Goodhue County Public Records /Goodhue County Criminal Records

Goodhue County Criminal Records

What Is Goodhue County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Goodhue County 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 generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating at the county, state, and federal levels.

Key distinctions among record types include:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court, either through a guilty plea or a trial verdict. An arrest does not constitute a conviction, and the two are legally distinct under Minnesota law.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are the most serious classification of criminal offense in Minnesota, carrying potential sentences exceeding one year of incarceration. Misdemeanors are less severe offenses, typically punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. Gross misdemeanors occupy an intermediate category, with penalties of up to one year in jail.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Records pertaining to individuals who were adults at the time of the offense are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile records are presumptively sealed under Minnesota Statutes § 260B.171 and are not available for public inspection except under specific statutory exceptions.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants represent current judicial orders authorizing law enforcement to apprehend an individual. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that may no longer carry active legal consequences.

The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in Goodhue County are the Sheriff's Office (arrests, bookings, and jail records), the Goodhue County District Court (case filings, pleas, trial proceedings, and dispositions), the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (statewide criminal history), and local municipal police departments. Records encompass charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, sentencing orders, and probation or parole conditions.

Goodhue County Sheriff's Office 430 W. 6th St., Red Wing, MN 55066 Phone: 651-267-2600 (General Information) | 651-385-3155 (Non-Emergency) | 911 (Emergency) Sheriff's Office – Goodhue County Government

Goodhue County District Court 454 W. 6th St., Red Wing, MN 55066 Phone: 651-267-4800 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Goodhue County District Court – Minnesota Judicial Branch

Are Criminal Records Public In Goodhue County

Criminal records in Goodhue County are presumptively public under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), codified at Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, which governs law enforcement data and establishes the public's right to access certain categories of criminal justice information. Under this statute, members of the public may inspect arrest data, booking information, charges filed, and final court dispositions pertaining to adult individuals.

Records that are generally accessible to the public include:

Adult arrest and booking records
Criminal charges and case filings
Court proceedings, including plea hearings and trial records
Final dispositions, including convictions and sentences
Active warrant lists published by law enforcement agencies

Records that are restricted or not available for public inspection include:

Juvenile delinquency records, which are sealed pursuant to § 260B.171
Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, which are classified as active investigative data under the MGDPA
Expunged records, which have been sealed by court order under Minnesota Statutes § 609A.02
Confidential informant identities and certain victim data
Mental health and medical data collected during criminal proceedings

The MGDPA places the burden on the government agency to justify any withholding of data, rather than on the requesting party to justify access. This framework ensures broad public access to completed criminal justice proceedings while protecting sensitive categories of information.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Goodhue County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Goodhue County may obtain them through several official channels depending on the type of record needed.

To obtain arrest and booking records from the Sheriff's Office:

Submit a written public records request to the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office Records Division at 430 W. 6th St., Red Wing, MN 55066.
Identify the subject of the request by full legal name and date of birth, and specify the type of record sought (e.g., arrest report, incident report, booking record).
Allow the agency the statutory response period. Under the MGDPA, agencies must respond to data requests in a reasonable and prompt manner.
Pay any applicable fees for copies of records. The Sheriff's Office Records Division publishes current fee schedules.

To obtain court case records from the District Court:

Visit the Goodhue County District Court clerk's office in person at 454 W. 6th St., Red Wing, MN 55066, during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).
Provide the subject's full name, date of birth, and, if known, the case number.
Request certified or uncertified copies of case documents as needed. Fees apply for certified copies.
Alternatively, submit a written request by mail to the court clerk's office with a check or money order for applicable fees.

To obtain a statewide criminal history record:

Submit a request to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) through its Criminal Justice Information Systems division.
Provide required identifying information and pay the applicable fee. Background checks for non-criminal justice purposes require fingerprint submission.

How To Find Criminal Records in Goodhue County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Goodhue County criminal records and related law enforcement data without requiring an in-person visit.

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO): The Minnesota Judicial Branch operates the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal, which allows members of the public to search district court case records statewide, including those filed in Goodhue County. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. MCRO provides access to case summaries, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. Certain document types, including confidential filings and sealed records, are not accessible through this portal. No registration is required for basic case searches; however, registered users may access additional document-level information.

Goodhue County Jail Roster: The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office publishes a current jail roster on its official website. This roster lists individuals currently held at the Adult Detention Center and includes booking information. The Sheriff's Office notes that information contained in the roster should not be relied upon for any type of legal action.

Active Warrant List: The Sheriff's Office also maintains a publicly accessible warrant list identifying individuals for whom active arrest warrants are currently outstanding in Goodhue County. Members of the public with information regarding listed individuals are directed to contact the Sheriff's Office at 651-267-2600.

Courthouse Public Access Terminals: For the most complete access to electronic district court case records, the Minnesota Judicial Branch provides courthouse public access terminals at court locations. These terminals offer broader document-level access than the public MCRO portal and do not require registration.

Can You Search Goodhue County Criminal Records for Free?

Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, government agencies are required to permit inspection of public data at no charge. Members of the public may inspect criminal records in person without incurring a fee; charges apply only when copies are requested. This right of free inspection is established under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03, which provides that all government data is public unless otherwise classified by statute.

Free access options currently available include:

MCRO online case search: The Minnesota Court Records Online portal provides free basic case searches for Goodhue County District Court records, including case summaries and hearing information.
Goodhue County jail roster: The Sheriff's Office jail roster is freely accessible online at no cost.
Active warrant list: The warrant list published by the Sheriff's Office is available to the public at no charge.
In-person inspection at the courthouse: Members of the public may inspect court case files at the Goodhue County District Court clerk's office during business hours without paying a fee.
Courthouse public access terminals: These terminals, available at the courthouse, provide free access to electronic case records.

Fees are assessed for printed or certified copies of records. The Minnesota Judicial Branch and the Sheriff's Office each maintain current fee schedules for copy requests.

What's Included in a Goodhue County Criminal Record?

A complete criminal record in Goodhue County may contain data compiled from multiple agencies across the criminal justice system. The specific contents vary depending on the source of the record and the nature of the underlying case.

Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the Minnesota BCA
FBI number, if applicable

Arrest and Booking Information:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency and officer
Booking number and facility (e.g., Goodhue County Adult Detention Center)
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set
Custody status

Court Case Information:

Case number and court of jurisdiction (Goodhue County District Court)
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges as filed, including applicable statutes and offense classifications (felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor)
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
Attorney of record for prosecution and defense

Disposition Information:

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed)
Conviction date, if applicable
Sentence imposed, including type (incarceration, probation, fine), length, fine amounts, restitution ordered, and conditions of probation
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole supervision status

Additional Record Elements:

Active or recalled warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status under Minnesota's predatory offender registration requirements
DUI/DWI adjudications and related license actions
Traffic violations adjudicated in district court
Pending charges not yet resolved

How Long Does Goodhue County Keep Criminal Records?

Goodhue County retains criminal records in accordance with the Minnesota County Records Retention Schedule established by the Minnesota Historical Society and the State Archives, as authorized under Minnesota Statutes § 138.17, which governs the preservation and disposition of government records statewide.

General retention periods for principal record categories include:

Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the court and the Minnesota BCA criminal history repository.
Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of seven years following final disposition; many are retained permanently in electronic systems.
Arrest records without conviction: Retained for varying periods depending on agency policy; individuals may petition for expungement under § 609A.02 to seal records where charges were dismissed or resulted in acquittal.
Incident and arrest reports (Sheriff's Office): Retained pursuant to the applicable county records schedule, generally a minimum of seven years for non-conviction arrest data.
Juvenile records: Retained subject to the sealing provisions of § 260B.171; sealed records are not destroyed but are restricted from public access.
Court case files (felony): Retained permanently by the Goodhue County District Court.
Court case files (misdemeanor/gross misdemeanor): Retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition under current court records management guidelines.

The Minnesota State Law Library provides additional guidance on court records retention and access, including distinctions between trial court documents and appellate records. Agencies are required to follow the approved retention schedule and may not destroy records ahead of schedule without authorization from the State Archives.