Rice County Public Records / Rice County Arrest Records

Rice County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Rice County

Arrest records in Rice County, Minnesota, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, law enforcement agencies are required to make certain arrest data available to the public. This statute, part of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), establishes that arrest data — including the name of the arrested individual, the date, time, and location of the arrest, and the charges filed — must be disclosed upon request. The MGDPA, codified at Minnesota Statutes § 13.01 et seq., governs the collection, storage, and dissemination of government data in the state and serves as the primary legal framework for public records access in Rice County.

Members of the public should be aware of the distinction between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under current Minnesota law, an individual may have an arrest record without any corresponding conviction if charges were dismissed, reduced, or never filed. This distinction carries significant legal and practical implications, particularly in employment and housing contexts.

The Rice County Sheriff's Office serves as the primary custodian of arrest records generated within the county's unincorporated areas and operates the county detention facility. Municipal police departments within Rice County maintain their own arrest records for incidents occurring within their respective jurisdictions.

What's in Rice County Arrest Records

Rice County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields as required by Minnesota law. The following categories represent the information typically documented at the time of arrest and booking.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Home address or last known address
Race and gender as recorded by the arresting agency

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and precise location of the arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Rice County Sheriff's Office, Faribault Police Department)
Circumstances and narrative summary of the arrest

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed, including statute citations
Classification of offenses (felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor)
Case or incident report number

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant)
Members of the public may view currently active warrants through the county's active warrants and jail lists portal

Booking Information:

Date and time of booking into the Rice County Jail
Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) records

Bond/Bail Information:

Bail amount set by the court or arresting officer
Bond type (cash, surety, or release on recognizance)
Conditions of release, if applicable

Court Information:

Assigned court case number
Scheduled court appearance dates
Presiding judicial officer

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Release date and conditions, if released

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history as maintained by the agency
Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
Notations regarding juvenile status or protected classifications

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Rice County in 2026

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Rice County may pursue several official channels. Requests should be submitted in writing to the appropriate custodial agency, identifying the subject of the record by full name and date of birth to ensure accurate retrieval.

Rice County Sheriff's Office: Submit a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office Records Division. Requests may be submitted in person during regular business hours or by mail. A fee schedule for copies is maintained by the office in accordance with Minnesota Statutes.
Rice County Jail: Booking and custody records are maintained by the Rice County Jail, which is staffed by a dedicated records specialist. Inquiries regarding current inmates or recent bookings may be directed to the jail directly.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA): Statewide criminal history records, which include arrest and conviction data, are maintained by the BCA. Members of the public may request a personal criminal history record or, in certain circumstances, a third-party record through the BCA's official process.
Rice County District Court: Court records related to criminal proceedings, including charges arising from arrests, are accessible through the Rice County District Court, located at the Rice County Courthouse in Faribault.

Rice County Sheriff's Office 4th Street NW, Faribault, MN 55021 (507) 332-6115 Sheriff's Office – Rice County, MN

Rice County Jail 4th Street NW, Faribault, MN 55021 (507) 332-6115 Rice County Jail

Rice County District Court 218 NW 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021 (507) 332-6104 Rice County District Court – Minnesota Judicial Branch

How To Find Rice County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to arrest and related criminal justice records for Rice County.

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO): The Minnesota Judicial Branch operates MCRO case search, which allows members of the public to search district court case records, including criminal cases arising from arrests in Rice County. Users may search by name, case number, or date range. Some records may be restricted from public view pursuant to court order or statute.
Rice County Official Website: The Rice County, MN official website provides access to county government services, including links to jail rosters and active warrant information maintained by the Sheriff's Office.
Active Warrants and Jail Lists: The county maintains a publicly accessible portal for active warrants and current jail lists, updated on a regular basis by the Sheriff's Office.
Minnesota BCA Public Access: The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension provides an online portal for certain criminal history inquiries, subject to applicable fees and identity verification requirements.

How To Search Rice County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain arrest record information at no cost through the following official channels.

MCRO Online Search: The Minnesota Judicial Branch's access to case records portal provides free basic case lookups for many district court criminal records, including those originating in Rice County. Users may search by the subject's name without creating an account for general case information.
Active Warrants Portal: The Rice County Sheriff's Office publishes active warrant and jail list information through the county's public quick links page at no charge to the requestor.
In-Person Inspection: Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, members of the public have the right to inspect public government data at no cost. Fees may only be charged for copies of records, not for inspection alone. Individuals may visit the Rice County Sheriff's Office or the Rice County District Court during public counter hours to inspect records in person.
Rice County Courthouse Public Terminals: The courthouse provides public access terminals that allow free searches of court case records during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Rice County

Minnesota law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure or sealing of records) and sealing (restricting public access without destruction). These are distinct remedies with different legal effects. Expungement under Minnesota law typically results in the sealing of records from public view, though certain government agencies may retain access for specified purposes. True destruction of records is rare and subject to strict statutory criteria.

Under Minnesota Statutes § 609A.02, individuals may petition for expungement of criminal records in the following circumstances:

The case was resolved in favor of the petitioner (charges dismissed, acquittal, or no charges filed)
The individual successfully completed a diversion program or stay of adjudication
The offense was a petty misdemeanor or certain misdemeanor convictions, subject to waiting periods
The individual meets statutory criteria related to the nature of the offense and time elapsed since disposition

The expungement process requires the following steps:

Obtain relevant records: Gather all arrest, booking, and court records related to the matter sought to be expunged.
File a petition: Submit a formal Petition for Expungement to the Rice County District Court. Forms are available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
Serve notice: Provide statutory notice to all agencies holding records subject to the petition, including the Sheriff's Office, the BCA, and the prosecuting authority.
Attend hearing: Appear at the scheduled court hearing, at which the judge will weigh the petitioner's interests against public safety and other statutory factors.
Receive court order: If granted, the court issues an expungement order directing all named agencies to seal their records within a specified timeframe.

Individuals with juvenile records may be subject to different procedures under Minnesota's juvenile expungement statutes. Legal assistance is available through the Rice County District Court's self-help resources or through qualified legal aid organizations serving the Faribault area.

What Happens After Arrest in Rice County?

The criminal justice process in Rice County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest: Law enforcement officers take an individual into custody based on probable cause, a warrant, or observation of a criminal offense. The arresting officer prepares an incident report and transports the individual to the Rice County Jail for booking.
Booking: At the jail, staff record the arrestee's personal information, photograph, and fingerprints. The individual is assigned a booking number, and personal property is inventoried and secured.
Initial Appearance: Within 36 hours of a warrantless arrest (excluding weekends and holidays), the individual must appear before a judge at the Rice County District Court. At this hearing, the judge reviews the charges, advises the defendant of their rights, and determines conditions of release or bail.
Bail and Release: The court may release the individual on their own recognizance, set a bail amount, or order detention pending further proceedings, depending on the nature of the charges and the individual's history.
Charging Decision: The Rice County Attorney's Office reviews the arrest report and determines whether to file formal criminal charges, decline prosecution, or refer the matter for diversion.
Arraignment: If charges are filed, the defendant is formally arraigned and enters a plea. Subsequent proceedings may include pre-trial hearings, motions, and, if necessary, trial.
Disposition: Cases conclude through dismissal, plea agreement, acquittal, or conviction. Sentencing follows conviction and may include incarceration, probation, fines, or other court-ordered conditions.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Rice County?

Arrest records in Rice County are subject to retention schedules established under Minnesota law and applicable administrative rules. Different agencies involved in the criminal justice process maintain records for varying periods depending on the nature of the offense and the outcome of the case.

Under the Minnesota General Records Retention Schedule for counties, law enforcement agencies are generally required to retain arrest records as follows:

Felony arrest records: Retained permanently or for a minimum of seven years following case closure, depending on the agency's adopted schedule
Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor arrest records: Typically retained for a minimum of three to seven years following case closure
Records resulting in no charges: Retained for a minimum period established by the agency, subject to expungement petition rights under § 609A.02

The Minnesota Historical Society and the State Archives program provide guidance to county agencies on records retention compliance. Retention schedules serve multiple public interests, including preserving evidence for potential future proceedings, maintaining accountability in law enforcement, and enabling background check processes for employment and licensing purposes. Court records maintained by the Rice County District Court are subject to separate retention schedules established by the Minnesota Judicial Branch, which may differ from those applied by the Sheriff's Office or the BCA.

Rice County, MN – Official Government Portal 320 NW 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021 (507) 332-6100 Rice County, MN | Official Website

How to Find Mugshots in Rice County

What Mugshots Are Mugshots are official photographic records taken by law enforcement at the time of an individual's booking into a detention facility. These images are part of the official arrest and booking record and are distinct from identification photographs maintained for other purposes.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained In Rice County, booking photographs are maintained by the Rice County Jail as part of the official booking record. The jail's records specialist is responsible for the custody and management of these files. The Minnesota BCA may also retain booking photographs as part of a subject's statewide criminal history record.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public seeking a specific booking photograph may submit a written public records request to the Rice County Jail or the Rice County Sheriff's Office. Requests should identify the subject by full name and date of birth, and include the approximate date of arrest if known.

Can They Be Found Online At present, Rice County does not operate a publicly accessible online mugshot database. Certain third-party websites aggregate booking photographs from public records; however, the accuracy and currency of such sources are not guaranteed by any government agency. The county's official jail and warrant information is accessible through the county's public records portal.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official booking photographs may be obtained by submitting a data request to:

Rice County Jail – Records Division 4th Street NW, Faribault, MN 55021 (507) 332-6115 Rice County Jail

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Certain booking photographs may be restricted from public disclosure under Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, subdivision 17, or pursuant to a court-issued expungement order. Photographs of juveniles are classified as private data under the MGDPA and are not subject to public disclosure. Agencies are required to evaluate each request individually and may redact or withhold photographs that fall within a statutory exception.