Murray County Police Records

Murray County police records are public documents maintained by the Murray County Sheriff's Office in Slayton, Minnesota. Under Minn. Stat. 13.82, arrest data is public from the moment of arrest, and booking photos are available to anyone who requests them. The Sheriff covers the entire county, including smaller towns and rural townships. This page explains what records are public, how to request them, and how to use the BCA and court systems for a wider search.

Murray County Sheriff's Office

The Murray County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services for the entire county. With a population under 9,000, the Sheriff is the main police presence for most residents. The office handles patrol, arrests, jail operations, and civil process. Find current contact information, staff, and request procedures at co.murray.mn.us.

To request a police report or arrest record, go to the Sheriff's Office in person at the Slayton courthouse, or send a written request by mail. Include the incident date and type, the name of the subject if known, and the format you need. Staff will confirm whether the record is on file and whether any portion is withheld. Active investigation files may be held back until the case ends.

Slayton is the main city in Murray County. The Slayton Police Department may handle calls within city limits. If the incident happened inside Slayton, confirm with the city police whether they have the report. In smaller rural counties, the Sheriff and city police may share some functions, but they keep separate records.

What Records Are Public in Murray County

Minnesota law opens a broad set of law enforcement data to the public. Under Minn. Stat. 13.82, the following are public from the time they are created:

• Name and age of each person arrested
• Date, time, and place of the arrest
• Charges filed or reason for the arrest
• Booking photos
• Name of the arresting officer and their agency
• Release conditions and terms

Most incident reports are public. Victim names in sexual assault cases are protected. Information tied to an active investigation may be withheld. Any withholding must be backed by a specific legal citation. The agency cannot simply refuse without telling you which law allows the denial.

911 audio is not public in Minnesota. The written transcript of a 911 call becomes public once the related investigation ends. If you need to review the content of an emergency call, the transcript is the document to request after the case is resolved.

How to Request Police Records

No reason is required when requesting public records. Minn. Stat. 13.03 gives any person the right to inspect public government data. The agency must respond promptly. They cannot delay or deny without legal grounds.

Steps to request Murray County police records:

• Visit the Sheriff's Office in person at the Slayton courthouse
• Mail a written request with the incident date and description
• Include the subject's name if you have it
• Note whether you want paper copies or a digital file

Looking at records in person is free. Copies cost $0.25 per page for the first 100 pages. After 100 pages, the actual cost of reproduction applies. In-person review is the most cost-effective choice if you only need to confirm basic arrest details.

Minnesota BCA Background Checks

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) manages the statewide criminal history database. For a complete search beyond Murray County, call 651-793-2400, option 7, or visit the BCA background checks page. BCA data includes arrests, charges, and court dispositions from agencies statewide, including Murray County.

The BCA portal shown below explains what searches are available and which require a release.

Some searches are open to the public without a signed release. Others require consent from the person being searched. BCA is the most thorough statewide option for criminal history data.

Criminal History Data and Subject Rights

Criminal history data in Minnesota is classified under Minn. Stat. 13.87. Convictions are public. Arrests that did not result in charges, or charges that were dismissed, may be classified differently. If you are unsure, the BCA or the county can explain how a specific record is treated.

If you are the subject of a record, Minn. Stat. 13.04 gives you the right to see any data the government holds about you, whether public or private. You can contest wrong data within 30 days. Appeals of denied requests must be filed within 60 days. Both are firm deadlines. Act quickly if you find an error in your record.

Court Records in the 5th Judicial District

Police records and court records are separate documents. Police records cover arrests and initial incident reports. Court records cover what happens after charges are filed: hearings, motions, verdicts, and sentencing. Both are useful for understanding a full case.

Murray County cases are handled by the 5th Judicial District Court. Many records can be searched for free at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system is shown below.

MCRO shows case summaries, hearing dates, and document images for cases in Murray County District Court. It is free to use and accessible to the public.

Minnesota Government Data Practices Act

The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) at Minn. Stat. 13.025 governs all public records access in Minnesota. It applies to the Murray County Sheriff and every other government agency in the state. Under the MGDPA, all government data is presumed public unless a specific statute says otherwise. Any denial must cite the law that allows the withholding.

You can challenge a wrongful denial through the Minnesota Department of Administration's Information Policy Analysis Division or in district court. The MGDPA also limits how agencies can share your personal data. Private data cannot be disclosed to third parties without your consent, except in cases the law defines.

Sex Offender Registry

The Minnesota Predatory Offender Registry is managed by the BCA and lists people convicted of qualifying sex offenses statewide. You can search by name or address on the BCA's public site. The Murray County Sheriff also tracks registered offenders in the county and handles required community notification for higher-risk individuals under state law.

Nearby Counties

Murray County is in southwestern Minnesota and borders several other counties in the region.