Brown County Predatory Offender Registry
Brown County sex offenders are registered through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and managed locally by the Brown County Sheriff's Office. This rural southern Minnesota county has its county seat in New Ulm. Residents who want to find information about predatory offenders registered in Brown County can use state databases or contact the Sheriff directly. This page walks through how to search for sex offenders in Brown County and what resources are available in the area.
Brown County Overview
Brown County Sheriff and Sex Offender Registration
The Brown County Sheriff's Office handles predatory offender registration for the county. Registered sex offenders in Brown County must follow Minnesota Statute 243.166. That law requires them to report their address and any changes within five days. Failure to comply is a felony, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The Sheriff works with the BCA to update registry records and keep the public database current.
Brown County is a rural county in southern Minnesota. New Ulm is the largest city and the county seat. The county covers agricultural land and small communities. The Sheriff's Office patrols a wide rural area and handles sex offender registration for all parts of the county, including areas outside New Ulm. If you have a question about registration or want to report a person who may have failed to register, call the Sheriff at (507) 233-6700.
The Brown County Sheriff's page shows law enforcement resources for the county: Brown County Sheriff's Office.
The Brown County Sheriff's Office manages predatory offender registration across this rural southern Minnesota county.
| Office | Brown County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Phone | (507) 233-6700 |
| County Seat | New Ulm, MN |
| Website | co.brown.mn.us/sheriff |
Search Brown County Sex Offenders Online
The Minnesota DOC Public Registrant Search is the main tool for finding Level 3 sex offenders in Brown County. Visit coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicregistrantsearch and search by city or zip code. DOC contact: (651) 361-7340 or toll free (866) 396-9953. Try New Ulm and rural zip codes throughout the county. The database updates within 48 hours of law enforcement authorization. Only Level 3 offenders appear here.
The BCA Predatory Offender Registry at por.state.mn.us is the statewide database. BCA contact: (651) 793-7070 or toll free (888) 234-1248. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders are registered but not visible to the public. Only Level 3 records are publicly accessible. As with any county, there may be registered sex offenders in Brown County who do not appear in the public search because of their lower risk classification.
Community Notification in Brown County
Level 3 sex offenders moving into Brown County trigger formal community notification under Minnesota Statute 244.052. The Sheriff's Office handles this process, notifying residents, schools, and community groups near the offender's address. In a smaller, more rural county like Brown, notifications can reach a high percentage of the nearby population quickly. The DOC Community Notification page at mn.gov explains the statewide framework for this process.
Residents of Brown County who want to check whether any Level 3 sex offenders are registered near their home should use the DOC zip code search. That tool lets you enter your zip code and see a list of high-risk offenders registered in the area. If you have concerns that go beyond what the public database shows, contact the Brown County Sheriff's Office directly.
Brown County Court Records
Criminal court records related to sex offenses in Brown County are on file at the Brown County District Court in New Ulm. You can access them through the Minnesota Court Records Online system at mncourts.gov. Records include charge details, plea information, and sentencing outcomes. Court records are separate from the predatory offender registry. Using both sources together gives the most complete picture of an individual's criminal history.
Resources for Brown County Residents
VINE is free and available to Brown County residents. Visit vinelink.com or call 1-877-664-8463 to sign up. VINE sends alerts when a person held in the county jail is released or transferred. This is a useful tool for crime victims and community members who want to track a specific offender's custody status.
The National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov covers all 50 states. If a Brown County sex offender has moved to another state, use this tool to find their current registration. It pulls data from each state's registry and is maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The DOC Public Viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer shows people under DOC supervision in the community, including those on supervised release in Brown County.
Nearby Counties
Brown County shares borders with these southern Minnesota counties. Check neighboring counties if a sex offender you are searching for is not found in Brown County records.