, jail operations, release verification and general detention questions. |
| Detention Center Intake | 507-377-4681 | Recent booking/intake questions and special off-site visit arrangements for Intake/Segregation where applicable. |
| Freeborn County Sheriff | 411 Broadway S, Albert Lea, MN 56007 507-377-5205 |
Sheriff services and county law-enforcement routing. |
| Albert Lea Police Department | 411 S. Broadway Avenue, Albert Lea, MN 56007 507-377-5200 option 5 |
Albert Lea police matters and city law-enforcement contact; use the Freeborn County records route for public-safety data requests. |
| Freeborn County Records Department | 411 Broadway S 507-377-5200 option 1 Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
Crime and arrest records, crash reports, public records and booking-photo requests. |
| Freeborn County District Court | 411 S. Broadway, Albert Lea, MN 56007 507-668-6014 Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
Criminal cases, hearing verification, court calendar and legal case status. |
Map: Freeborn County Adult Detention Center in Albert Lea
The Detention Center, Sheriff-related offices and Freeborn County Courthouse functions are concentrated at the county government complex around 411 South Broadway in Albert Lea. Confirm which entrance or service you need before traveling.
Albert Lea Jail Roster FAQs
Does Albert Lea have a separate city jail roster?
The correct public local custody route is the Freeborn County Jail Roster. Albert Lea Police can make city arrests, but people taken into local jail custody are handled through the Freeborn County Adult Detention Center rather than a separate public Albert Lea city-jail roster.
Where is the jail for Albert Lea arrests?
Freeborn County lists its Adult Detention Center at 411 Broadway S, Albert Lea, MN 56007. The Detention Center phone is 507-377-4683 and Intake is 507-377-4681.
How do I search the Albert Lea jail roster?
Open Freeborn County’s official Jail Roster page, choose the newest dated roster document and search that document by the person’s name. Return to the live roster page each time rather than relying on an old downloaded copy.
Does the Freeborn County roster show mugshots?
The county’s roster route is primarily a custody and booking document, and the exact fields can change. If the roster you open does not display a booking photo, Minnesota law generally classifies booking photographs as public data subject to an active-investigation exception, so request the image through the responsible law-enforcement records office.
Why can’t I find someone who was just arrested in Albert Lea?
The arresting officer paperwork and booking process may still be underway, the name may be formatted differently, or the person may have been released or transferred. Recheck the newest roster and call Intake at 507-377-4681 when current custody is time-sensitive.
When do new Albert Lea arrests go to court?
Freeborn County’s linked court-times guidance states Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m. for new-arrest court times and says the first appearance may occur the day after arrest or, depending on charges, the second day. No court is scheduled on weekends, holidays or evenings under that guidance. Verify with District Court because schedules can change.
What are Freeborn County Jail visitation rules?
The county’s linked guidance says visitation is video only. Lobby visits are free and available Monday through Friday until 4:30 p.m.; online visits use Inmate Canteen and carry a fee. Intake/Release and Segregation visits require special arrangement, and Intake detainees must have made a qualifying first appearance before becoming eligible.
How can I put money on an inmate account?
The county-linked money guidance lists a TurnKey kiosk in the Law Enforcement lobby and Inmate Canteen for online credit-card deposits. The kiosk accepts paper money and credit cards and does not accept personal checks or coins. Verify the current instructions before paying.
Why does the Freeborn County roster mention ICE detainees?
Freeborn County states that Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees are included in the inmate population. For an immigration-custody question, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator because ICE custody and local criminal custody are separate legal systems.
What if someone was transferred to Minnesota state or federal custody?
Use the Minnesota DOC Public Viewer for adults under Minnesota DOC jurisdiction and the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for federal prison custody. ICE detention uses its own locator and should not be confused with BOP prison custody.
Official Sources Reviewed
- Freeborn County Jail Roster — dated official roster route and ICE detainee notice.
- Freeborn County Adult Detention Center — 138-bed facility, contacts and current jail guidance links.
- Freeborn County Records Department — crime/arrest records and public-information contact.
- Freeborn County Pretrial Supervision — conditional release and Court Services phone check-in information.
- Albert Lea Police Department — city law-enforcement role and current contact.
- City of Albert Lea Data Request — public-safety data requests routed through Freeborn County.
- Minnesota Judicial Branch — Freeborn County District Court — court jurisdiction, address, phone, hours and calendar guidance.
- Minnesota Statutes §13.82 — public arrest data and booking-photograph classification.
- Minnesota DOC Public Viewer — Minnesota state corrections lookup.
- Minnesota DOC Custody Status and Release — Minnesota VINE county-jail notification guidance.
- ICE Online Detainee Locator — immigration custody search.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator — federal prison custody search.
Use Albert Lea Arrest and Mugshot Information Responsibly
- An arrest, booking, charge or booking photograph is not proof of conviction.
- A dated roster PDF is a snapshot and can become stale after release or transfer.
- A warrant or court case does not automatically mean the person is currently in jail.
- ICE detention, county jail custody, Minnesota DOC custody and federal BOP custody are different systems.
- Do not use booking information to harass, threaten, stalk or shame a person or family.
- Use the court record for the legal case outcome and a licensed attorney for legal advice.