Read the Custody Record, Not Just the Mugshot
The official St. Louis County roster updates hourly, but a new arrest may remain in intake until a booking number is assigned—and an old saved PDF can quickly become outdated.
This guide shows how to read the report timestamp, identity and location fields, distinguish jail IDs from court case numbers, check recent releases, and move to the correct court, bail, visit, mail, communication, money or records source.
Duluth Jail Search Means St. Louis County, Minnesota
Duluth is a city in St. Louis County. For ordinary Duluth Police bookings and St. Louis County custody searches, the county Sheriff’s roster is the correct public starting point.
Correct Search
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Main jail: Duluth
Address: 4334 Haines Road
Area code: 218
Common Wrong Results
Do not accidentally use St. Louis County, Missouri, City of St. Louis jail information, a generic “Duluth City Jail” directory or a historical facility address.
Before paying or travelling: verify Minnesota and then check the roster’s Location field. A Duluth arrest does not guarantee the person is physically housed at the Duluth jail.
Which Record or Service Do You Actually Need?
St. Louis County Custody Source Finder
Jump Directly to the Detail You Need
How to Search the St. Louis County Jail Roster Correctly
Open the County’s Jail Roster Page
Start with the Sheriff’s official page instead of a mugshot aggregator, paid people-search website or saved search-engine copy.
Read “Current Inmates as of” First
The county says the roster updates hourly. The timestamp printed at the top tells you how fresh that particular report is.
Allow for Intake When the Arrest Is Very Recent
A person can be physically in jail intake but absent from the public roster until a booking number has been assigned.
Match More Than the Name or Photo
Compare date of birth, age, booking date, location and arresting agency before deciding that an entry belongs to the person you are looking for.
Check Location, Bail, Charges and Order Type
These fields answer different questions. Location controls facility logistics; bail is a starting payment clue; charges and order type help identify the legal/custody path.
Check Release or Court Records Before Acting
If the person disappeared, use the 48-hour release roster. If you need a court outcome, hearing or certified record, move to Minnesota court resources.
Do not hard-code today’s inmate count. The report is regenerated repeatedly, so its number of pages and people can change throughout the day.
After reviewing the process, use the official St. Louis County Jail Roster page.
What the Roster PDF Can Show—and What It Cannot Prove
The current report format contains much more than names and mugshots. Reading the fields together can prevent wrong-person and wrong-facility mistakes.
| Roster detail | Useful for | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Name + roster identifier | Locating the published custody entry. | The number is a court case number. |
| DOB / Age | Separating people with similar names. | A name match alone is enough. |
| Booking Date | Identifying the current booking period. | It is the person’s first-ever arrest or booking. |
| Location | Determining the facility associated with current housing. | Every St. Louis County record is physically at Haines Road. |
| Bail | Starting a current bond inquiry. | The number guarantees release or covers every hold. |
| Projected Release Date | A projected custody timeline when a date is listed. | It is a guaranteed physical discharge time. |
| Arresting Agency | Identifying the agency connected to the arrest. | That agency controls every later court decision. |
| Charges | Understanding the allegations/custody reasons listed in the report. | A listed charge is a conviction or final disposition. |
| Offense Level | Showing the classification attached to the reported charge. | The classification cannot later change in court. |
| Order Type | Routing questions about warrant, hold, remand, sentence or probable-cause custody. | The short label explains the complete legal effect. |
| Booking photograph | An additional identity clue. | A mugshot proves guilt. |
Arrest, booking, charge and conviction are different events. A booking photograph is an administrative jail image—not a finding of guilt.
LID, Booking Number and Court Case Number Are Not Interchangeable
Different systems can ask for different identifiers. Using the wrong one can cause mail, payments or court searches to fail.
LID
The county’s TextBehind mail instructions require the inmate’s LID and say it can be found on the jail roster.
Booking Number
The county says a person is not listed publicly until a booking number has been assigned during intake. Treat this as a jail-processing identifier.
Court Case Number
This belongs to the Minnesota court case. It is used for court searches and documents and should not be replaced by a jail roster identifier.
Practical rule: use the identifier requested by the specific official service. Do not copy a number from the roster into MCRO and assume it is a court case number.
Why a Recent Duluth Arrest May Be Missing
No-Result Decision Helper
Very Recent Arrest
The county explicitly says a person may remain in intake and not appear until a booking number is assigned. Recheck after the next hourly update rather than assuming the person was released.
Name Search Problems
- Search the legal surname carefully.
- Check first and middle-name variations.
- Try a former or maiden surname when appropriate.
- Check suffixes such as Jr., Sr., II or III.
- Compare date of birth and age if a similar name appears.
Same-Day Custody Call Script
“I am trying to verify current custody for [full legal name]. The arrest may have happened around [date/time], but the person is not on the public roster. Could they still be in intake waiting for a booking number, or should I check another facility?”
For time-sensitive confirmation, call the St. Louis County Jail at 218-726-2345.
Use the 48-Hour Release Roster Before Assuming a Transfer
St. Louis County publishes a separate official report for recent releases. The release report adds a Released Date field to the custody information.
Current Roster
Use it to determine whether the person appears in the county’s current custody report.
48-Hour Release Roster
Use it when someone was recently listed but has disappeared and release may have occurred during the report’s recent window.
What If the Release Was More Than 48 Hours Ago?
The release report is not a permanent historical release archive. If the person fell outside the recent window:
- Check Minnesota court records for the related case.
- Contact Court Administration for important case documents.
- Use Sheriff Central Records for available arrest/incident documentation.
- Do not interpret absence from both current reports as proof of a particular legal outcome.
Use the official roster page and choose its 48-hour release option.
Check the Location Field Before Visiting, Mailing or Paying
A St. Louis County custody record can identify a facility other than the main Duluth jail. The Location field should therefore be checked before every facility-specific action.
| If you want to… | Why Location matters |
|---|---|
| Visit | Use the visitation rules of the facility physically housing the person. |
| Send regular mail | Do not automatically use the Duluth TextBehind address for someone housed elsewhere. |
| Add commissary funds | The receiving facility may use a different account provider. |
| Set up communication | Phone, text and video providers can differ between facilities. |
| Pick up property | Property release is handled by the facility holding the property. |
| Arrange release transportation | Confirm where the physical discharge will occur. |
If the roster Location field says Pine County Jail: use the Pine County Jail Roster guide for that facility’s visit, mail and custody workflow instead of applying Duluth instructions.
How to Read Charges, Offense Level and Order Type
The roster can show several order types. These short labels help route your next question but are not complete legal explanations.
| Order type | Plain-language routing clue | Best verification |
|---|---|---|
| Probable Cause | May relate to early-stage detention after arrest. | Filed court case / first appearance. |
| Warrant | Custody may be connected to a court-issued warrant. | Issuing court and Sheriff warrant information. |
| Hold | Another agency or legal matter may affect release. | Ask which agency placed the hold. |
| Remand | A court-related custody order may be involved. | Current judicial order / court record. |
| Sentence | The custody may be connected to a sentence. | Judgment, sentence calculation and other holds. |
Do not infer legal conclusions from an abbreviation. The court record controls the filed case, disposition and judgment.
Bail, Inmate Funds and Communication Credits Are Different
This is one of the most important practical distinctions on the page.
1. Court Bail / Bond
Used for court-ordered release conditions. Verify every case, hold, current amount, bond type and accepted payment route before paying.
2. Inmate Account
Stellar Services manages jail funds and the county links JailATM for deposits used toward commissary, phone time and necessities after owed fees are addressed.
3. Reliance Wallet
Used for communication services such as texting/video-related services. Funding it does not post court bail or necessarily add commissary money.
Never assume “send money to inmate” means “pay bail.” Verify the purpose before entering payment details.
Before Paying Bail
- Refresh the current roster.
- Check every charge and order type.
- Ask whether another agency hold exists.
- Identify the responsible court.
- Confirm the current bail amount and type.
- Confirm where and how payment must be made.
- Ask whether payment will make the person release-eligible.
- Confirm physical release before arranging transportation.
After those checks, review the official St. Louis County Bail Bonds information.
How St. Louis County Active Warrant Information Works
The Sheriff processes and maintains warrant data, but the county makes an important distinction: courts issue warrants.
When the Online Warrant List Updates
The Sheriff’s Office says its active warrant list is updated at approximately 9:00 p.m., seven days a week.
There can be a delay after court action. The county says every active warrant must be confirmed before enforcement.
What the Active-Warrant PDF Can Contain
The current warrant-list format can include fields such as:
- Name
- Age
- City and state
- Issued date
- Bail amount
- Warrant type
- Charge
- Offense level
Warrant types can include bench warrants, arrest/complaint/order-of-detention entries and probation-related warrants.
A warrant listing does not prove guilt, and members of the public should not attempt apprehension.
Use the official St. Louis County Warrant Division page.
Current Duluth Warrant-Quash Instructions
The county currently says a person addressing an applicable Duluth warrant may come to the Duluth courthouse on Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m., check in at Room 133, and be added to that morning’s court calendar.
Verify before appearing. Court schedules and warrant procedures can change, and the instructions may not apply to every warrant.
Why a Pending Duluth Criminal Case May Be Missing From MCRO
Minnesota Court Records Online is useful, but defendant-name searching has a major limitation that can confuse jail-roster users.
A pending criminal case without a conviction will not return when MCRO Case Search or Hearing Search is performed by defendant name.
What You May Need for a Pending Criminal Case
Minnesota Courts says you may need:
- Case number
- Citation number
- Attorney name
- Attorney bar number
If a Normal Name Search Still Fails
- MCRO name searches are exact.
- Try the name with and without a middle name.
- Try the name with and without a middle initial.
- Use an asterisk wildcard when appropriate.
- Try the “Sounds Like” option for spelling variations.
- Remember that some records may not be available online.
Use Minnesota Court Records Online after understanding these limitations.
Duluth Court Calendar
The Minnesota Judicial Branch says the St. Louis County Duluth calendar is posted at approximately 7:00 a.m. each business day and updated hourly.
Not every matter appears on the public calendar. A missing entry should not be treated as proof that a hearing was cancelled or rescheduled.
100 N. Fifth Avenue W.
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: 218-221-7560
Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Use the official Duluth District Court page when the appearance date or courthouse location matters.
MCRO Cannot Do Everything
Minnesota Courts says MCRO cannot:
- Provide certified documents or judgments
- Perform a criminal background check
- Pay court fines or fees
- Schedule a court hearing
- File documents with the district court
For a certified document, contact the court where it was filed.
Background Checks, Mugshot Copies and the 2026 Fee Schedule
A current jail roster answers a custody question. It is not a complete criminal-history report and should not be presented as one.
Local Sheriff Check vs Statewide Criminal History
St. Louis County Local Check
The county’s 2026 fee schedule lists a Local Background Check — $10 under Records Division fees.
Minnesota BCA Search
Minnesota Courts directs users seeking criminal background checks to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Public Criminal History Search rather than MCRO.
2026 Sheriff and Jail Fee Entries
| 2026 schedule item | Listed fee | Important context |
|---|---|---|
| Local Background Check | $10 | Local Records Division service; not the same as statewide BCA criminal history. |
| Mugshots | $4 | Records Division fee entry for requesting an available mugshot. |
| Mug Shots / Booking Photos | $4 | Also appears under the jail-fee section. |
| Booking Fee | $20 | A jail fee—not a bail amount or family payment instruction. |
| Medical CoPay | $11 | Jail fee entry; do not interpret this as a family medical-deposit procedure. |
| Eyeglasses | $6 | Listed jail fee; verify current handling with facility staff. |
Fees can be amended. Confirm the current amount with Records before making a request.
For the source table, review the official St. Louis County 2026 Fee Schedule PDF.
How to Plan a Visit at the Duluth Jail
The county requires Duluth lobby visits to be preregistered through Reliance one to eight days in advance.
| Day | Published lobby hours |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 8:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. |
| Saturday–Sunday | 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. |
Before Scheduling
- Refresh the current jail roster.
- Confirm the Location field says the correct facility.
- Register one to eight days ahead.
- Use accurate visitor identity information.
- Confirm current ID requirements.
- Ask about minor visitors when applicable.
- Recheck the visit before travelling.
Start with the official St. Louis County Jail page for the county’s current visit instructions.
Remote Video Has Conflicting Current Source Language
The county communication page still describes video calling as “coming soon” and lists Reliance Connect and a $0.25-per-minute rate, while Reliance’s St. Louis County facility experience may offer a video-visitation scheduling route.
Do not buy video credits based only on an old instruction. Confirm that video is actually available for the inmate and facility in the current Reliance system first.
After checking county instructions, you can review the Reliance St. Louis County facility page.
Regular Mail Goes to TextBehind—not the Duluth Jail
St. Louis County moved regular unprivileged mail to TextBehind scanning and printing.
Do not send ordinary inmate mail directly to 4334 Haines Road. The county says regular mail sent directly to the facility is not accepted.
Regular-Mail Address
[First Name] [Last Name], [LID]St. Louis County Jail, Minnesota
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
What TextBehind Does
The county says TextBehind copies/scans mail and sends copies to the facility. Each processed item includes a cover letter summarizing sender/recipient information and page count, along with scanned copies of the contents.
TextBehind mail processing and delivery operates Monday through Friday.
TextBehind Does Not Accept
- Legal mail
- Money orders
- Personal checks
- Gift cards
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
- Cash
- Other personal items
County guidance also excludes mail that is libelous, obscene, contains contraband or contains items other than permitted letters/photos.
Legal mail requires a different process. The public TextBehind page tells you that TextBehind does not accept legal mail, but it does not provide enough detail to safely invent a universal alternative address. Call 218-726-2345 before sending legal documents.
Review the official Jail Communication and Mail instructions before mailing.
Calls, Texting, Voice Messages and Communication Wallets
St. Louis County contracts with Reliance Telephone for inmate phone, texting and video-related services.
| Need | Current published contact |
|---|---|
| Reliance account/support | 800-896-3201 |
| Inmate voice-message line | 218-409-8366 |
Communication Wallet
The county describes a Reliance communication “Wallet” for texting and video-related use. This is separate from:
- Court bail
- Stellar/JailATM inmate trust funds
- Money mailed to the jail—which should not be sent through TextBehind
Monitoring warning: with the exception of attorney phone calls, the county says inmate communications are subject to recording and monitoring.
Use the official county communication page before setting up or funding an account.
How Inmate Funds and Commissary Money Work
Each inmate is set up with an account for permitted commissary, phone time and other necessities. St. Louis County says Stellar Services manages these accounts.
Deposited Money May Not All Become Spendable Immediately
The county says money deposited into the inmate account is first used toward fees the inmate owes. Only the remaining balance becomes available for commissary or phone time.
Before Depositing
- Refresh the jail roster.
- Confirm the correct person and requested identifier.
- Check the Location field.
- Confirm you are funding an inmate account—not bail.
- Review provider fees before submitting.
- Save the receipt or transaction confirmation.
- Do not promise the recipient that the entire deposit will be immediately spendable.
Use the official St. Louis County Inmate Funds page to reach the county’s current deposit service.
Medical Care, Health Questions and Jail Programs
St. Louis County says medical treatment is provided within the facility by licensed medical staff, with community clinics, hospitals and dentists used as needed.
If a Family Member Has a Medication or Medical Concern
The public jail material audited for this guide does not provide enough current detail to safely invent a medication-drop-off or prescription-delivery procedure.
Call the jail first at 218-726-2345. Explain that you have a medical-information or medication question and ask which staff/process should be used. Do not simply bring medication to the jail without instructions.
Programs Listed by the County
St. Louis County says inmates who wish to participate may have access to:
- Substance-abuse groups
- Recreational programs
- Educational programs
- Religious programs
Program availability can depend on custody, housing, safety and facility operations. Do not interpret the general program list as a guarantee that a particular person is currently eligible.
How to Pick Up Inmate Property in Duluth
St. Louis County instructs users to call the jail first and verify that property is ready for release.
- Call 218-726-2345.
- Confirm the property is actually ready.
- Confirm who is authorized to receive it.
- Bring picture identification.
- Ask where and when pickup should occur.
Release status does not automatically mean property is ready. Confirm the property itself before driving to the jail.
How to Request an Arrest Report, Incident Record or Older Mugshot
The jail roster is useful for current custody, but it is not the same as a crime report, arrest report, accident report, citation record, certified court file or full criminal-history check.
| You need | Best starting source |
|---|---|
| Current custody | Official hourly jail roster |
| Release within recent 48-hour period | Official 48-hour release roster |
| Arrest / incident / Sheriff report | St. Louis County Sheriff Records Division |
| Older available booking photo | Sheriff Records / public data request |
| Court docket or court document | MCRO / Court Administration |
| Certified court document | Court Administration |
| Statewide public criminal history | Minnesota BCA CHS |
100 N. Fifth Avenue W.
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: 218-726-2340
The Records Division processes and maintains crime and arrest records and determines whether requested data is public, private or confidential under applicable Minnesota rules.
Use the official St. Louis County Public Data Requests page.
VINE, Minnesota DOC and Federal Custody
Minnesota VINE — County Jail Release Notifications
Minnesota DOC identifies VINE as the notification system for releases from county jails.
VINE: 877-664-8463
Minnesota DOC Public Viewer
Use DOC Public Viewer when the person may have moved from county custody into Minnesota Department of Corrections jurisdiction or remains under DOC supervision.
Open Minnesota DOC Public Viewer
Minnesota Haven
Minnesota DOC uses Haven for notification involving people in a DOC facility or under DOC community supervision. This is different from VINE’s county-jail release-notification role.
Open Minnesota DOC Notification Information
Federal Custody
If the arrest, case or transfer information points to federal prison custody, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.
Automated notifications should not be the only safety plan. When release timing creates an immediate safety concern, use direct jail verification and appropriate law-enforcement or victim-service resources.
St. Louis County Jail and Duluth Court Contacts
| Office | Contact | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County Jail | 218-726-2345 | Custody, intake, property, medical-routing and facility questions. |
| Sheriff Central Records | 218-726-2340 | Crime/arrest records, public-data requests and local record questions. |
| Duluth District Court | 218-221-7560 | Court cases, hearings and Court Administration. |
| Reliance | 800-896-3201 | Communication account and provider support. |
4334 Haines Road
Duluth, MN 55811
Phone: 218-726-2345
Driving there?
Confirm the roster Location field first. Then use the county’s service-location information so you do not confuse the Haines Road jail with the downtown courthouse.
Use Jail Roster and Mugshot Information Responsibly
- Do not treat a mugshot as proof of guilt.
- Do not treat an arrest or charge as a conviction.
- Do not use an old roster screenshot as proof of current custody.
- Do not interpret a no-result search as confirmed release.
- Do not ignore the Location field.
- Do not treat a projected release date as a guaranteed pickup time.
- Do not assume one Bail value accounts for every hold or court matter.
- Do not use a jail roster as a certified background report.
- Do not harass, threaten, shame or expose private information about a listed person.
- Do not publish victim, witness, child or medical information.
- Use official court records for legal outcomes.
- Use a Minnesota-licensed attorney for legal advice.
St. Louis County Duluth Jail Roster FAQs
How often is the St. Louis County Minnesota jail roster updated?
St. Louis County says its public jail roster is updated every hour. Check the Current Inmates as of timestamp at the top of the report each time instead of relying on an old screenshot or saved PDF.
Why is a recently arrested person not on the Duluth jail roster?
The county says people may be in jail intake but will not appear on the public roster until they have been assigned a booking number. Recheck the hourly roster or call the jail at 218-726-2345 when immediate custody confirmation matters.
Does the St. Louis County jail roster show mugshots and booking information?
The official roster can show a booking photograph along with fields such as date of birth, age, booking date, location, bail, projected release date, arresting agency, charges, offense level and order type. A booking photograph or charge is not proof of guilt.
What should I do if someone disappears from the current roster?
Check the official 48-hour release roster first. If the release occurred outside that window, use Minnesota court records or St. Louis County Sheriff’s Records Division rather than assuming the current roster is a permanent custody history.
Why can a St. Louis County inmate be housed outside the Duluth jail?
The roster includes a Location field and a St. Louis County custody record can identify another facility. Follow the displayed location before visiting, sending mail, depositing money, arranging property pickup or planning transportation.
Why can a pending Duluth criminal case be missing from MCRO name search?
Minnesota Courts says a pending criminal case without a conviction will not return when Case Search or Hearing Search is performed by defendant name. A case number, citation number, attorney name or attorney bar number may be needed.
How do I visit someone at the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth?
The county requires Duluth lobby visits to be preregistered through Reliance one to eight days in advance. Published lobby hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Recheck the current jail page before travelling.
Where do I send regular mail to a St. Louis County inmate?
Regular unprivileged mail uses TextBehind. Include the inmate’s first and last name and LID, St. Louis County Jail, Minnesota, P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. The county says regular mail is not accepted directly at the jail.
How do I add money to a St. Louis County inmate account?
St. Louis County says Stellar Services manages inmate funds and the county links to JailATM for deposits. Deposited funds are first applied to fees the inmate owes before the remaining balance is available for commissary or phone time. This account is separate from court bail and the Reliance communication wallet.
How do I request an older St. Louis County mugshot or background check?
Use the Sheriff’s Records Division for available local records. The county’s 2026 fee schedule lists a local background check at 10 dollars and mugshots or booking photos at 4 dollars. A local Sheriff background check is different from a statewide Minnesota BCA criminal-history search.
Final St. Louis County Verification Checklist
- You confirmed St. Louis County, Minnesota—not Missouri.
- You opened the official Sheriff’s roster page.
- You read the report’s Current Inmates as of timestamp.
- You allowed for intake if the arrest was very recent.
- You matched DOB, age and other fields instead of relying only on a name or photo.
- You did not confuse LID, booking number and court case number.
- You checked the Location field before using Duluth facility instructions.
- You checked the 48-hour release roster if the person disappeared.
- You used court/records sources after the 48-hour release window expired.
- You read Bail, Charges and Order Type as separate fields.
- You verified every case and hold before paying bail.
- You kept bail, inmate funds and Reliance wallet funding separate.
- You understood MCRO cannot find a pending criminal case by defendant-name search before conviction.
- You tried case/citation information or alternate MCRO search methods when appropriate.
- You used BCA—not the jail roster or MCRO—for statewide criminal-history intent.
- You preregistered a Duluth lobby visit and reconfirmed it before travelling.
- You used TextBehind for regular unprivileged mail.
- You included the LID required by the county’s mail instructions.
- You did not send legal mail, money or cards to the TextBehind regular-mail address.
- You verified current video availability before purchasing Reliance credits.
- You understood inmate deposits can first be applied to owed fees.
- You called the jail before attempting medication delivery or property pickup.
- You used Sheriff Records for arrest/incident records and older available mugshots.
- You used VINE for county-jail release notifications and DOC resources for state custody.
- You did not treat a mugshot, arrest, warrant or charge as proof of guilt.
Independent guide: Jail-Roster.org does not operate St. Louis County Jail, the Sheriff’s roster, Minnesota Courts, BCA, TextBehind, Reliance, Stellar Services, JailATM, VINE or Minnesota DOC. Current official records and instructions control whenever information changes.