Carlton County Police Blotter

The Carlton County police blotter covers law enforcement activity logged by the Carlton County Sheriff's Office, which is based in the city of Carlton in northeastern Minnesota. The county borders Wisconsin and includes communities like Cloquet and Moose Lake. To request a police blotter record or incident report, contact the Sheriff's Office by calling 911 to be connected with a deputy, or visit the office at 317 Walnut Ave. in Carlton. All records are governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, and most arrest data is public under state law. VineLink is available for online inmate searches, and the Carlton County Recovery Court handles treatment-related matters for eligible participants.

Carlton County Sheriff's Office

The Carlton County Sheriff's Office is at 317 Walnut Ave. in Carlton. The office handles law enforcement for the unincorporated county, manages the county jail, and coordinates with city police departments in communities like Cloquet and Moose Lake. Deputies cover a large geographic area that includes forested land, tribal territories, and rural townships stretching to the Wisconsin border.

The Sheriff's Office is also accessible 24 hours a day through the 911 system. If you need to speak with a deputy or have a record made of an incident, calling 911 connects you to the right resource whether or not it is an emergency. This is the county's recommended process for initiating a records request or creating an official incident record. For written and formal requests, contact the office at (218) 384-9510.

The image below is from the Carlton County Sheriff's Office page, which provides contact information, records request guidance, and agency services.

The Sheriff's Office page at co.carlton.mn.us outlines how to request police blotter records and describes services available to Carlton County residents.

How to Request Carlton County Police Blotter Records

Carlton County's process for police blotter records has a specific starting point. The county advises calling 911 to speak with a deputy whenever you need to have a record made of an incident or request that law enforcement respond. This applies to both emergency and non-emergency situations. Calling 911 ensures the incident is properly logged and that you are connected with the right deputy for your request.

For records of past incidents, contact the Sheriff's Office at (218) 384-9510. You can visit in person at 317 Walnut Ave. in Carlton, or send a written request by mail. Include your name, contact information, the date and type of incident, and a description of what you need. Under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, inspection of public data is free. Copies cost up to 25 cents per page. The office must respond within a reasonable timeframe and cannot require you to explain why you want public data.

If an incident involved a city police department in Cloquet or Moose Lake, you may need to contact those departments directly. City departments maintain their own records. The Sheriff's Office can help you identify which agency handled a specific call.

Note: The county's advice to call 911 for records applies to having incidents logged and getting connected with deputies. For retrieving existing records, contact the Sheriff's Office records staff directly.

What Police Blotter Records Are Public in Carlton County

Arrest data in Carlton County is public under Minnesota Statutes § 13.82. The public data includes the name, age, sex, and last known address of any adult arrested, along with the date, time, and location of the arrest. The charge and the identity of the arresting officer and agency are also public. This is consistent with state law that applies to all Minnesota counties.

Incident reports may contain public data beyond arrest records. The type of call, the general location, and the date are typically accessible. Details that stay private include victim addresses, ongoing investigation notes, and confidential source identities. Juvenile records are protected. If a record mixes public and private data, staff separate them and release only the public portions. Under Chapter 13, you do not need to state a reason for requesting public data.

The Carlton County Jail is inspected biennially by the Minnesota Department of Corrections under Minnesota Statute 241.021. Inspection results are part of the public record and can be requested through either the Department of Corrections or the Sheriff's Office.

Online Access to Carlton County Blotter Data

Carlton County does not publish a live online police blotter. For online access to related records, use state-level tools. The Minnesota Courts website lets you search Carlton County District Court records by name or case number. If an arrest in the blotter led to criminal charges, the court case will appear in this system. Court records show case status, hearing dates, and final disposition, giving you a fuller picture of how the incident was resolved.

For inmate tracking, VineLink covers Carlton County. Search by name or offender ID. VineLink shows current custody status, facility, and booking date. It is free and available at any time. This is the most accessible way to check jail status without calling the office directly.

The Minnesota BCA handles criminal history records at the state level and is a resource for background check requests. The Minnesota Sheriffs Association lists contact information for all county sheriffs, including Carlton County, if you need help identifying the right contact.

Carlton County Jail and Inmate Records

The Carlton County Jail holds adults arrested and awaiting court proceedings in the county. The jail is inspected by the Minnesota Department of Corrections under Minnesota Statute 241.021. Jail records, including booking information and charges, are public under § 13.82. For inmate searches, use VineLink, which covers Carlton County and lets you search by name or offender ID.

Carlton County also operates a Recovery Court and a Treatment Court. These programs serve participants who qualify and are designed to address underlying issues that contribute to criminal behavior. The Recovery Court graduated participants as recently as February 2026. This is a separate track from the standard jail and criminal court process, but it is worth knowing if you are researching a specific case where treatment was part of the resolution.

For questions about jail visits, inmate accounts, or current policies, call the jail at (218) 384-4560. Policies may change, and it is best to confirm current rules before visiting. Court records for anyone charged in Carlton County are searchable through mncourts.gov.

Note: The Carlton County Recovery Court is a treatment diversion program, not a separate jail facility. Participants in the program may have different custody arrangements than standard jail inmates.

Cities in Carlton County

Carlton County includes communities like Cloquet and Moose Lake, along with smaller towns and townships. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. The city of Carlton is the county seat. City police departments in Cloquet and Moose Lake handle incidents inside their respective limits, while the Sheriff's Office covers the rest of the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or lie near Carlton County. Each has its own sheriff's office and records process.