The Minnesota Department of Corrections supervises two types of people:
Minnesota uses determinate sentencing. Under this system, there is no parole board and no time off for good behavior. Individuals serve two-thirds of their prison sentence incarcerated and the remaining third on supervised release.
Every person on supervised release follows conditions such as having an approved residence, submitting to regular drug and alcohol tests, restrictions against accessing the Internet, and in some cases electronic monitoring. If someone violates the conditions of their release, a warrant will be issued and they will be taken into custody. The case will be reviewed to determine how severe the violation was and what action should be taken as a result. For some technical violations, people will have their release conditions restructured before being released back into the community to continue on supervision.
However, more severe violations will require the person to be brought back to prison. The DOC has the legal authority to bring people under supervision back to prison as long as the court-imposed sentence is in effect. The DOC does not have the authority to hold people beyond the expiration of their sentence.
In addition to supervising people who have been released from prison, the DOC also supervises probation cases in some counties. Probation is used as a alternative to incarceration. If someone violates their probation conditions, the case is referred back to the sentencing judge for review, and in some cases prison time may be imposed.
Your criminal record does not affect your right to vote in Minnesota unless you are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction .
You can vote if you are not incarcerated, including if you are on parole. You will need to register to vote. It is best to register before Election Day, but it is not required.
Download Voting with a Criminal Record factsheet.
Sometimes it is not clear whether a felony charge results in a felony conviction. If you are unsure, you may want to seek legal advice from an attorney.
Click here to search Level 3s and those required to publicly register:
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Fugitives are people serving their remaining 1/3 of their sentence on supervision in the community, who have allegedly violated terms of their supervised release and are evading authorities.
If you have tips or information on the location of a fugitive, please call the DOC 24-hour tip line at 651-603-0026. Tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Minnesota, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization - Tip Line: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), search for the Crime Stoppers smartphone app for Android or iPhone, or Click Here.
Certain people must register with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's BCA Predatory Offender Unit. This page allows the public to search the BCA database for non-compliant predatory individuals by first name, last name, age, and location. Those whose registration with the BCA is up-to-date will not be seen.
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"Our goal is to help criminal-justice-impacted people get access to opportunities, supports and services they need to thrive in communities and to reduce risk of future justice involvement." -Kelley Heifort, DOC Director of Reentry Services
This statewide program provides intensive supervision for the highest-risk individuals. Supervision includes four face-to-face contacts weekly, electronic home monitoring, mandatory work or school, daily curfews, mandatory restitution, and random drug testing.
