Steele County Arrest Records

According to Minnesota State Statutes Section 629.30, an arrest occurs when an individual is taken into custody with the possibility of being held accountable for a public offense. When a person surrenders to law enforcement, they are restrained or taken to jail as part of the arrest procedure.

Once an arrest is made, the arresting officer transports the individual to the local police department or county sheriff's office. There, the officer gathers a written statement from the suspect describing the circumstances that led to the arrest. The officer also collects the individual's personal information and records it in both physical and electronic files. The data gathered during this "booking" process comprises the arrest record. Arrest records primarily document any interactions a person has had with law enforcement. In Steele County, these records are also used within the judiciary as Steele County Court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Steele County?

Yes, arrest records are available to the public in Steele County, Minnesota. This accessibility complies with the Minnesota Public Records Act, which requires that public records be made available to the public. Accessibility of arrest records is further made possible per chapter 15.17 of the Minnesota state statutes. Custodians of arrest records in Steele County are responsible for making them available to members of the public who are interested in them. However, some types of arrest records are exempted from public disclosure. Certain records are exempted due to their confidential and sensitive nature. Confidential records are only accessible to law enforcement and judicial officers. Some examples of these arrest records that are exempted from public disclosure include:

• Juvenile arrest records.
• Arrest records that are part of a medical report.
• Arrest records that might endanger public safety.
• Arrest records that are part of an annoying criminal investigation.
• Arrest records of law enforcement officers that are undergoing an investigation.
• Arrest records or reports that might compromise the safety of law enforcement.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Most arrest records that are created and maintained by Steele County Law Enforcement provides the following information:

• The full name of the arrested individual
• The time and date of the arrest
• The cause of the arrest
• The name of the arresting agency
• The name of the arresting officer
• Charges against the suspect
• Bail and bond information
• Time and date of release or possible release date
• Date of next court appearance

Find Steele County Arrest Records

Anyone can obtain Steele County arrest records by visiting the records department of any law enforcement agency within the county. Each law enforcement office in Steele County has a records division responsible for organizing and providing the arrest records generated by its booking department.

In some cases, law enforcement agencies operate joint records departments. For example, the Steele County Sheriff's Office and the Owatonna Police Department share a single records department. This allows individuals to go to one location and request arrest records from multiple offices.

Requests for Steele County arrest records may be made:

• In-person (either verbally or by completing a request form)
• By mail
• By email

To file a formal request, individuals typically need to provide the arrest date and the person's name.

Citizens can locate individuals arrested by Steele County law enforcement by contacting the Steele County Detention Center, which holds people who are awaiting court appearances or are serving short-term sentences. The Steele County Sheriff's Office operates the detention center. Inquiries about inmates can be made by visiting or contacting:

Steele County Detention Center
2500 Alexander St. SW,
Owatonna MN 55060
Phone: (507) 446-7000
Fax: (507) 446-7050

Free Arrest Record Search in Steele County

Individuals can perform a free Steele County arrest records search at the Clerk of the Steele County Courts Office. The Clerk's office allows people whose charges were dismissed or found innocent to request arrest records at no cost, particularly if the records are needed for an expungement application.

Additionally, law enforcement agencies may allow media organizations (e.g., newspapers and reporters) to request Steele County arrest records for free.

Third-party websites offer another method to perform free arrest record searches. These sites may be operated privately or in collaboration with government agencies. Searches on such sites typically involve entering:

• The individual's full name
• The time and date of the arrest
• The name of the arresting agency
• Free third-party searches often provide limited information. More detailed searches usually require a paid subscription or fee-based third-party services.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. An arrest record will remain on a person's criminal history report as long as they are alive. Arrests will also be shown on background checks until the subject of the records takes steps to remove them from public view. The two ways to remove arrests from the public domain are expungement and sealing.

Expunge Steele County Arrest Records

An expungement is a Steele County District Court Judge's order to erase a person's criminal conviction or arrest. In Minnesota, expungement permanently removes a conviction or arrest from the public record but does not entirely erase it. A person must first check if they are qualified before they can request an expungement in the following situations:

• The individual was detained but not charged, the charges were dropped, acquitted, or the case did not lead to a conviction.
• All petty, misdemeanor, and gross misdemeanor convictions are expungable if the necessary waiting period has elapsed and the individual was found guilty of an offense qualified for expungement under Minn. Stat. § 609A.02.

To expunge Steele County arrest record, individuals can follow these steps:

• Individuals can obtain the expungement petition form in person from the Steele County District Court or online through the Minnesota judicial branch.
• Applicants must provide information about any prior and pending criminal charges on the petition form and submit it to the Steele County courthouse.
• Petitioners will also need to obtain an Order to Expunge form, complete it, and Serve Copies Of the Petition and Proposed Order to All Government Agencies That Have The arrest that they Want to Expunge.
• The next step involves completing a proof of service form to show the district court that all the forms have been completed and filed correctly. The agency may take no stance on the petition, object to it, or endorse it.

Ultimately, a judge must determine whether to approve or reject the expungement request. One or more of the agencies served may oppose the expungement petition. In that case, a court will hear their arguments, examine the petition, and decide whether to grant or deny the expungement.

Steele County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that gives law enforcement officials the power to catch, detain, and apprehend a person. A county court judge issues a Steele County arrest warrant when a law enforcement officer makes a complaint per Rule 3.01 of the Minnesota statutes. The judge will issue the warrant if, based on the facts in the complaint, supporting documentation, or sworn testimony, there is reasonable suspicion that the defendant committed the charge. A warrant issued by a Steele County judge contains the following information:

• The name of the defendant.
• A physical description of a defendant.
• The date and time of the warrants issued.
• The crime the defendant is accused of.
• Warrant number.
• Charge level.
• The warrant must direct that the defendant be brought promptly before the court.
• A judge must sign the warrant.

Individuals can search for Steele County arrest warrants at the Steele County sheriff's office. In Steele County, the District Court issues arrest warrants, which are then sent to the Sheriff for execution. At the county sheriff's office, the Sheriff's office keeps a database of warrants. Additionally, interested parties can check the department's online warrants list.

Do Steele County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, once a Steele County arrest warrant is issued, they remain active until they are executed by law enforcement. However, if a person dies, the warrant becomes inactive.