Rice County Criminal Court Records

Rice County criminal court records are on file at the District Court in Faribault, a city in south-central Minnesota about an hour south of the Twin Cities. The court handles felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor criminal cases for the county and is part of the 3rd Judicial District. Most records are searchable online for free through Minnesota Court Records Online, and this page explains how to find and request them.

Rice County District Court

The Rice County District Court is located at 218 NW 3rd St, Faribault, MN 55021. The Court Administrator's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call (507) 332-6107 for case inquiries, copy requests, and scheduling questions. All criminal cases in Rice County, from misdemeanor traffic offenses to first-degree felonies, are processed here.

Faribault is the only court location in Rice County. Hearings, arraignments, plea proceedings, jury selection, trials, and sentencing all take place at this courthouse. The court's docket is publicly accessible through the state's MCRO system and reflects all scheduled proceedings. The court also handles matters that arise from criminal cases, such as restitution orders and probation hearings.

Searching Rice County Criminal Records Online

Minnesota Court Records Online, MCRO, is the free public system for searching Rice County criminal cases. Go to publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us and search by name, case number, or citation. No login or fee required for basic searches.

Each case record shows the defendant's name, charges filed, current case status, and any upcoming hearing dates. For cases filed from July 1, 2015 forward, court documents can often be viewed and downloaded directly from MCRO at no cost. The system's court calendar posts at 7:00 AM daily and refreshes every hour, giving an up-to-date view of what's scheduled in the Faribault courthouse.

If you prefer to search in person, a public terminal is available at the courthouse. Staff at the counter can help with a search or direct you to the right record if you are having trouble. Cases that are sealed, expunged, or involve juveniles will not appear in MCRO regardless of how you search.

Requesting Copies of Records

Uncertified copies of Rice County criminal court records are free as of July 1, 2023. You can download many documents for recent cases directly from MCRO. For older cases or when you need physical documents, contact the Faribault courthouse.

Certified copies cost $14 per document. They carry the court's stamp and are often needed for legal proceedings, government applications, or formal verification. Request certified copies in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through the online process at mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request.

Written mail requests should include the defendant's name, case number if available, the year filed, and a description of the specific records needed. Include payment for any certified copies requested. The full fee schedule is at mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-fees.

Rice County Sheriff's Office

The Rice County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement throughout the county. Their website at co.rice.mn.us/departments/sheriff-s-office provides department contact information and may list jail or inmate information. The sheriff's office processes arrests and maintains booking records that are separate from the court's case files.

After the sheriff's office or Faribault Police Department makes an arrest, the county attorney decides whether to file charges. Once charges are filed, the case enters the court system and becomes accessible through MCRO. The sheriff's booking data and the court's case records are maintained by different offices and serve different purposes.

For general Rice County government information and other department contacts, visit co.rice.mn.us.

BCA Statewide Criminal History

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension keeps a statewide criminal history database that covers felony and gross misdemeanor convictions from all Minnesota counties going back 15 years. A search costs $8 per person. Request one at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca.

A BCA search is broader than MCRO. MCRO shows case details for a specific county. The BCA shows a statewide conviction history. If you want to know whether someone has convictions in other Minnesota counties in addition to Rice County, the BCA search covers all of them at once.

Expungement of Rice County Records

Expungement seals criminal records from public view. Minnesota provides two routes. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 applies to certain low-level convictions after a set waiting period. No filing is required. Petition-based expungement under Chapter 609A requires filing a formal petition with the Rice County District Court, notifying the affected agencies, and attending a hearing before a judge in Faribault.

If the court grants the petition, the record is removed from public MCRO searches. Most government agencies will not be able to access it either. The Minnesota courts' expungement page at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement covers the full process and eligibility details. Legal aid organizations in the Faribault area may be able to help with the petition.

Minnesota Government Data Practices Act

Minn. Stat. Chapter 13 establishes the rights of the public to access government records in Minnesota. Criminal court records are classified as public data under this statute, meaning anyone can request them without stating a reason. The court must provide access or give a legal basis for any restriction. This applies to Rice County just as it does to every Minnesota court.

Exceptions include juvenile proceedings, victim contact information protected by statute, active investigation records, and cases that have been expunged. Outside of those categories, Rice County criminal records are publicly available. Most people find what they need through MCRO, but a formal data request can be used if access is disputed.

3rd Judicial District

Rice County is one of nine counties in the 3rd Judicial District. The district covers southeastern Minnesota and is headquartered in Rochester. All courts in the district, including Rice County, follow the same statewide rules, fee schedules, and procedures. Learn about the district, its judges, and court locations at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/District/3.aspx.

Visit the Rice County court page on mncourts.gov for current contact details, local rules, and direct links to the online case search system.

The court directory page provides all the information you need to contact the Rice County court or access its public record tools.

Nearby Counties

Counties neighboring Rice County include several other 3rd Judicial District courts as well as counties in the 1st District near the Twin Cities.