Minnesota Arrest Records

Minnesota arrest records are official documents concerning the arrest of persons that are suspected of breaking the law. Such records typically include information on the arrestee and criminal charges. They may also feature bail or bond amounts and court dates.

The state's law enforcement agencies are mostly responsible for conducting arrests and keeping records of such events. They also store the records as police or incident reports and may disclose them to interested persons or entities. As such, residents can look up details by contacting local departments such as the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, the City of Minneapolis Police Department or the City of St. Louis Police Department.

Minnesota Arrest Statistics

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), via the Uniform Crime Report, maintains yearly reports concerning all arrest events within the state. According to the annual report, law enforcement agencies made 60,516 arrests in 2023. The report also revealed that driving under the influence and disorderly conduct were the most reported arrest events, at 15,641 and 3,562, respectively. In addition, the report covered arrests made for other crimes, as shown in the table below.

Minnesota Arrest Statistics

Are Arrest Records Public in Minnesota?

Yes, most arrest records are publicly accessible in Minnesota. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) empowers the public to inspect and obtain copies of records in the custody of government entities. In turn, the law requires government entities to disclose the records upon requests from the public.

Note that government entities have the right to withhold or redact access to specific arrest records. Such records typically include information that is exempt under Section 13.06 of the MGDPA. Under the law, only authorized persons or entities can request and obtain exempt records. Examples of exempt arrest records in Minnesota include the following:

• Arrest documents that may reveal the identities of juvenile arrestees.
• Information whose disclosure may jeopardize the credibility of an ongoing investigation or legal proceeding
• Information that may reveal the identity of a confidential informant
• Information that may endanger the life of a record's subject
• Information whose disclosure results in direct violation of an individual's privacy rights.

Find Public Arrest Records in Minnesota

In Minnesota, the public can find arrest records through resources or options provided by government agencies. Local- and state-level law enforcement agencies are the primary custodians of arrest records. These agencies have specific procedures for record requests and typically outline them on their websites. Where such outlines are unavailable on the website, a requester should contact the agency to determine the applicable procedures and the availability of the record of interest.

Common options for locating arrest records include online search repositories or offline requests. For online searches, inquirers must provide relevant information in official search platforms. Case in point: The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) allows online searches for criminal records. Inquirers may find arrest information in such records by inputting the record subject's names or other document identifiers.

For offline requests, inquirers may either submit a request in person or via mail to the record custodian. The mail request may include a written or pre-filled form that contains enough information about the requested documents. Note that some agency websites offer downloadable or online request forms for this process.

For in-person requests, inquirers must visit the agency's physical location during business hours. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) allows public inspection of a person's criminal history records, which usually contain arrest and conviction records. Inquirers may obtain records online, by mail, or in person at the office located at:

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55106.

Note: To access non-public arrest records, inquirers are generally required to submit a court subpoena to the record custodian.

How to Lookup Arrest Records Online in Minnesota

Minnesota residents can look up online arrest records by conducting searches on official databases. For example, the BCA provides an online database for looking up all arrest records within the state. Local-level law enforcement agencies also maintain online repositories for finding arrest records. Generally, inquirers can find the databases on the agency's official websites.

Inmate databases offer an alternative means of finding Minnesota arrest records. These databases feature inmate records, which often include arrest details like mugshots, arrest charges, and booking numbers. Case in point: the Minnesota Department of Corrections's inmate search platform allows online access to arrest records. Inquirers must input relevant details to find information on the platform.

Third-party search websites also offer online access to Minnesota arrest records. These sites typically feature user-friendly interfaces that enable users to conveniently locate records. Nevertheless, they are not affiliated with government entities and might not offer accurate or updated information.

What is Included in Minnesota Arrest Records?

Minnesota arrest records typically contain information about arrest events. Such records may include this arrest-related information:

• The arrestee's physical description, such as hair color and race.
• The arrestee's personal identifying information, such as the birth name and home address.
• Details about the offense that led to the arrest, such as the offense category and the violated Minnesota law code. It also contains any charges filed against the arrested individual.
• Arrest details, such as the arresting agency and location.
• Booking details, including the date and time.

Note: Arrest records typically include post-release information if the arrestee was released at the time the record was updated. Post-release information often includes bond amount, parole conditions, and release date and time.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, arrests stay on a person's record indefinitely unless the record is expunged or sealed or they are granted a pardon. The state of Minnesota establishes no deadline for removing arrests from people's records. The retention period for arrest records varies with agency policies and jurisdictional laws.

Offenders must also wait for specific timeframes before they can expunge or seal certain crimes. For example, you must wait for five years after completing a court conviction for felony charges. Meanwhile, the waiting period is 2 to 3 years for misdemeanor charges.

Expunge an Arrest Record in Minnesota

Expunging an arrest record in Minnesota is a legal process that results in the destruction or sealing of a record from public domains. An expunged record may still exist but remain inaccessible to the public.

Persons or entities seeking to seal or expunge their arrest records must meet specific criteria. Under Sec. 299 C. 11 MN Statutes, arrestees are eligible to expunge records under these conditions:

• You were arrested but not charged with a crime.
• You were released from custody before a criminal complaint was filed against you.
• The prosecutor refused to file charges for the offense.

You are, however, not eligible to expunge arrest records if:

• You completed the court sentence.
• You completed the court-imposed diversion program.
• The record is already sealed pursuant to Minn. Stat. 152.18.

You can expunge arrest records by sending an expungement letter to the agencies holding the record. So, fill out the following request letters to the corresponding agency via mail:

• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to BCA
• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to City Attorney's Office
• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to County Attorney's Office
• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to County Department of Corrections
• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to the Police Department
• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to County Sheriff's Office

Include "Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested" as the subject line of the mail.

You must follow a different expungement procedure if the arrest charge led to a court conviction. To expunge such records, petitioners must meet the following criteria:

• They were convicted of crimes that are eligible for expungement.
• There wasn't a felony or gross misdemeanor conviction within ten years before the arrest
• The prosecuting attorney did not file any charges.
• All charges were dismissed before the establishment of probable cause.

Petitioners may follow through with the expungement process alone. However, individuals are usually advised to seek the guidance of an experienced legal practitioner for proper guidance. The entire expungement process usually takes an average of 4 to 6 months. Eligible parties can expunge criminal conviction records by using these steps:

1. They must complete all forms (varying with jurisdiction) required for a record-expungement petition and gather supporting documents, such as affidavits, proof of completion of rehabilitation programs or sentences, and character references.
2. File the petition at a court of competent jurisdiction, usually in the county where the arrest or conviction occurred. The clerk of court should provide guidelines for filing a petition and the required fees.
3. Next, the petitioner will serve a notice of expungement on all involved parties and agencies, giving them the window to object to the expungement if they have reason to do so.
4. The court then sets up a hearing to hear submissions or objections from all concerned parties.

The court may consider the presented evidence and arguments, as well as other factors such as the petitioner's criminal history and offense circumstances, before making a decision. If the petition is approved, the court may issue an order to expunge all parties holding the record. You may, however, file an appeal if the court denies your petition.

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, interested persons can find information on arrests by contacting the local police department or sheriff's office. Arresting agencies often maintain records of recent arrests conducted within areas under their jurisdiction. That being said, agencies may maintain online arrest logs on their website. Inquirers can also view the records in person at the agency's physical location. In many jurisdictions, local police departments and county sheriffs work in tandem and share information, making it possible that one can facilitate a search of the other's records remotely.

Are Minnesota Arrest Records Free?

The Minnesota Data Practices Act mandates free access to state public records, including arrest records. Regardless, agencies reserve the right to charge a reasonable fee if a person seeks to obtain hard copies of a record. Interested persons can also view arrest records for free on public terminals in the lobby of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension office.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55106.

Meanwhile, third-party resources also offer free access to basic arrest information. However, searchers may need to pay a fee for a detailed record or report. Note that the fees may vary based on the service providers. While these free resources are convenient, there is no guarantee that the sites offer accurate or updated arrest information.