Find Sex Offenders in Freeborn County

Freeborn County sex offenders are registered with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and tracked by the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office in Albert Lea. To search the predatory offender registry for Freeborn County, go to the BCA's online tool at por.state.mn.us, where you can filter by county and find registered offenders at all risk levels. For Level 3 offenders only, use the Department of Corrections public site at coms.doc.state.mn.us. This southern Minnesota county borders Iowa, and the Sheriff's Office coordinates with neighboring agencies to track offenders who move across county or state lines.

Searching Freeborn County Sex Offender Records

The BCA Predatory Offender Registry is the primary database for finding sex offenders in Freeborn County. You can access it at por.state.mn.us and search by name, zip code, city, or county. The registry includes offenders at all three risk levels. Offender records are updated within 48 hours of any change, so the information is current. The BCA can be reached at (651) 793-7070 if you have questions about specific records.

If you want to check on Level 3 sex offenders specifically, use the DOC public search at coms.doc.state.mn.us. Level 3 means the offender was determined to pose a high risk to the community. Their information is publicly posted, and law enforcement is required to notify the public when they move into an area. Call the DOC at (651) 361-7340 with questions.

You can also use the National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov to search across all states. This is helpful for checking on people who may have moved to Freeborn County from Iowa or another state.

Freeborn County Sheriff and Registration

The Freeborn County Sheriff's Office manages predatory offender registration compliance for the county. Deputies conduct in-person verification checks, confirm that offenders are living where they said they live, and report violations to the BCA. When an offender does not update their address or other required information, the Sheriff's Office investigates and may refer the case for felony charges.

State law under Minn. Stat. 243.166 requires all predatory offenders to report changes in their address, employment, school enrollment, and vehicle information within five days of any change. Offenders must also report in person on a regular schedule determined by their risk level. High-risk offenders check in more often than low-risk offenders. Missing a registration appointment is a violation that can lead to felony charges.

BCA Predatory Offender Registry

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs the statewide predatory offender database at por.state.mn.us, which covers all sex offenders registered in Freeborn County and every other county in Minnesota.

The BCA database is the most complete source for predatory offender information in Minnesota. It lists all risk levels, not just Level 3 offenders.

Community Notification in Freeborn County

When a high-risk predatory offender moves into Freeborn County, law enforcement is required to notify the community under Minn. Stat. 244.052. The Freeborn County Sheriff's Office handles these notifications for unincorporated areas, and local police departments handle them within city limits. Notification methods vary. They can include flyers sent to nearby homes, notices to schools or daycare facilities, and postings in public places.

The three risk levels matter a lot for how the public is notified. Level 1 offenders are low risk. Law enforcement notifies other agencies but not the general public. Level 2 offenders are moderate risk. Law enforcement may notify organizations and institutions near where the offender lives. Level 3 offenders are high risk. Law enforcement notifies the broader community directly.

Note: Community notification applies only to predatory offenders released from corrections supervision. It does not apply to all sex offenders on the registry.

VINE and Victim Notifications

Residents and victims in Freeborn County can use the VINE system to get real-time alerts about offenders. Register at vinelink.com or call 1-877-664-8463. VINE tracks custody status and notifies you when an offender is released, transferred, or escapes from a correctional facility. It is free and available 24 hours a day.

The DOC Community Notification resources are at mn.gov/doc/community-supervision/community-notification/. This page explains the notification process, how risk levels are determined, and what to do if you have concerns about a specific offender in your area.

Minnesota Court Records Online at mncourts.gov gives you access to criminal case records from the Freeborn County District Court. You can look up case history, charges, and sentencing records for sex offense cases filed in the county.

The DOC public search tool at coms.doc.state.mn.us focuses on Level 3 offenders only.

Call the DOC at (651) 361-7340 or (866) 396-9953 with questions about offenders in Freeborn County.

Cities in Freeborn County

Freeborn County's largest city is Albert Lea, which serves as the county seat. No cities in Freeborn County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All predatory offender registration and compliance in the county is coordinated through the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office. Communities in the county include Albert Lea, Alden, Emmons, Glenville, Hartland, Hayward, Hollandale, Manchester, Myrtle, and others. Offenders living in any of these cities must register with the county and update their information within five days of any change.

Nearby Counties

Freeborn County borders several other counties in southern Minnesota. Each has its own sheriff's office handling predatory offender registration, with all records feeding into the statewide BCA registry.