Scott County Public Records / Scott County Arrest Records

Scott County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Scott County

Arrest records in Scott County, Minnesota, are generally accessible to the public under state law. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, law enforcement agencies are required to make certain arrest data available for public inspection. This statute, part of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), establishes that arrest data — including the name of the arrested individual, the time and date of arrest, the charges, and the arresting agency — constitutes public government data. Members of the public may inspect these records without demonstrating a specific need or purpose.

It is important to distinguish 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. The Scott County Sheriff's Office maintains criminal history files, investigative reports, and related criminal records for law enforcement purposes, and certain portions of those files may be restricted from public disclosure where an active investigation is ongoing or where a specific statutory exemption applies.

What's in Scott County Arrest Records

Scott County arrest records contain a standardized set of data elements collected at the time of booking and throughout the custodial process. The following categories represent the information typically documented in an arrest record:

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth
Gender, race, and physical descriptors (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Home address at time of arrest
Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking

Arrest Details:

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

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Statute citations for each charge
Classification of offense (felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant)
Current jail and warrant status as maintained by the Sheriff's Office

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned at intake
Date and time of booking
Facility where the individual was booked

Bond/Bail Information:

Bail amount set by the court
Type of release (own recognizance, cash bail, surety bond)
Conditions of release, if applicable

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the court
Scheduled court appearance dates
Presiding court and judicial district

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Release date and method of release

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history on file with the agency
Fingerprint records submitted to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)
Notations regarding detainers or holds from other jurisdictions

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Scott County in 2026

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Scott County may obtain them through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the agency that holds it.

To request records from the Scott County Sheriff's Office, individuals should submit a written public data request to the Records and Support Staff unit. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or through the agency's online request process. The Sheriff's Office Records unit is the primary custodian of criminal history files, investigative reports, and booking records for incidents handled by the Sheriff's Office. Per the Scott County FAQ on reporting crimes, members of the public are directed to contact the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the relevant offense when seeking related documentation.

Scott County Sheriff's Office — Records & Support Staff 301 Fuller Street South Shakopee, MN 55379 Phone: 952-496-8300 Scott County Sheriff's Office Records

Steps to request arrest records:

Identify the correct agency holding the record (Sheriff's Office, municipal police department, or court)
Submit a written request identifying the subject of the record, approximate date of arrest, and type of record sought
Provide valid government-issued identification when requesting records in person
Pay any applicable fees for copies, as authorized under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, which governs public access to government data and associated copy fees
Allow the agency the statutory response period — currently ten business days for routine requests under the MGDPA

For court-related arrest records, individuals may submit requests directly to the Scott County District Court.

Scott County District Court 200 Fourth Avenue West Shakopee, MN 55379 Phone: 952-496-8200 Minnesota Judicial Branch — Scott County

How To Find Scott County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Scott County arrest and custody information without requiring an in-person visit.

The Scott County Sheriff's Office publishes a real-time current jail inmate roster on its official website, listing individuals presently held at the Scott County Jail in Shakopee. This roster is updated regularly and includes the name, booking date, and charges for each individual in custody.

For court records associated with arrests, the Minnesota Judicial Branch operates Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), which provides online access to public district court case records statewide, including those originating in Scott County. Users may search by name, case number, or date of birth to locate case filings, hearing schedules, and disposition information.

The MCRO case search portal allows members of the public to conduct direct searches of Minnesota state district court records. Not all documents available at courthouse public access terminals are replicated in the online system; certain sealed, expunged, or restricted records are excluded from public online access pursuant to applicable court rules and statutory exemptions.

The Scott County Law Enforcement Center, located in Shakopee, serves as the primary detention and booking facility for the county, and information about individuals processed through that facility may appear in the online jail roster.

How To Search Scott County Arrest Records for Free?

Public arrest record information in Scott County is available at no cost through several official sources.

The Scott County Jail Roster is freely accessible online and lists current inmates without any registration or fee requirement.
The MCRO case search tool provides free online access to many public court case records, including case filings and hearing information associated with arrests processed through Scott County District Court.
Members of the public may visit the Scott County Government Center in person during business hours to inspect public arrest data at no charge, as guaranteed under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, which affirms the right of any person to inspect public government data free of charge.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) provides public criminal history searches through its online portal for a nominal fee; however, basic name-based searches of court records through MCRO remain free.
Municipal police departments within Scott County, including the Jordan Police Department, may provide public arrest log information upon written request at no cost for inspection, though copy fees may apply.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Scott County

Minnesota law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure or sealing of the record from public view) and sealing (restricting access without physical destruction of the record). These two remedies are distinct in their effect and eligibility requirements.

Expungement under Minnesota Statutes § 609A.02 allows eligible individuals to petition the court to seal their criminal records, including arrest records, from public access. Upon a successful expungement order, the record is sealed from public databases maintained by courts and law enforcement agencies, though certain government entities may retain access for limited purposes.

Expungement may be available in the following circumstances:

The case was resolved in the petitioner's favor (charges dismissed, acquittal, or no charges filed)
The individual successfully completed a diversion program
The offense involved a petty misdemeanor or certain misdemeanor convictions after a waiting period
The offense is listed among those eligible for statutory expungement under current Minnesota law

The general steps to pursue expungement in Scott County are as follows:

Obtain a complete copy of the criminal record from the BCA and the Scott County District Court
Determine eligibility based on the nature of the offense and the outcome of the case
File a Petition for Expungement with the Scott County District Court, along with required supporting documentation and the applicable filing fee
Serve the petition on all agencies that hold records related to the arrest, as required by statute
Attend the scheduled court hearing; the court will consider the petition and any agency objections
If the petition is granted, the court issues an expungement order directing all named agencies to seal the relevant records

Arrest records that did not result in conviction and were resolved in the subject's favor are generally the most straightforward to expunge. Conviction records carry longer waiting periods and additional eligibility criteria.

What Happens After Arrest in Scott County?

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

Upon arrest, the individual is transported to the Scott County Law Enforcement Center in Shakopee for booking. During booking, identifying information is collected, a mugshot is taken, fingerprints are recorded, and the individual's property is inventoried. The booking record is created at this stage and becomes part of the official arrest record.

Following booking, the individual is held pending an initial appearance before a judge, which must occur without unnecessary delay — generally within 36 hours of arrest for in-custody defendants under Minnesota court rules. At the initial appearance, the court reviews the charges, advises the defendant of their rights, and determines conditions of release or bail.

If the prosecutor determines that sufficient evidence exists, formal charges are filed and the case proceeds to arraignment, pretrial hearings, and ultimately trial or plea resolution. The Scott County Jail holds individuals who are unable to post bail or who are remanded to custody by the court throughout this process. The jail also maintains individuals subject to active warrants until their initial court appearance.

Case outcomes may include dismissal, acquittal, guilty plea, or conviction following trial. The disposition of each case is recorded in the court file and reflected in the individual's criminal history maintained by the BCA.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Scott County?

Arrest records in Scott County are subject to retention schedules established under Minnesota law and applicable administrative rules. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and records retention schedules issued by the Minnesota Historical Society and the State Archives, law enforcement agencies are required to retain certain categories of records for defined minimum periods.

Key retention principles currently in effect include:

Felony arrest records are generally retained permanently or for extended periods, as they form part of the individual's criminal history maintained by the BCA.
Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor arrest records are typically retained for a minimum period following case closure, with specific timelines varying by agency policy and the nature of the offense.
Arrest records that did not result in charges may be subject to shorter retention periods, though agencies retain discretion to preserve records for evidentiary and accountability purposes.
Court records associated with arrests are retained pursuant to the Minnesota Judicial Branch's official records retention schedule, which assigns retention periods based on case type and disposition.

Different agencies within Scott County — including the Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, and the District Court — maintain independent retention schedules. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system. Individuals seeking information about the retention status of a specific record may submit a written inquiry to the relevant agency's records custodian.

How to Find Mugshots in Scott County

What Mugshots Are

A mugshot is a standardized photograph taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. It typically includes a front-facing and profile image of the arrested individual and is created as part of the official booking record.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained

Mugshots taken in Scott County are maintained by the Scott County Sheriff's Office Records unit as part of the booking file. The BCA may also retain copies as part of the statewide criminal history record.

Finding Mugshots

Members of the public may request a copy of a booking photograph by submitting a public data request to the Scott County Sheriff's Office Records & Support Staff. Mugshots are generally classified as public arrest data under Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, subject to applicable exemptions.

Can They Be Found Online

The Scott County Sheriff's Office does not currently publish individual mugshots on its public website. The jail roster lists current inmates but does not display booking photographs online. Third-party websites may republish mugshots obtained from public records, though such sites operate independently of county government.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially

To obtain a mugshot through official channels, individuals should submit a written public data request to:

Scott County Sheriff's Office — Records & Support Staff 301 Fuller Street South Shakopee, MN 55379 Phone: 952-496-8300 Sheriff's Office Records & Support Staff

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access

Mugshots of juvenile offenders are not public data under Minnesota law. Additionally, if a record has been expunged by court order, the associated booking photograph is sealed along with the remainder of the arrest record and is no longer accessible to the public.