Find Red Lake County Police Records

Red Lake County police records include arrest data, incident reports, and law enforcement documents held by the Red Lake County Sheriff's Office in Red Lake Falls. Red Lake County is one of the smallest counties in Minnesota by both size and population, but the same public records rules apply here as in every other county in the state. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, most law enforcement records are public, and any person can request access. No special form or attorney is required.

Red Lake County Sheriff's Office

The Red Lake County Sheriff's Office in Red Lake Falls is the primary law enforcement agency in the county. Given the county's small size and population, the sheriff's office handles nearly all law enforcement calls throughout Red Lake County, including both rural areas and the small cities within county boundaries.

Red Lake Falls has a small city police department. If you need records from an incident within Red Lake Falls city limits, you should contact the city police. For incidents in rural areas or townships, the sheriff's office holds the records.

The Red Lake County website at www.co.red-lake.mn.us provides contact details for county departments including the sheriff. Check there for current mailing addresses and phone numbers before submitting a request.

Note that Red Lake County is a separate entity from the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians and the Red Lake Reservation. The tribe has its own government and law enforcement. Records from tribal law enforcement are not held by Red Lake County and are subject to different rules.

What Records Are Public

Minnesota law defines what law enforcement records are open to the public. Under Minn. Stat. 13.82, arrest data is public. When someone is arrested in Red Lake County, the following becomes public: their name, age, sex, home address, the charge or charges, the date of the arrest, and where it happened. Booking photos are also public under this law.

Active investigation data is not public. The sheriff can withhold details about ongoing cases to protect the investigation. Once a case is resolved, more of the record typically becomes accessible.

Incident reports are generally public. However, portions may be redacted if they involve victim information in certain crime types, juvenile data, or confidential source information. Ask the sheriff's office what is available for a specific report before making a formal written request.

Statewide criminal history records are governed separately by Minn. Stat. 13.87 and are held by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension rather than by county sheriffs.

How to Get Records from Red Lake County

Requesting public records in Minnesota is open to everyone. Here are your options:

• In person: Visit the Red Lake County Sheriff's Office in Red Lake Falls. Tell staff what records you need. They will let you know what is available and what the process is.
• By mail: Write a request letter describing the records you want. Include your name and contact details. Send it to the sheriff's office and keep a copy for yourself.
• By phone: Call (218) 253-2996 to ask about records before making a formal request. A call can help you confirm whether the records exist and who holds them.

Under Minn. Stat. 13.03, inspecting public records is free. Copies cost $0.25 per page for the first 100 pages. Beyond 100 pages, the agency may charge actual cost. There is no charge to look at records in person.

Data Subject Rights

If a Red Lake County police record contains information about you, Minn. Stat. 13.04 gives you the right to see it. You also have the right to challenge data you believe is wrong within 30 days of learning about it. If the agency does not make the correction you request, you have 60 days to file an appeal.

Submit any dispute in writing to the sheriff's office. Be specific about what you believe is incorrect and what the correct information should be. Keep a copy of everything. If the issue is not resolved locally, contact the Minnesota Department of Administration for guidance on MGDPA enforcement.

Minnesota Government Data Practices Act

All Red Lake County police records are subject to the MGDPA. Under Minn. Stat. 13.025, every government agency in Minnesota must maintain a data inventory that describes what types of data it holds and how to access it. The Red Lake County Sheriff's Office, as a government agency, must follow these rules.

The MGDPA classifies government data as public, private, or confidential. Public data is open to anyone who asks. Private data is limited to the subject and certain authorized parties. Confidential data is most restricted. Most law enforcement records -- arrest logs, booking photos, incident reports -- fall into the public category, although any given record may contain a mix of public and non-public data.

BCA Background Checks

For a statewide criminal history search, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the right resource. The BCA holds records from law enforcement agencies across all of Minnesota's 87 counties.

The BCA background checks page explains how to request a statewide record. Call 651-793-2400, option 7, or visit the website for forms and details.

Court Records for Red Lake County

Court records cover what happens after an arrest and the filing of charges. These are separate from police records. Red Lake County is in the 9th Judicial District. Court records for cases filed in Red Lake County can be searched through Minnesota Court Records Online at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us.

Minnesota Court Records Online lets you search Red Lake County cases in the 9th Judicial District. Search by name or case number at no cost.

Nearby Counties

Red Lake County borders other northwest Minnesota counties. Each has its own sheriff's office and court system.