Find Sex Offenders in Steele County

Steele County sex offenders are registered through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and managed locally by the Steele County Sheriff's Office and the Owatonna Police Department. Located in southern Minnesota, Steele County is centered on the city of Owatonna, which serves as both the county seat and the largest population center in the area. Residents can use free state databases to search for predatory offenders registered in Steele County, and this page covers the specific agencies and resources available for sex offender lookups in the county.

Steele County Sheriff's Office

The Steele County Sheriff's Office page covers law enforcement and predatory offender registration for the county: Steele County Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office at (507) 444-3800 handles predatory offender registration for the unincorporated parts of Steele County and works with city police on county-wide coordination.

The Steele County Sheriff's Office oversees predatory offender registration for all of Steele County. Under Minnesota Statute 243.166, all sex offenders living, working, or attending school in Steele County must register with local law enforcement. They must report address changes within five days of moving. Not complying is a felony. The Sheriff coordinates with the BCA to keep the statewide registry current.

Owatonna Police and Steele County Sex Offenders

The Owatonna Police Department page covers city law enforcement services for Steele County's largest city: Owatonna Police Department.

The Owatonna Police Department handles predatory offender registration within city limits and works alongside the Steele County Sheriff on community notification for Level 3 offenders.

Because Owatonna is the county's main city, the Owatonna Police Department handles a significant share of predatory offender registrations in Steele County. The department can be reached through the city's main contact page at owatonna.gov/police. City residents with questions about sex offenders in Owatonna can contact the police department directly. For rural areas outside city limits, the Sheriff's Office is the appropriate contact.

The Minnesota DOC public registrant search at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicregistrantsearch lets you search Level 3 sex offenders by name, city, or zip code. Search for Owatonna or other Steele County zip codes to find offenders registered in the area. The database is updated within 48 hours of law enforcement authorization. Call (651) 361-7340 with questions.

Community Notification in Steele County

When a high-risk sex offender moves into Steele County, the Sheriff's Office or city police initiates a community notification under Minnesota Statute 244.052. In Owatonna, city police typically lead the notification. In rural areas, the Sheriff handles outreach to neighbors, schools, and community organizations near the offender's address. The Minnesota DOC explains the statewide notification framework at mn.gov.

Level 3 is the only risk level that triggers public notification. Level 1 and Level 2 offenders are registered and monitored but do not generate neighborhood-wide alerts. If you have concerns about someone in Steele County who does not appear in the public database, call the Steele County Sheriff at (507) 444-3800 for guidance.

Note: VINE alerts for custody changes at the Steele County jail are free. Register at vinelink.com or call 1-877-664-8463.

Additional Resources for Steele County

The BCA Predatory Offender Registry at por.state.mn.us covers all registered offenders statewide. Reach the BCA at (651) 793-7070. Remember that only Level 3 records are visible in the public database. The full count of registered sex offenders in Steele County is higher than what you can see in a public search.

The National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov connects all 50 state registries into one federal search tool run by the U.S. Department of Justice. If an offender has moved out of Steele County or left Minnesota, this site can help you find their current registration in another state.

Court records for sex offense cases in Steele County are available through the Minnesota Court Records Online system at mncourts.gov. You can search by name or case number to review charge and sentencing history for criminal cases heard in Steele County District Court.

Cities in Steele County

Steele County includes Owatonna and several smaller communities. All sex offenders in the county register through local law enforcement and the state BCA system.

Communities in Steele County include Owatonna, Medford, Blooming Prairie, Ellendale, and several rural townships. All predatory offenders in these areas register through the Steele County Sheriff's Office or the Owatonna Police Department and the Minnesota predatory offender registry.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Steele County. If a sex offender may have moved, check neighboring county registries as well.