Big Stone County Sex Offenders

Big Stone County sex offenders are registered through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's Predatory Offender Registry and managed locally by the Big Stone County Sheriff's Office. This small rural county sits on Minnesota's western border with South Dakota, with its county seat in Ortonville. Residents who want to find predatory offenders registered in Big Stone County can use free state databases or contact the Sheriff directly. This page explains how to search for sex offenders in Big Stone County and what state resources are available.

Big Stone County Sheriff and Predatory Offender Registration

The Big Stone County Sheriff's Office manages predatory offender registration in one of Minnesota's smallest and most rural counties. All registered sex offenders living in Big Stone County must comply with Minnesota Statute 243.166. That law requires offenders to report their address and any changes within five days. Failing to register is a felony, with penalties up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The Sheriff coordinates with the BCA to maintain accurate registry records.

Big Stone County borders South Dakota along its western edge. That border location creates some complexity in tracking sex offenders who may move between states. Minnesota law requires registration for offenders who live, work, or attend school in the state. If someone from South Dakota is present in Big Stone County regularly, they may still be required to register here. The Sheriff can advise on these situations and coordinate with law enforcement across the state line when needed.

The Big Stone County Sheriff's Office is accessible at (320) 839-3558. Their website is at bigstonecounty.gov.

Search Big Stone County Sex Offenders

The Big Stone County Sheriff's page shows local law enforcement resources: Big Stone County Sheriff's Office.

The Big Stone County Sheriff's Office handles predatory offender registration for this small western border county.

The Minnesota DOC Public Registrant Search is the main tool for finding Level 3 sex offenders in Big Stone County. Go to coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicregistrantsearch. The DOC can be reached at (651) 361-7340 or toll free (866) 396-9953. Search by city or zip code. Use Ortonville and surrounding zip codes. Because Big Stone County is very small, only a handful of offenders may appear. The database updates within 48 hours of law enforcement authorization.

The BCA Predatory Offender Registry at por.state.mn.us covers the full statewide registry. BCA contact: (651) 793-7070 or toll free (888) 234-1248. Only Level 3 records are visible to the public. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders are in the system but access is limited to law enforcement. In a small county like Big Stone, this means the total number of publicly visible offenders may be very small, but that does not mean no offenders are registered.

Risk Levels and Community Notification

Minnesota uses three risk levels for registered sex offenders. Level 1 is low risk. Level 2 is moderate risk. Level 3 is high risk. When a Level 3 offender moves into Big Stone County, the Sheriff's Office handles community notification under Minnesota Statute 244.052. This means notifying nearby residents, schools, and other groups as appropriate. The DOC Community Notification page at mn.gov explains the statewide process.

In a county as small as Big Stone, any Level 3 notification can have significant impact on a tight-knit community. The Sheriff has discretion in how notification is carried out, taking into account the offender's living situation and the community's needs. Residents are encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office directly if they have concerns about a sex offender in their area.

Big Stone County Court Records

Criminal court records from sex offense cases in Big Stone County are held at the Big Stone County District Court in Ortonville. Use the Minnesota Court Records Online system at mncourts.gov to search by name or case number. Court records include charge details, plea entries, and sentencing information. These records are separate from the predatory offender registry but can be accessed by members of the public.

Resources for Big Stone County Residents

VINE provides free custody status alerts for people held in the Big Stone County jail. Sign up at vinelink.com or call 1-877-664-8463. This service notifies you when someone is released or transferred. It is useful for crime victims and for anyone monitoring a specific offender's jail status.

The National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov lets you search sex offender registries across all 50 states. If a sex offender from Big Stone County has moved to South Dakota or another state, you can use this tool to find where they are now registered. It is a federal resource run by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Minnesota DOC Public Viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer shows information about individuals currently under DOC supervision in the community, including those on supervised release in Big Stone County.

Nearby Counties

Big Stone County borders these Minnesota counties. Check them if you are searching for a sex offender who may have moved out of Big Stone County.