Polk County Arrest Records Database

Polk County arrest records and jail custody information are handled by the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Crookston. The sheriff operates the Northwest Regional Corrections Center, which serves as the county jail. Records requests go to the sheriff's records division by email or in person. The county is part of the Tri-County Community Corrections program shared with Norman and Red Lake Counties, which handles probation and supervised release for all three counties.

Polk County Sheriff's Office

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is at 600 Bruce Street in Crookston, with a mailing address of PO Box 416. The office employs 32 full-time deputies, 10.5 dispatchers, 5 records and clerical staff, and one part-time evidence officer. Deputies patrol over 2,000 square miles covering 58 townships and 13 cities. Sheriff James Tadman currently leads the office, with plans to retire in January 2027.

The county manages the Northwest Regional Corrections Center (NWRCC), which is the regional jail facility in Crookston. The NWRCC is managed by Polk County and serves the county's jail needs. For records requests tied to arrest data, the sheriff's records division handles incoming requests and can be reached by email at PCSORecords@polkcountymn.gov. Civil process documents are also emailed to that address.

The screenshot below shows the Polk County main website, which provides access to sheriff services, jail information, and other county resources in Crookston.

Visit co.polk.mn.us to reach the sheriff's page, the NWRCC information, and the county's public safety resources.

The county portal links to the sheriff's department, jail facility, and public records tools for Polk County.

Polk County Jail Custody List

The custody list for the Northwest Regional Corrections Center is available through the county website at co.polk.mn.us. The list shows who is currently held at the NWRCC, including names, booking dates, charges, and court information. If you cannot find the list online, call the sheriff's office at (218) 281-0431. Staff can confirm custody status and tell you the current charge or hold type.

VINELink at vinelink.com also covers Polk County. It is free, requires no account, and lets you search by name to check custody. You can also sign up for notifications when someone's status changes, whether that is a release, transfer, or other change. Call 877-664-8463 to use the VINE phone system if the website is not convenient.

Court records for Polk County cases are in the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system under the 9th Judicial District. You can search by name or case number to find filings, hearing dates, and case outcomes. Most searches are free.

Note: Custody at the NWRCC covers people held for Polk County. Some people with Polk County ties may be held in other facilities, particularly those awaiting state sentencing or transfer.

Northwest Regional and Tri-County Corrections

The Tri-County Community Corrections office serves Polk, Norman, and Red Lake Counties from a single office in Crookston. The office is at 816 Marin Avenue, Suite 110, Crookston, MN 56716. Call (218) 470-8100 to reach staff. This office handles probation supervision, supervised release, intensive supervised release (ISR), Sentence to Serve work programs, and specialty court support. If you have questions about someone's probation in Polk County, this is the right office to contact.

Tri-County Community Corrections also runs restorative justice programs for eligible cases. These are community-based alternatives to traditional sentencing that focus on repairing harm done to victims and communities. They are handled by the same staff who manage probation and supervised release. This office does not handle jail custody directly, but works closely with the NWRCC for people transitioning out of jail onto supervision.

Warrant Information in Polk County

Active warrants in Polk County are issued by 9th Judicial District judges. To check on warrant status, call the sheriff's office at (218) 281-0431 or contact court administration. Warrants remain active until served or withdrawn by the court. They cover the full state, so a Polk County warrant can be acted on anywhere in Minnesota.

Polk County is a large county covering over 2,000 square miles and more than 70 cities and townships. Given the rural nature of much of the county, outstanding warrants sometimes go unserved for extended periods. This does not mean they go away. If you have a question about a specific warrant or believe one may be outstanding for you, contact an attorney before reaching out to law enforcement. Written records requests for warrant-related information go to PCSORecords@polkcountymn.gov.

Requesting Polk County Arrest Records

Arrest data in Polk County is public under Minn. Stat. § 13.82. You can request records by emailing PCSORecords@polkcountymn.gov or visiting the sheriff's office in person at 600 Bruce Street, Crookston. Mail requests go to PO Box 416, Crookston, MN 56716. Standard copy fees apply at $0.25 per page. The office responds within 10 business days under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

Some records are restricted, including active investigation data, juvenile records, and certain victim information. The office must tell you in writing if it cannot provide a record and explain the legal reason. For statewide conviction records, use the BCA criminal history search at chs.state.mn.us, which is a fee-based service. For court case records, the free MCRO system covers all Polk County district court filings.

Statewide Records Tools

For records beyond Polk County, a few state tools are worth knowing. The BCA criminal history search returns conviction records statewide for a fee. This covers court dispositions, not just arrests, so it gives a more complete picture. The Minnesota DOC Public Viewer shows people in state prisons across Minnesota. If a case from Polk County resulted in a state prison sentence, look there. VINELink covers both types of facilities and is free to use for custody checks and release notifications.

Nearby Counties

Polk County is in northwest Minnesota. These bordering counties also maintain public arrest records.