Nobles County Police Records

Nobles County police records are public documents held by the Nobles County Sheriff's Office in Worthington, Minnesota. Under Minn. Stat. 13.82, arrest data is public from the time of arrest, and booking photos are available to anyone who requests them. The Worthington Police Department covers law enforcement within Worthington city limits, while the Sheriff serves the rest of the county. This page explains how to request records, what state law makes public, what fees apply, and where to find statewide records through the BCA.

Nobles County Sheriff's Office

The Nobles County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement coverage for the rural and unincorporated parts of the county, as well as smaller communities that do not have local police. The Sheriff also runs the county jail and handles civil process. Visit co.nobles.mn.us for current contact information, department staff listings, and instructions on how to submit a public records request.

To request a police report or arrest record, go to the Sheriff's Office in person at the Worthington courthouse, or send a written request by mail. Include the incident date and type, the name of the subject if you know it, and the format you need. Staff will confirm whether the record exists and whether any portion is being withheld. Open investigation records may be partially redacted until the case closes.

For incidents inside Worthington city limits, the Worthington Police Department holds the records. Contact them directly for city incidents. The two agencies maintain separate filing systems. Knowing which one responded to the call will direct your request to the right place the first time.

What Records Are Public Under Minnesota Law

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
• The charges filed or the reason for the arrest
• Booking photos
• Name of the arresting officer and their agency
• Release conditions and terms

Most incident reports are also public. Victim names in sexual assault cases are protected. Information that could harm an open investigation can be withheld until the case ends. Every redaction must be backed by a specific legal citation. The agency cannot simply refuse a request without telling you which statute allows the denial.

911 audio is not public in Minnesota. The written transcript of a 911 call becomes public once the investigation is done. If you need to know what was reported during an emergency, the transcript is what you can get after the case closes. The audio remains private regardless.

How to Request Nobles County Police Records

No reason is required when asking for 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 for requesting records from the Nobles County Sheriff:

• Go to the Sheriff's Office at the Worthington courthouse in person
• Mail a written request with the incident date and description
• Include the subject's name if available
• Note whether you want paper copies or a digital version

Looking at a record in person is free. Copies cost $0.25 per page for the first 100 pages. After 100 pages, actual reproduction costs apply. In-person review is the cheapest option if you only need to confirm basic arrest facts.

Minnesota BCA Background Checks

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

The BCA background check portal shown below lists the types of searches available to the public and how each one works.

Some searches are open to anyone without a release. Others require signed consent from the subject. For the most complete statewide record, BCA is the right resource.

Criminal History Data and Subject Rights

Criminal history data is classified under Minn. Stat. 13.87. Convictions are public. Arrests without charges, or charges that were dismissed, may be treated differently. The BCA or the county can explain how a specific record is classified.

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 inaccurate data within 30 days of reviewing it. Appeals of denied requests must be filed within 60 days. Both deadlines are firm. Act quickly if you find a factual error in your record.

Court Records in the 5th Judicial District

Police records and court records are separate. Police records document arrests and initial reports. Court records cover filings, hearings, verdicts, and sentencing. Both are valuable when you want to understand a complete case history.

Nobles County cases are handled by the 5th Judicial District Court. Many records can be searched for free at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. The image below shows the Minnesota Court Records Online search portal.

MCRO shows case summaries, hearing schedules, and document images for cases in Nobles County District Court. It is free to use and open to the public.

Minnesota Government Data Practices Act

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

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 share your personal data. Private data cannot be disclosed to others without your consent except in narrow cases the law defines.

Jail Roster and Recent Bookings

Some Minnesota counties post current jail rosters or recent arrest lists on their sheriff websites. Check co.nobles.mn.us to see if Nobles County makes this data available online. If not posted, you can ask the Sheriff's Office for the most recent booking log during regular business hours. Arrest data is public under state law and must be provided on request.

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 website. The Nobles County Sheriff also tracks registered offenders in the county and handles community notification for higher-risk individuals when state law requires it.

Nearby Counties

Nobles County is in the far southwest corner of Minnesota and shares borders with several other counties in the region.