We thank you for visiting this page. We aim to help you with your Scott County Arrest Records Search. This guide gives key facts. Find where to look and who to ask. We list the steps you need to take.
If you want to begin searching right away, visit https://minnesotaofficialrecords.com/scott-county-arrest-records/ to start your Scott County Arrest Records Search. This resource can help you access available public records. It provides search functions that may assist your efforts in finding the information you need about arrest records within Scott County, Minnesota, compiling data where publicly accessible according to state laws and regulations.
Arrest records show when a person is taken into hold. This happens when police think a crime took place. These are not proof of guilt. A court case decides guilt. In Minnesota, access to data held by the state is key. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) sets the rules. This law is found in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/13). It states most government data is public. Yet, the law also notes some data is not public. Data can be private or secret. This protects personal facts or case work.
For arrests, a specific part of the law applies. Minn. Stat. § 13.82, subd. 2 (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/13.82%23stat.13.82.2) lists public arrest facts. You can usually find the person’s name. Their date of birth may be shown. The charges filed are often public. Details like the time and place of the arrest are public too. The name of the police force involved is also public. But some things stay private. Bank details are not shared. Data that could harm a case may be kept back. This law helps balance the need to know with the right to privacy. Knowing these rules helps your search for Scott County arrest records.
The Scott County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) plays a big role. They make arrests in parts of the county. They also run the county jail. The SCSO keeps records of these events. This makes them a main place to ask for arrest info. If the Sheriff's Office made the arrest, they hold the report. They handle incident reports too. These reports give details on what led to an arrest. You need to ask for these records the right way.
How to Request Arrest/Incident Reports
Scott County wants you to use their online portal. This helps manage requests well. Go to the Scott County website page for data requests. Find the link for the ONLINE DATA REQUEST PORTAL. You will need some facts for your request. Give the date and time of the event if you know it. The place where it took place is useful. Names of people involved help too. If you have an Incident Complaint Number (ICR), add it. This makes the search much faster. Some data is not public right away. You may need to show a photo ID for private data. This proves who you are. There might be a wait time. Crime reports can take up to 5 days. Accident reports might take 10 days. Not all crashes get a report. If there is a cost for copies, they will tell you. You may need to pay first.
Scott County Jail Information
Need to know if someone is in the Scott County Jail? The best way is to call the jail directly. Official Scott County websites do not show a live, public online inmate list in the search results reviewed. You should phone them for the most current inmate status.
Jail Address: 301 Fuller St South, Shakopee, MN 55379
Jail Phone: 952-496-8314 This line is for jail specific questions. Ask about booking details or inmate location here.
Checking for Active Warrants
The SCSO also handles arrest warrants for the county. Warrants are orders from a judge to arrest someone. To check if there is an active warrant from Scott County, call the same Jail/Warrants line.
Warrants Unit Phone: 952-496-8314 Ask the staff about warrant information. They may share the name on the warrant. The charges might be given. Bail amount could be listed. In Scott County, warrants do not expire. They stay active until the person is found or turns in.
SCSO Records Division Contact & Hours
For general record requests or other Sheriff's Office business:
Address: 301 Fuller St South, 2nd Floor, Shakopee, MN 55379
Main Phone: 952-496-8300 (This line can direct your call)
Fax: 952-496-8715
Email: sheriff@co.scott.mn.us
Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM These hours are for the records staff. The jail operates all day, every day.
Arrest records are different from court records. An arrest happens first. A court case may or may not follow. Court records show what happens in the legal case. This includes hearings, motions, and judgments. The Scott County District Court handles cases filed in the county. This court is part of Minnesota's First Judicial District. Records from this court can offer more details after an arrest leads to charges.
Using Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
Minnesota offers an online tool to view court case data. It is called Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). You can access it from anywhere with the web.
MCRO Website: https://publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch On MCRO, you can search for cases. Use a person's name or a business name. A case number works best if you have it. You can also search by lawyer name or bar number. MCRO shows case details and public documents. But be aware of its limits. The data is not the official court record. It might have errors or be incomplete. MCRO should not be used for background checks. Name searches can be tricky. Two people might share a name and birth date. A criminal case without a conviction will not show up in a name search. You need the case number for those.
Accessing Records In-Person
For the most complete access, visit the courthouse. The Scott County Justice Center has public computer terminals. These terminals run the Minnesota Public Access (MPA) Courthouse view system. You can find these terminals in the Law Library. This service is free to use during business hours. It provides more access than the online MCRO portal. Staff at the court admin window can help if you have trouble finding a case.
Requesting Copies of Court Documents
If you need paper copies, you must ask the court. You can get certified or non-certified copies. Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch Copy Request Form. This form is found on the MN Courts website. Fill it out with as much case detail as possible. Submit the form by:
Email: Send to Scott County Court Administration (find email via contact link on their site)
Fax: (952) 496-8211
Mail: Scott County Court Administration, 200 4th Avenue West, Shakopee, MN 55379 There are fees for copies. Check the state Court Fees page for current costs. One source noted a $14 fee for certified copies. You need to pay before getting the copies.
Scott County Justice Center Details
This is where the District Court is located.
Address: 200 Fourth Avenue West, Shakopee, MN 55379-1220
Phone: (952) 496-8200
Fax: (952) 496-8211
Email: Use the contact form or link on the Scott County court page: https://www.mncourts.gov/find-courts/scott.aspx
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sometimes an arrest is made by a city police force. This could be Shakopee PD or Prior Lake PD, for example. If so, that city police department holds the initial arrest report. You would need to contact them directly for that specific record. Their process might be slightly different from the county's. Many use a data request form similar to the county process.
Shakopee Police Department Records
If the arrest occurred in Shakopee city limits by their police:
Address: 475 Gorman St, Shakopee, MN 55379
Phone: (952) 233-9400
Email: records@shakopee.org Contact their records unit for instructions on requests.
Prior Lake Police Department Records
If the arrest was by Prior Lake Police:
Address: 4649 Dakota Street SE, Prior Lake, MN 55372
Phone: (952) 447-9800 (This is the main City Hall number)
Email: Police@PriorLakeMN.gov The City of Prior Lake website has a Public Data Requests page. It explains their policy and provides a form. Requests often go through the City Clerk or directly to the Police Department via mail or email.
Minnesota law gives you the right to see public data. Scott County provides ways to make these requests. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act guides this process. See Minn. Stat. § 13.03 (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/13.03) for details on access rights.
Making a Request
The county prefers using its online portal. It helps track and manage requests efficiently.
Scott County Online Data Request Portal: https://www.scottcountymn.gov/2216/Request-Data You can also submit requests by email, mail, or fax. In some cases, you can inspect data in person. Contact the specific department holding the data, or the county's Data Privacy Coordinator.
Receiving Data
Tell them how you want to get the data. Options include email, mail, fax, or pickup. You can also ask to view the data on site. The county will use your preferred way if it is reasonable. Mail may have postage fees.
Potential Costs
Viewing public data is usually free. Getting copies might have a cost. Minnesota law allows charges for copies, especially large requests. Scott County follows state guidelines. If your request has a fee, they will give you an estimate. You often need to pay this fee before they give you the copies.
It is vital to know the type of record you seek. Arrest records are not the same as conviction records. An arrest means someone was detained. A conviction means a court found them guilty. Different state agencies handle these records.
Arrest Information vs. Criminal Conviction History
An arrest record from SCSO or a city PD shows the arrest event. It does not prove guilt. For official criminal history, look elsewhere.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)
The BCA keeps the official statewide database of convictions. Their system is called the Minnesota Public Criminal History Search (CHS).
BCA CHS Website: https://chs.state.mn.us/ This is the best source for background checks. It links records using fingerprints for better ID verification. It shows convictions, not just arrests. There may be a fee to use the CHS system.
Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC)
The DOC manages state prisons. If someone was convicted and sent to state prison, the DOC tracks them. They have an online Offender Locator tool. This tool finds people currently in DOC custody. It does not show county jail inmates or past records.