Scott County Criminal Records
What Is Scott County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Scott County, Minnesota, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies and serve as the authoritative source of information for background checks, legal proceedings, and public safety purposes.
Key distinctions among criminal record types include:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody, whereas a conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court. An arrest does not constitute a conviction under Minnesota law.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are the most serious offenses, carrying potential sentences exceeding one year in a state correctional facility. Misdemeanors carry maximum sentences of up to 90 days; gross misdemeanors carry up to 364 days. Petty misdemeanors are non-criminal violations.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile records are presumptively protected and may be sealed or expunged pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 260B.171, which governs the confidentiality of juvenile court proceedings and records.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for arrest, while historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions.
The principal agencies maintaining Scott County criminal records include:
- Scott County Sheriff's Office — responsible for arrest records, booking information, jail records, and criminal history files
- Scott County District Court (First Judicial District) — maintains case filings, arraignment records, pleas, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and probation/parole documentation
- Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
- Local police departments — including the Jordan Police Department, Shakopee Police Department, and other municipal agencies within the county
A complete criminal record may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and any conditions of probation or supervised release.
Scott County District Court – First Judicial District 200 Fourth Avenue West, Shakopee, MN 55379 (952) 496-8200 Minnesota Judicial Branch – Scott County
Scott County Sheriff's Office 301 Fuller Street South, Shakopee, MN 55379 (952) 445-1411 Scott County Sheriff's Office Records & Support Staff
Are Criminal Records Public In Scott County
Under current Minnesota law, the majority of adult criminal records are presumptively public and accessible to members of the public upon request. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, codified at Minn. Stat. § 13.82, governs the classification and disclosure of law enforcement data, establishing that arrest data, criminal charges, and booking information are public government data once collected by a law enforcement agency.
Records that are generally accessible to the public include:
- Adult conviction records and court dispositions
- Arrest data, including the name of the arrested individual, date and time of arrest, and charges
- Court case filings and hearing schedules
- Sentencing orders and probation conditions
- Active warrant information
Records that are restricted or not subject to public disclosure include:
- Juvenile court records and delinquency proceedings, which are protected under § 260B.171
- Sealed or expunged records, which are treated as if they do not exist following a court order
- Active investigative data, which is classified as protected nonpublic data under § 13.82, Subd. 7, until the investigation is inactive or charges are filed
- Confidential informant identities and certain victim data
Members of the public seeking to understand the scope of accessible records should note that the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act provides a broad right of access to public government data, and government entities are required to respond to data requests in a prompt and complete manner.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Scott County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Scott County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.
Step 1 – Identify the appropriate agency. Court case records are held by the Scott County District Court. Arrest and jail records are maintained by the Scott County Sheriff's Office. Statewide criminal history records are available through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Step 2 – Submit a request to the Scott County District Court. Requesters may visit the court administrator's office in person at 200 Fourth Avenue West, Shakopee, MN 55379, during public counter hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Written requests may also be submitted by mail or through the Minnesota Courts online case search portal.
Step 3 – Request Sheriff's Office records. The Sheriff's Office Records & Support Staff unit processes requests for criminal history files, investigative reports, and booking records. Requests may be submitted in person or in writing to 301 Fuller Street South, Shakopee, MN 55379. The Records unit is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Step 4 – Request a statewide criminal history record through the BCA. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension processes name-based and fingerprint-based criminal history requests. Fingerprint-based searches provide the most comprehensive results.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 1430 Maryland Avenue East, St. Paul, MN 55106 (651) 793-2400 Minnesota BCA – Criminal History
Step 5 – Pay applicable fees. Fees vary by record type and agency. The BCA currently charges a fee for name-based and fingerprint-based criminal history searches. Court copies are subject to per-page fees established by the court administrator.
How To Find Criminal Records in Scott County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Scott County criminal records and related law enforcement data without requiring an in-person visit.
Minnesota Courts Case Search (MNCIS) The Minnesota Judicial Branch operates a public case search system at mncourts.gov, which allows members of the public to search court records by party name, case number, or attorney. The system contains civil, criminal, family, and probate case information. No registration is required for basic searches. Records available include case filings, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions for Scott County District Court cases.
Scott County Jail Roster The Scott County Sheriff's Office publishes a current jail roster listing individuals currently held at the Scott County Jail. The roster is updated regularly and includes the name, booking date, and charges for each detainee. No registration is required to access this information.
Jail and Warrants Information The Sheriff's Office Warrants Unit maintains information on active warrants. Members of the public may access jail and warrant information through the county website or by calling the Warrants Unit directly at (952) 496-8314.
Community Crime Map The Scott County Sheriff's Office provides a community crime map that automatically synchronizes with the agency's records management system to display current crime data by location and incident type. This tool is available to the public without registration and is updated on an ongoing basis.
Minnesota BCA Public Access The BCA's online portal allows individuals to request their own criminal history record or authorize a third party to obtain it. Employer and authorized agency searches require separate credentialing.
Can You Search Scott County Criminal Records for Free?
Minnesota law currently provides that members of the public have the right to inspect public government data at no charge. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, Subd. 3, government entities must allow inspection of public data free of charge; fees may only be assessed for copies of records.
Free access to Scott County criminal records is available through the following resources:
- Minnesota Courts Case Search (MNCIS): Free online search of court case records, including criminal case filings, charges, and dispositions, available at mncourts.gov with no registration required
- Scott County Jail Roster: The current jail roster is freely accessible online through the Sheriff's Office website, listing all individuals currently in custody
- Community Crime Map: The publicly available crime mapping tool provides free access to incident-level crime data synced with the Sheriff's Office records system
- In-person inspection at the court administrator's office: Members of the public may inspect court records in person at no cost; fees apply only when copies are requested
- In-person inspection at the Sheriff's Office Records Unit: Public data held by the Sheriff's Office may be inspected at no charge during regular business hours
Fees are assessed for certified copies of court documents, fingerprint-based BCA criminal history searches, and certain specialized record requests. The per-page copy fee for court records is set by the Minnesota Judicial Branch and is subject to periodic revision.
What's Included in a Scott County Criminal Record?
A comprehensive Scott County criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the maintaining agency and the nature of the underlying case.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the BCA
- FBI Number, if applicable
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police department)
- Booking number and jail facility
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
Court Case Information
- Case number and court jurisdiction (Scott County District Court, First Judicial District)
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
- Entered plea (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Attorney of record for prosecution and defense
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed)
- Conviction date, if applicable
- Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution, and conditions of release
- Probation or supervised release terms
- Appeals filed and outcomes
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status, if applicable
- DUI/DWI convictions and related license actions
- Traffic violations classified as criminal offenses
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does Scott County Keep Criminal Records?
Scott County and the State of Minnesota maintain criminal records according to retention schedules established under state law and administrative rule. The Minnesota Department of Administration's Records Management Division sets minimum retention periods for government records, and criminal justice agencies are required to comply with these schedules.
Current retention periods for principal record types include:
- Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Minnesota BCA and the courts; these records do not expire
- Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of seven years following final disposition, though many are retained indefinitely in electronic systems
- Arrest records without conviction: Retained for a minimum of two years; individuals may petition for expungement under Minn. Stat. § 609A.02, which governs eligibility for expungement of criminal records in Minnesota
- Juvenile records: Subject to destruction or sealing upon the subject reaching adulthood or upon court order, pursuant to § 260B.171
- Investigative reports: Retained for varying periods depending on case type; homicide investigation records are retained permanently
- Jail booking records: Retained for a minimum of seven years following release from custody
- Court case files: Retained according to the Minnesota Judicial Branch Records Retention Schedule, with felony case files retained permanently and misdemeanor files retained for ten years following final disposition
The Minnesota Historical Records Advisory Board and the Department of Administration jointly oversee compliance with state retention mandates. Agencies are prohibited from destroying records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period.