Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, arrest records in Virginia, Minnesota are classified as public government data. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) establishes that all government records, including arrest records, are presumed public unless specifically classified otherwise by state or federal law. This legislative framework ensures transparency in law enforcement operations while balancing privacy considerations for certain protected data categories.
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records for Virginia and surrounding areas as mandated by Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, subdivision 2, which specifically designates arrest data as public information. Members of the public may access these records through formal data requests submitted to the appropriate law enforcement agency or through court records if the arrest resulted in criminal charges.
Public access to arrest records serves multiple governmental and societal functions, including:
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Virginia, Minnesota may utilize several official channels to obtain this information. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, government agencies must provide reasonable access to public data upon request. The following methods are available for accessing arrest records:
Submit a public data request to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Records Division, which processes and maintains crime and arrest records, traffic accident reports, and citations.
Visit the Virginia Police Department in person to request arrest record information:
Virginia Police Department
327 1st Street South
Virginia, MN 55792
218-748-7510
Official Website
Public Counter Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Access the St. Louis County Jail Roster, which is updated regularly and includes current detention information.
Review court records at the St. Louis County District Court - Virginia location:
St. Louis County District Court - Virginia
300 South 5th Avenue
Virginia, MN 55792
218-749-7104
Official Website
Public Counter Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Request criminal history data from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), which maintains a statewide repository of arrest and conviction information.
Requestors should note that pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, subdivision 3, government agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies of public records, including arrest data.
Arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies in Virginia, Minnesota typically contain the following information as specified under Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, subdivision 2:
Certain information may be redacted or withheld from public arrest records pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, subdivision 7, including:
Minnesota law provides a statutory framework for the expungement of arrest records under certain circumstances. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 609A, individuals may petition for expungement if their case meets specific criteria. Expungement refers to the sealing of records from public view, though the records may still be accessible to law enforcement agencies.
Eligibility criteria for expungement of arrest records in Virginia, Minnesota include:
The expungement process requires filing a petition with the St. Louis County District Court in Virginia. Petitioners must provide:
The court will schedule a hearing where a judge will consider factors including:
If granted, an expungement order directs all agencies holding records to seal them from public view. However, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 609A.03, subdivision 7a, certain agencies may still access expunged records for specific purposes, including criminal investigations and background checks for certain sensitive positions.