Minneapolis Arrest Records

Under Minnesota law, peace or part-time peace officers may make custodial arrests with or without a warrant when probable cause exists. In Minneapolis, this means facts and circumstances indicate that a crime has occurred, is occurring, or is imminent (Minn. Stat. § 629.34).

Arrests are primarily handled by the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, or multi-agency task groups assigned to criminal enforcement. After custody is secured, detainees undergo booking at one of two downtown jail facilities operated by Hennepin County: the City Hall Adult Detention Center or the adjacent Public Safety Facility. Booking staff record identifying details, capture fingerprints, and assign charge codes. This data is sent to the Minnesota Criminal History System and feeds into jail rosters, prosecution dockets, and the broader Hennepin County arrest records database.

Are Minneapolis Arrests Public Record?

Yes. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, adult arrest records are treated as public records by default. Police agencies are legally obligated to release basic arrest details, though statutory provisions allow them to withhold particular information:

• Juvenile suspect identity
• Active criminal investigative data
• Medical or mental health details gathered during custody
• Witness names and victim identifiers

Minneapolis Crime Rate

According to the FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), Minneapolis closed 2024 with measurable decreases in nearly every major crime category. Most tracked offenses under NIBRS dropped when compared to the rolling three-year average, excluding justifiable homicide and domestic aggravated assault. Reported assaults totalled 5,022, a 3 percent decrease from the prior year. Homicides dropped to 33, representing an 18 percent decline. Robberies decreased by 35 percent, and motor vehicle thefts declined to 3,359, a 27 percent decrease. Property-related offenses also contracted: larcenies totalled 5,873, burglaries hit 1,165, and vandalism incidents dropped to 3,666. Gun violence indicators also moved downward, with 3,066 shots fired and 177 gunshot victims, both below historical norms. Carjackings receded to 137. Only domestic aggravated assault edged upward, an exception in an otherwise consistent decline in citywide criminal activity.

Find Minneapolis Arrest Records

Parties seeking Minneapolis adult arrest records should visit the city's official website and click "Request a public information police report". The Records Information Unit of the Minneapolis Police Department handles requests for adult offender records. Inquirers may file by email or appear in person at:

The Minneapolis Police Department
Minneapolis Public Service Building
505 Fourth Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: (612) 673-2961

Viewing records in person is free. The city applies fees only when total costs exceed $30. After that point, standard charges include $30 per hour (billed in quarter-hour increments), $0.25 per page (up to 100 pages), $1.00 per CD or DVD, and $5.00 per certification. Requesters may need to provide details such as the date, time, address, names of adult persons involved, and a brief description of the arrest incident.

For county-level records, individuals use the Hennepin County Jail Roster. The roster refreshes every hour, allowing users to search by name and view current or recently released inmates (within the past seven days), including listed charges, bond amounts, and upcoming court dates.

Free Arrest Record Search in Minneapolis

Minneapolis offers the following options for accessing arrest records at no cost:

• The Hennepin County Jail Roster (updated hourly) allows users to search for current or recently released inmates by name and view charges, bail amounts, and scheduled court dates.
• The Minneapolis Police Department publishes a daily arrest log on its online Arrests Dashboard, which is searchable by date or location.

Third-party aggregators also collect Minneapolis arrest data, though updates may lag, and complete reports often require a fee.

Criminal Background Check in Minnesota

Minnesota provides two primary statewide background check methods via the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), under the Department of Public Safety:

• Name-based checks cost $8 through the BCA's online portal and return convictions dating back up to 15 years.
• Fingerprint-Based Checks: Employers, landlords, or licensing boards may request criminal records by submitting fingerprint cards and General Informed Consent Form (s). Fees include $10 per fingerprint card and a $15 statutory fee per check. Requests for criminal records may also be made by mail or in person:

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

Minneapolis Inmate Search

Minneapolis does not retain long-term sentenced inmates in city facilities. Short-term or recently sentenced individuals are first held in Hennepin County facilities until transfer or release:

• The Adult Detention Center and Public Safety Facility in downtown Minneapolis hold pretrial detainees and individuals serving short sentences (less than a year). Parties should check the Jail Roster or call (612) 348-5112 with full name and birthdate.
• The Adult Corrections Facility (ACF) houses convicted individuals serving up to one year. The ACF resident roster is available online; call (612) 596-0001 for direct inquiries.

For individuals serving sentences over one year, parties should search the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator by name or MNDOC ID. Parties should note that there could be several-day delays after sentencing before records appear.

Minneapolis Police Record Lookup

Police arrest summaries, booking affidavits, and CAD call records are available through the Minneapolis Police Department. Requesters may access these records by:

• Submitting an online query through the city's "Request Public Data" platform. This requires registration (new users) or log-in (existing users).
• A mail-in Data Practices Act request to the department's Records Information Unit at the Public Service Building:

505 Fourth Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55415

• Walk-in at the Records Information Unit.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Minneapolis?

Indefinitely. Minneapolis arrest records are entered into the Minnesota BCA's Computerised Criminal History system following any misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or BCA-related law enforcement apprehension. Records stay permanently unless a court orders sealing or expungement (Minn. Stat. § 609A). The BCA forwards arrest data to the FBI's national index and commercial aggregators. Without a court-ordered expungement, the record stays visible across government and private systems indefinitely.

How Can I Get My Record Expunged for Free in Minneapolis?

In Minneapolis, expungement refers to asking a judge to seal records from public access without deleting or erasing them (Minn. Stat. § 609A). Qualifying offenses commonly include:

• Fifth-degree drug crimes
• Theft or mail theft
• Forgery and dishonored checks
• Damage to property
• Stolen property or card fraud

The following categories also qualify under the statute:

• Acquitted and Dismissed Cases
• Stayed adjudications or diversion outcomes
• First-time misdemeanors (after at least two crime-free years)
• Gross misdemeanors convictions (after four years) and low-level felony convictions (after five years)

Some cases require a waiting period. Diversion or stayed adjudication may allow for expungement one year after completion. Dismissed or acquitted felonies may qualify immediately:

• Eligible petitioners should order their criminal records from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
• Complete and submit the appropriate expungement petition forms to the correct District Court or the court that handled the original case. This includes the Affidavit to Request Fee Waiver (FEE102).
• Attend the scheduled hearing (typically 60 to 90 days after filing); if granted, the court sends sealing orders to relevant agencies, which seal the records within 60 days.

Minneapolis Warrant Search

Minneapolis arrest and bench warrants are issued from Hennepin County District Court and enforced by local police. Inquirers may call (612) 348-6000 to check warrant status and provide their full name and date of birth to receive details. In-person inquiries are also possible at:

Hennepin County Public Safety Facility
401 South 4th Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Do Minneapolis Warrants Expire?

In Minneapolis, felony and misdemeanor warrants stay active until served, quashed, or recalled. Minor municipal warrants may expire with applicable statute-of-limitation periods. A warrant may also lapse if the defendant dies, the prosecutor dismisses the case, or the issuing judge withdraws it through a clerical recall.