Lyon County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Lyon County are official reports documented by law enforcement agencies from the time of an arrest to its disposition. When individuals are arrested in Lyon County for a crime, they are usually detained and booked by the arresting agency. In the booking process, the arrest record is created by the law enforcement agency in charge. This record contains information about the arrest and the circumstances surrounding it.

Arrestees in Lyon County are usually booked and held in the Lyon County Jail pending their arraignment in court or release. Most arrests in Lyon County typically result in a court proceeding. Hence, arrest records may become foundational documents for other criminal justice records, such as Lyon County court records. Arrest records may be requested as public records from the appropriate record custodian. In Lyon County, the Sheriff's Office or other local police departments are usually responsible for maintaining arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lyon County?

Yes. Section 13.03 of the Minnesota Statutes, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), governs public access to records maintained by government agencies. This Act covers both records maintained by law enforcement agencies, such as arrest records and inmate information. Unless otherwise stated by law or exempted under temporary classification, members of the public are authorized by the MGDPA to inspect and copy Lyon County public records, including arrest records.

Nevertheless, not all arrest records are available for public inspection and copying. To protect privacy rights and prevent the misuse of public information, certain restrictions have been put in place to regulate public access to arrest records. For instance, arrest records that are sealed, expunged, tagged confidential, or have some parts redacted may only be obtained by authorized government entities, persons with a court order, and the record subjects. In addition, arrest records of juveniles, active investigations, or those containing sensitive personal information such as a social security number are usually exempt from the public.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Lyon County arrest records typically reveal information and details of an arrest, the arrested individual, reasons for the arrest, and the agency in charge of the arrest. Persons who inspect publicly available arrest records in Lyon County may expect to see the following information embedded in them:

• The full name of the arrested individual( aliases may be included if known)
• The suspect's birth date, age, race, occupation, and sex
• The suspect's County of residence and last location, if known
• A physical description of the subject, including marks, skin/hair color, height, and weight
• The location, date, time, and reason for the arrest
• Possessions retrieved and property/ victims affected at the time of the arrest
• Information about the arresting agency and the officer(s) who executed the arrest
• The type and class of the alleged criminal offense
• Warrant information, where available
• Details about the booking process/ holding facility
• Bail/ release information and court hearing dates, where available

Lyon County Arrest Statistics

The Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) publishes arrest statistics through its Crime Data Explorer (CDE) database. Based on information obtained from the CDE, Lyon County recorded 60 arrests in 2023. The most common offenses recorded were driving under the influence (16), simple assault (8), liquor law violations (6), and aggravated assault (5).

Find Lyon County Arrest Records

The Sheriff's Office is the right place to begin a search for Lyon County arrest records. The Sheriff's Office usually accepts in-person, mail, phone, or email requests. Interested parties may contact the Sheriff's Office for additional information on how to look up arrest records using the provided information:

Lyon County Sheriff's Office
611 West Main Street
Marshall, MN 56258
Phone: (507) 537-7666

Persons interested in performing statewide searches may visit the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, a division of the State Department of Public Safety (DPS) in charge of criminal history and arrest records. Requests may be submitted in person or via US mail to:

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

Free Arrest Record Search in Lyon County

Anyone may inspect and copy Lyon County arrest records per state law. Most records custodians require a reasonable fee to provide these records to requesters. However, one may inspect arrest records for free in Lyon County by visiting the Sheriff's Office or other local police departments in person. While there may be no charge attached to inspecting these records at the custodial office, requesting copies may attract a fee.

In addition, concerned persons may browse through the Lyon County Jail In Custody List to retrieve arrest and inmate information free of charge. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) also provides the public with a free searchable database of arrest and inmate information retrieved throughout the state. To use this tool, inquirers are required to insert a name or date of birth into the provided search fields. Third-party websites are also good alternatives for free access to public arrest records. They provide a wide range of basic arrest information at a glance. However, users may be required to pay a fee for comprehensive reports.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Once an arrest has been filed in Lyon County, it remains a part of the subject's criminal history records permanently. State laws do not prescribe a specific period for the retention and disposal of arrest records. Thus, the various record custodians are guided by their internal policies and regulations. However, the law has provisions for the expungement or sealing of certain kinds of arrest records. Concerned persons may utilize the provisions of state laws to seal or expunge their qualifying records.

Expunge Lyon County Arrest Records

A Lyon County arrest record expungement process entails the sealing of such records from public access and not necessarily their destruction or deletion. The state provisions and criteria for expunging arrest records in Lyon County are contained in MN Statutes § 299C.11. Generally, persons who were arrested but not charged or whose case was dismissed before a criminal complaint was filed are qualified to request the destruction of the identifying parts of the arrest record and the subsequent sealing of the affected record.

To request an arrest record expungement under § 299C.11, eligible applicants are required to submit written requests to the record custodians, including the Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and police departments. The requests are to be sent by Certified Mail-Return Receipt Request for ease of communication. Additional information on how to process an expungement in Lyon County is available on the Minnesota judicial branch's webpage.

Lyon County Arrest Warrants

Lyon County arrest warrants are official orders issued and signed by the judge of a district court within the County. This official document authorizes a specific law enforcement agency to arrest and detain a named individual for criminal actions.

An arrest warrant is issued when a complaint, alongside supporting documents and a sworn statement establishing probable cause, is filed by a peace officer. The judge, upon receipt of the complaint, scrutinizes it to determine if the probable cause is substantial enough for the issuance of an arrest warrant. A Lyon County arrest warrant will usually reveal the subject's name/description, the name/signature of the issuing judge, the receiving law enforcement agency, a description of the alleged offense, and bail or release conditions where applicable.

Do Lyon County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Lyon County arrest warrants do not have a stipulated expiration period. They are valid and binding until they have been executed upon the arrest of the subject. A Lyon County arrest warrant will remain active and outstanding irrespective of how long it takes to make an arrest. However, in cases where the subject willingly makes an appearance in court or becomes deceased, the arrest warrant may become invalid. The issuing court may also recall or invalidate an issued arrest warrant on the ground of legal inconsistencies.