>Stearns County Arrest Records Online

Stearns County, Minnesota Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Stearns County, Minnesota?

Arrest records are public in Stearns County, Minnesota, pursuant to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13). This legislation classifies most government records, including arrest records, as public information accessible to citizens. The Minnesota Data Practices Act establishes that law enforcement agencies must maintain transparency by making arrest data available to the public, with certain statutory exceptions for protected information.

The Stearns County Sheriff's Office maintains these records in accordance with Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, which specifically addresses law enforcement data. Under this statute, arrest data is presumptively public and includes the name, age, sex, and address of the person arrested, as well as the date, time, and place of the arrest, and the offense for which the individual was arrested.

Certain portions of arrest records may be classified as confidential or private under state law, particularly information related to:

Juvenile arrests (governed by Minnesota Statutes § 260B.171)
Active criminal investigations
Victim or witness identifying information in certain cases
Medical information protected under HIPAA
Data that would jeopardize an ongoing investigation

Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that while the information is public, access methods and processing times may vary depending on the volume of requests and available resources.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Stearns County?

Stearns County provides digital access to arrest records through several online platforms maintained by county agencies. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office offers an online inmate and warrant search system that allows members of the public to access current custody information and active warrants.

The online availability of these records is governed by Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, which requires government entities to keep records accessible for convenient public inspection. Digital access options include:

Current inmate roster through the Stearns County Jail Roster Search
Past inmate information via the Past Inmate Search portal, which includes records from the past seven years
Criminal case information through the Criminal Case Search database
Court records through Minnesota Court Records Online

Users should note that online records are updated regularly but may not reflect real-time information. According to county policy, the online databases are typically updated multiple times daily, but the information shown is only as accurate as the last update and may differ from official court records.

For comprehensive searches, the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system provides case information for all Minnesota district courts, including Stearns County cases, pursuant to Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch.

How to Look Up Stearns County Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Stearns County arrest records in 2025 may utilize several methods established by the Stearns County Sheriff's Office and Court Administration. The following options are available for record retrieval:

In-person requests can be submitted at the Stearns County Sheriff's Office:

Stearns County Sheriff's Office
807 Courthouse Square, Room 155
St. Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 259-3700
Official Website
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Online access is available through the county's Court Records Research & Searches portal, which provides links to various databases including current and past inmate information.
Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Sheriff's Office address listed above. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, subdivision 3, requests must include sufficient information to locate the requested data.
Court records related to arrests can be accessed through:

Stearns County Court Administration
725 Courthouse Square, Room 245
St. Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 656-3620
Official Website
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

When requesting arrest records, individuals must provide:

Full name of the person whose records are being sought
Date of birth or approximate age (if known)
Date or approximate date of arrest (if known)
Case number (if available)

Fees for copies of arrest records are established pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, subdivision 3, and may vary based on the number of pages requested and whether certification is required. Current fee schedules are available at the Sheriff's Office and Court Administration.

Contents of a Stearns County Arrest Record

Stearns County arrest records contain standardized information as required by Minnesota Statutes § 13.82. These official documents typically include the following elements:

Biographical information of the arrested individual:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Residential address at time of arrest
Arrest details:
- Date, time, and location of the arrest
- Agency making the arrest
- Name and badge number of arresting officer(s)
- Legal authority for the arrest (warrant or probable cause)
- Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Offense information:
- Criminal charges filed
- Minnesota statute numbers of alleged violations
- Classification of offense (felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor)
- Brief narrative of the alleged criminal activity
Processing documentation:
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Fingerprint records
- Property inventory taken at booking
- Initial appearance information
- Bail or bond amounts set
Case disposition (if available):
- Court case number
- Arraignment date
- Plea entered
- Sentencing information (if case has concluded)

Pursuant to Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch, Rule 4, certain information may be redacted from public arrest records, including social security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain victim information in cases involving sexual assault or domestic violence.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Stearns County

Expungement of arrest records in Stearns County is governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 609A. Individuals may petition for expungement under specific circumstances defined by state law. Expungement is the process by which arrest and criminal records are sealed from public view, though they remain accessible to law enforcement agencies for limited purposes.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Stearns County include:

Cases resolved in the petitioner's favor (dismissals, acquittals)
Certain diversion program completions pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 609A.02
Convictions for petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, or specified felonies after statutory waiting periods
Juvenile adjudications that would have been petty misdemeanors or misdemeanors if committed by an adult

The expungement process requires:

Filing a petition with the Stearns County District Court
Paying the required filing fee (currently $325, with fee waiver options available for qualifying individuals)
Serving the petition on all relevant government agencies
Attending a scheduled court hearing

Petitions must be filed with:

Stearns County District Court
725 Courthouse Square
St. Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 656-3620
Official Website

The court evaluates expungement petitions based on factors outlined in Minnesota Statutes § 609A.03, subdivision 5, including:

The nature and severity of the underlying crime
The risk posed to public safety
The length of time since the crime occurred
The petitioner's criminal record before and after the offense
The petitioner's rehabilitation efforts and current circumstances

If granted, expungement orders are sent to all agencies holding records of the arrest or conviction. These agencies must seal the records within 60 days of receiving the order, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 609A.03, subdivision 8.

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