Lake County Predatory Offenders

Lake County sex offenders must register with Minnesota's Predatory Offender Registry, managed by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and enforced locally by the Lake County Sheriff's Office in Two Harbors. To search sex offenders in Lake County, use the BCA registry at por.state.mn.us, which covers all risk levels and updates within 48 hours of any change. For Level 3 high-risk offenders, check the DOC public search at coms.doc.state.mn.us. Lake County runs along the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota. It is a largely rural county, and the Sheriff's Office handles registration compliance for communities spread across a wide geographic area.

Lake County Sheriff's Office

The Lake County Sheriff's Office in Two Harbors manages predatory offender registration compliance for the entire county. This is a large, mostly forested county along the North Shore, and the Sheriff is the primary law enforcement contact for most registration matters. Deputies conduct in-person verification checks and work with the BCA to make sure the statewide registry reflects current information for Lake County. The Sheriff also coordinates with neighboring St. Louis and Cook counties when offenders move between areas.

Under Minn. Stat. 243.166, all predatory offenders must report address changes, employment changes, vehicle changes, and school enrollment changes within five days. They must also appear in person to verify their registration on a schedule set by their risk level. Failing to comply is a felony in Minnesota, with penalties reaching up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The Sheriff's Office investigates all violations and reports them to the BCA for follow-up.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office at co.lake.mn.us/sheriff handles all predatory offender registration and community notifications along Minnesota's North Shore.

Deputies work with the BCA and the DOC to verify offender addresses and keep the registry current for Lake County communities.

How to Search Lake County Sex Offenders

The BCA Predatory Offender Registry at por.state.mn.us is the most complete source for sex offender information in Lake County. Search by county, name, city, or zip code to find registered offenders. The database includes all three risk levels and updates within 48 hours. The BCA can be reached at (651) 793-7070.

For Level 3 high-risk offenders, use the DOC public database at coms.doc.state.mn.us. This shows offender photos, current addresses, and offense information. Call the DOC at (651) 361-7340 or (866) 396-9953. The National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov is useful if you think someone moved into Lake County from Wisconsin or another state. Court records from sex offense cases in Lake County are available through Minnesota Court Records Online at mncourts.gov.

Community Notification in Lake County

When a Level 3 predatory offender moves to Lake County, the Sheriff's Office must notify the community under Minn. Stat. 244.052. Notification in a rural county like Lake may include flyers to homes near the offender's address, notices to local schools and organizations, and public postings. Given the geographic spread of communities along the North Shore, the Sheriff's Office works to reach residents in both larger towns like Two Harbors and smaller communities deeper into the county.

Minnesota uses three risk levels for predatory offenders. Level 1 is low risk. Only law enforcement receives notice. Level 2 is moderate risk. Organizations near the offender may be notified. Level 3 is high risk. The broader public is notified. Only Level 3 offenders appear on the DOC public website. Use the BCA registry for Levels 1 and 2.

VINE at vinelink.com or 1-877-664-8463 provides free automatic alerts when an offender's custody status changes. The service runs 24 hours a day and is available to all Lake County residents.

Additional Resources for Lake County Residents

The VINE system at vinelink.com lets you sign up for free alerts about offender custody changes. You can choose to be notified by phone, email, or text. The service is available 24 hours a day, every day. Call 1-877-664-8463 to register by phone.

The DOC Community Notification page at mn.gov/doc/community-supervision/community-notification/ explains how statewide notifications work and what residents can expect. The BCA at (651) 793-7070 answers registry questions. The Lake County Sheriff at (218) 834-8385 is the local contact for questions about specific offenders in the county. Court records from Lake County sex offense cases are available through MCRO at mncourts.gov.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County includes Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Beaver Bay, Finland, Schroeder, and other communities along the North Shore of Lake Superior. No cities in Lake County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All predatory offender registrations are handled through the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Offenders in any part of the county must register with the Sheriff and keep their information current within five days of any change.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lake County in northeastern Minnesota. Lake County also shares a border with Wisconsin to the east.