Washington County Arrest Records

Washington County arrest records are documents law enforcement agencies produce during an arrest. They are official reports that feature information obtained between the time of an arrest and the arrestee's detention. When law enforcement agencies apprehend a person in Washington County, they bring the individual into custody and book them. During the booking process, the information obtained from the arrested person subsequently forms the arrest record.

This information includes the arrest details, the arrestee's personal information, the arresting agency, and the reason for the arrest. Most arrest records also capture information about bail postings and court hearing schedules. Hence, arrest records may be part of Washington County Court Records. Law enforcement agencies like the Sheriff's office and the police departments create, preserve, and make arrest records publicly available to residents of Washington County.

Are Arrest Records Public in Washington County?

Yes. Per Section 13.03 of the Minnesota Statutes, records managed by government entities such as law enforcement agencies are classified as public records unless exempted by law or temporary classification. The law that governs public access to government data is also known as the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA).

Based on the provisions of state laws, interested persons may query the appropriate record custodian to inspect and obtain copies of arrest records, just like other Washington County public records. However, in a bid to prevent the abuse of information and protect privacy rights, state laws also factor in some restrictions on public access to arrest records. Similarly, records that have been sealed, expunged, or have some parts redacted are only available to record subjects, authorized government entities, and persons with a court order.

Unless otherwise stated by law, arrest records that contain the following information are typically exempted from public access:

• Juvenile arrest information
• Personal identifying information like telephone numbers, social security numbers, or account information
• Arrest information whose disclosure may endanger public safety or breach privacy rights
• Information about ongoing investigations and criminal cases.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records generally provide details about an arrest, the suspect, the purpose of the arrest, and the agency handling the arrest. Persons who search for and inspect Washington County arrest records that are open to the public may find the following information:

• The full name of the arrestee, including aliases if known
• The suspect's date of birth, gender, race, and county of residency
• Description of the arrestee (height, skin/hair color, and marks)
• Place, date, time, possessions, and outcomes of the arrest, booking number, and status
• Details about the arresting agency and officer
• Class of alleged offense and charges
• Information about the holding facility
• Bail/bond information
• Arraignment schedule and court dates.

Washington County Crime Rate

Based on data published in the Washington County comprehensive report and the 2023 Minnesota Uniform Crime Report, the crime rate in 2019 was 1,946 (part I crimes) and 2,943 (part II crimes) per 100,000 residents. In 2023, Washington County reported 227 violent crimes and 2,942 property crimes. The most common violent crimes were aggravated assault (122), rape (67) and robbery (36). For property crimes, larceny (2485), burglary (278), and motor vehicle theft (170) were more prevalent.

Washington County Arrest Statistics

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), through its uniform crime reporting program, publishes annual reports containing arrest statistics. Based on the most recent statistics published in the FBI's crime data explorer, Washington County had 1,358 arrests in 2021. Adult arrests accounted for 902 of the total arrests recorded for the year, while 456 juveniles were arrested in 2021.

Find Washington County Arrest Records

Washington County arrest records are handled by the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, depending on which agency initiated the arrest process. To request records from the Sheriff's office, interested persons may query the Records Unit in person or call (651) 430-7600.

For statewide searches, interested persons may obtain Washington County arrest information from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is a division of the State Department of Public Safety (DPS). Requestors may walk into the physical locations of these agencies within business hours to inspect publicly available arrest records or send requests via mail or fax. One may also be able to search for arrest records online through the approved databases and repositories provided on the official website of the record custodian.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other national enforcement agencies may also provide details about persons arrested in Washington County. Concerned persons may query their respective offices or search their online repositories.

Free Arrest Record Search in Washington County

Minnesota Statutes allow public access to arrest records for a reasonable fee. However, it may be possible to inspect arrest records for free by visiting the enforcement agency's office handling the arrest. Inspecting these records may be free of charge, but duplicating them usually incurs fees. For instance, the Washington County sheriff's office charges $1 per page to request arrest record copies.

Citizens of Washington County may also find free arrest and inmate information online via the Sheriff's Daily Jail Booking Report page. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) similarly maintains a searchable database that contains statewide arrest information. Interested persons may search the system by entering a name or date of birth.

Besides, one can access various third-party websites that provide name-based searches for arrest records free of charge. Interested persons may be able to retrieve limited arrest information from these sites by inputting a first or last name into the required field box. However, these sites are unofficial, and the information obtained may not be accurate or current.

Get Washington County Criminal Records

Washington County criminal records, also called rap sheets, provide details about a person's criminal history. They are official reports created by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, police departments, and courts. The Washington County Sheriff's Office maintains criminal records at the county level, while the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the statewide custodian of criminal records.

The Sheriff's office performs county-level background checks at a fee of $5 per search and provides clearance letters to county residents for a fee of $5 each. Interested persons may submit requests in person at the records unit or via mail to:

Washington County Sheriff's Office
Law Enforcement Center
15015 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: (651) 430-7900

Minnesota Court records may also provide details about a person's criminal history. Interested persons may obtain Washington County criminal records from the Court Case Search portal maintained by the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, through its Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, permits the public to inspect and copy criminal history records within state limits. Interested persons may obtain limited criminal history information online for free on the BCA's search portal. The requirements are a first/last name and a birth date. One may also inspect their public criminal history record or third-party information for free using the public terminal provided at the lobby area of the BCA's office.

To request a printed copy of either a personal or third-party full criminal history information:

• Write out a request containing the full name and date of birth of the record subject
• Attach a notarized signature(for personal requests) or a notarized Informed Consent Form signed by the record subject
• Indicate the purpose for requesting the criminal history record
• Attach a money order or check of $8 (personal records) or $15(for third-party records) payable to the BCA. Non-profit organizations with the appropriate documents are charged $8 per search.
• Enclose all the required documents in a stamped and self-addressed large manilla envelope.

Submit the request in person or via mail to:

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

Washington County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Washington County arrest records and criminal records are both created and maintained by the justice system in the County. There are, however, slight differences between both records. Arrest records focus on the details of an arrest. They provide information about the arrested person, the arresting agency, and the arrest, including location, time, and purpose. Arrest records cannot establish guilt as they do not contain the outcome of a criminal court process. They only serve as a base for initiating criminal proceedings.

Criminal records, on the other hand, are more comprehensive and elaborate. They feature a person's movements within the justice system, from arrest to sentencing and incarceration. They contain arrests, charges, convictions, judgments, and jail time information. In Washington County, the Sheriff's office and other local police departments maintain arrest records, while the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension preserves criminal records at the state level.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. Washington County arrest records remain part of the subject's criminal history record indefinitely. State laws do not prescribe a standard period for the retention of arrest records. Hence, the disposal of an arrest record is subject to the internal policies and bylaws of the record custodian. Nonetheless, Minnesota Statutes allow the expungement or sealing of certain arrest records after a certain time has elapsed, making them unavailable for public access.

Expunge Washington County Arrest Records

Expungement in Washington County is a legal process that seals a record from public access. The expunged records are not destroyed or nonexistent but are only available to special entities with the appropriate authorization. MN Statutes § 299C.11 contains the state provisions for expunging arrest records. Per state laws, persons who were arrested but not convicted/charged or whose cases were dismissed before a criminal complaint was filed may request to have identifying parts (except DNA samples) of their record destroyed and sealed.

For an arrest record to be eligible for expungement under §299C.11, it must meet the following criteria:

• The record subject must not have any convictions for either a felony or misdemeanor ten years before the arrest took place
• All charges were dismissed or dropped before the establishment of a probable cause
• The prosecutor did not file charges, or the grand jury failed to return an indictment
• The record subject did not participate in any diversion or pretrial program due to the arrest

Record subjects with arrest records that meet the aforementioned criteria do not need to file a petition for expungement. They are to make written requests and submit to all agencies a record of the arrest. Such agencies include the Sheriff's office, the BCA, the county attorney, and local police departments.

Written requests should be dispatched to the appropriate record custodians by "Certified Mail-Return Receipt Requested". This enables the record subject to stay abreast of the responses of the various agencies to which the request is sent. Due to the complexities associated with the expungement process, eligible persons may need to engage the services of professional legal personnel.

Washington County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Washington County is an official statement signed and issued by a judge of the District Court to a specific law enforcement agency. It gives the receiving enforcement agent legal rights and authorizes the arrest and detention of the named individual.

A police officer who witnesses a crime or has reason to believe one has been committed may petition a judge to issue a warrant for the suspect's arrest. An arrest warrant may only be issued upon the arresting agency's establishment of probable cause. An arrest warrant typically contains the name and description of the suspect, the reason for the arrest, and information about the date, place, and time of arrest. The issuing official's name/signature, the arresting agency/agent's name, and bail requirements, where necessary, are other components of an arrest warrant.

Washington County Arrest Warrant Search

Washington County arrest warrants are considered public records; hence, anyone may search for outstanding warrants for themselves or others. Concerned persons may query the Washington County Sheriff's Office or District Court to obtain warrant information. Interested persons may reach the Warrants division of the Sheriff's office at (651) 430-7998 to make inquiries about issued warrants.

In addition, the Sheriff's office has a searchable database that contains information about active warrants. Researchers may retrieve warrant information by entering a first or last name into the search portal.

Do Washington County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Washington County arrest warrants do not have a specified validity period. They are only executed upon the defendant's arrest. Washington County arrest warrants will remain active and outstanding until an arrest is made, regardless of how long it takes. However, certain circumstances may necessitate the issuing court's recall or invalidation of a warrant. For instance, warrants with probable cause not aligned with state laws may be recalled or invalidated.