Benton County Arrest Records

In Benton County, behaviors that an individual is committing has committed, or is about to commit a crime may serve as a legal basis for arrest. However, an arrest does not necessarily mean the person is guilty. Only the courts can determine guilt. When convicted, individuals may serve time at the Benton County jail in Foley.

The Benton County court records maintain information on these cases, including those that did not result in a conviction. Additionally, every institution involved in the individual’s incarceration, ranging from the relevant law enforcement agency to the County jail, maintains records of its role in the process. Collectively, these records constitute Benton's public records, showing the changes in the status of the individual as they progress through the justice system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Benton County?

According to Chapter 13 of the Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), all government data, including arrest reports collected and maintained by law enforcement agencies, are public and accessible unless:

• The data has been classified by law as non-public.
• The data relates to an individual and is considered private or confidential.

However, an employee of a government entity may be granted access to exempted records, provided the request for the record was made in good faith and for the entity.

Note: The officer in charge must cite the relevant section of the law prohibiting access to deny an interested individual access to an arrest record.

Benton County Arrest Statistics

In 2018, the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Data recorded 17 violent crimes reported by the Sheriff’s Office or County Police Department in Benton, which included one murder, six rapes, no robberies, and 10 aggravated assaults. Property crimes during the same period sum-up figure was 164, comprising 40 burglaries, 102 larceny cases, 22 motor vehicle thefts, and one arson.

Find Benton County Arrest Records

The following resources and procedures can help record seekers access arrest records in Benton County:

The Benton County Sheriff’s page (on the Benton County website): Inquirers can look up inmates held in the Benton County Jail through this webpage. To do this:

• Visit the Benton County website and click on “Sheriff”.
• On the Sheriff’s page, navigate to “Current Inmate List”.
• On the follow-up page, scroll through the inmate register to locate the desired inmate or search more specifically using their name.

The Department of Corrections incarcerated individuals search locator provides access to records of inmates in state custody. Visit the website and enter the name or ID numbers of the relevant inmate in the appropriate field. Click on “search” to query the database. The search result will provide information about the inmate, including their custody status, booking date, and charges,

In addition, the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmates Locator tool offers convenience to individuals who wish to find records of inmates incarcerated in federal custody. Interested individuals need to provide sufficient information that identifies the case they wish to find. This information includes the first and last names of the inmates and other relevant information that may be required.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Expungement is the act of going to court to ask a judge to destroy a record. However, per Minn. Stat. ch. 609A, expungement of Benton County criminal records, including arrest records, is limited to sealing and the prohibition of disclosure of their existence except under court order or statutory authority.

An individual will be eligible for the sealing of their arrest or conviction record under these circumstances per Minnesota statute:

• The charges were dismissed, or you were found not guilty.
• You were convicted of a crime that qualifies for expungement, and the required amount of time has passed.
• You were charged with a controlled substance offense - the proceedings have been dismissed and discharged.
• You were a juvenile prosecuted as an adult.
• The Board of Pardons has granted you an extraordinary pardon.

Nevertheless, if the individual seeking expungement was not convicted and has not been convicted of any felony or gross misdemeanor in any state in the last 10 years, a petition to the court is not necessary to expunge the record. They should contact the arresting agency or the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension using this address:

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA):
1430 Maryland Avenue East,
St. Paul, MN 55106
(651) 793-7000

Benton County Arrest Warrants

In Benton County, an arrest warrant is a document issued by a district court judge ordering the immediate apprehension of the individual named in the document. A warrant is usually issued to authorize the arrest of an individual whom law enforcement suspects to be responsible for a crime that was committed outside their immediate observation.

For an arrest warrant to be issued in Benton, the Sheriff's Office or a local police department typically approaches a district court judge to present evidence that shows a high probability of guilt. If the judge is satisfied based on the evidence presented that the chances that the suspect is guilty far outweigh the chances that they are not, a warrant is issued ordering the arrest of the suspect. The warrant usually contains this information:

• The name of the person to be arrested
• The name of the arresting agency
• The description of the crime
• The signature of the judge

Do Benton County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Benton arrest warrants typically remain active indefinitely until the person named by the warrant is arrested or the court has a legal justificationforoquashingh the warrant.