Search Rice County Background Check Records
Rice County background check records are held across several sources: the BCA's free statewide database, the district court in Faribault, and the Rice County Sheriff's Office. The county seat is Faribault, and that is where the main court and law enforcement offices are located. Each source holds different data. This guide explains what each one covers and how to use them together for a thorough Rice County public records search.
Rice County Overview
BCA Criminal History Search
The BCA Criminal History Search is the first step for any background check in Rice County. Run by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the tool is free and covers conviction records from all Minnesota county courts. You enter a name and date of birth, and the system returns convictions going back 15 years from the date of discharge. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction are not included in these results.
Under Minnesota Statute 13.87, conviction data is public for 15 years after discharge. Once that window closes, the conviction no longer appears in the BCA search. This means a clean result doesn't guarantee no criminal history; it means no Minnesota convictions within the past 15 years. For Rice County, the BCA database is a reliable and fast first check. If you need to dig deeper into a specific case, MCRO is the right follow-up tool.
Mail requests cost $15 and require a notarized consent form. Send to 1430 Maryland Avenue E, St. Paul, MN 55106. Allow around two weeks. Call 651-793-2400 with questions before mailing.
Rice County District Court
The Rice County District Court in Faribault is part of Minnesota's Third Judicial District. It handles criminal, civil, family, and probate cases for the county. Case records include criminal complaints, sentencing documents, civil judgments, and probate filings. The court and sheriff's office are located on the same block in Faribault.
| Address | 218 NW 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 507-332-6107 |
| Website | mncourts.gov - Rice |
You can search records in person by case number or party name. The clerk's office handles document requests. Certified copies carry a per-page fee. Bring a photo ID when visiting. For older records not in the electronic system, paper files at the courthouse are the only option and require a request to the clerk directly.
Rice County generates a moderate case volume given the population of Faribault and surrounding communities. The clerk's office is generally accessible during business hours. Call ahead to confirm current hours and whether you need to make an appointment for large records requests.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
The Minnesota Court Records Online system provides free access to court documents from all Minnesota counties. For Rice County, you can search by party name, case number, attorney, or judge. Documents filed from July 2015 forward are generally viewable and downloadable. Earlier records may show as docket entries without attached files.
MCRO is the most practical tool for accessing Rice County court documents remotely. It covers criminal, civil, and probate cases. No account is needed. The system is free. Searching by full legal name works well for Rice County, where results are typically manageable without additional filters. Once you find a case, you can download the actual filed documents rather than just seeing a summary of what exists.
The Rice County court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website has contact details, hours, and links to case search tools.
The screenshot above shows the Rice County court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch site, which includes contact information and access to court records systems.
Rice County Sheriff's Office
The Rice County Sheriff's Office in Faribault handles law enforcement across the county's rural areas and maintains arrest records for incidents involving county deputies. Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, arrest data is public. You can request information about an arrest, including the date, location, officer, charges, and the case outcome. Contact the office by phone or visit in person to request incident or arrest records.
| Address | 118 3rd Street NW, Faribault, MN 55021 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 507-334-4391 |
Under Minnesota Statute 299C.10, the Rice County Sheriff fingerprints people arrested for felonies, gross misdemeanors, and certain misdemeanors. Those prints are submitted to the BCA and become part of the statewide criminal history database. This process links local Rice County arrests to the state records system that the BCA search draws from. The court and sheriff's office are located close together in downtown Faribault, making it convenient to visit both on the same trip.
For records requests, have the subject's full name and the approximate date of the incident ready when you call or visit. This helps staff identify the right records and process your request efficiently.
The Minnesota DPS background check information page explains how the BCA receives data from county sheriffs and what the public can access through the statewide system.
The screenshot above shows the DPS background check overview page, which describes how agencies like the Rice County Sheriff supply data to the BCA statewide criminal history system.
MPA Remote and Older Court Records
The Minnesota Public Access Remote (MPA Remote) system shows docket-level information for court cases that predate the MCRO system. No documents are downloadable, but you can check whether a case exists before making a formal request. MPA Remote is most useful for filings from before July 2015.
Using MPA Remote alongside MCRO gives you the broadest coverage of Rice County court history. MCRO handles recent filings and document access. MPA Remote covers older dockets. For cases outside both systems' ranges, a direct request to the Rice County District Court clerk at 507-332-6107 is the only route.
DOC Offender Locator
The Minnesota Department of Corrections runs the Offender Locator, a free public tool for checking current DOC supervision status. You can search by name, date of birth, or offender ID. The tool shows whether someone is currently incarcerated, on supervised release, or under DOC probation. Full criminal history is not included. County jail holds are not reflected here.
Rice County residents sentenced to state prison appear in this database. It updates regularly. This is one of the fastest checks you can run when you need to confirm whether someone is currently in state DOC custody without calling the corrections department directly.
Minnesota Data Practices Act
The Minnesota Data Practices Act at Statute Chapter 13 governs public access to government records in the state. The default rule is that government data is public unless a specific statute says otherwise. You do not need to state a reason for requesting public records. An agency that refuses a request for public data must cite the specific statute that authorizes the refusal.
Under the Act, criminal conviction data is public for 15 years after discharge (Statute 13.87). Arrest data is public under Statute 13.82 regardless of whether the arrest led to a conviction. Juvenile records are not public. Records sealed through expungement under Statute 609A are not accessible through normal public channels. Non-compliant predatory offenders are listed publicly under Statute 243.166. These rules apply in Rice County just as they do across Minnesota.
Requesting Records by Mail
To get a certified BCA result by mail, send a $15 fee and notarized consent form to 1430 Maryland Avenue E, St. Paul, MN 55106. Allow two weeks. Call 651-793-2400 before mailing with any questions about what to include.
For Rice County court records by mail, contact the District Court at 507-332-6107. The clerk can tell you what to include and what document fees apply. For sheriff records, call 507-334-4391. Both offices in Faribault handle records requests regularly, and staff can explain the formal request process for whichever type of document you need.
Additional State Resources
The DPS background check information page gives a full overview of how Minnesota's criminal history system works and what the public can access. It's a good starting point for anyone new to the process.
The Minnesota Court Directory lists every county court in the state with addresses, hours, and phone numbers. From there you can navigate to the Rice County page or look up nearby county courts for broader searches.
Communities in Rice County
Criminal and civil cases from communities throughout Rice County, including Faribault, Northfield, and other towns, are filed at the Rice County District Court in Faribault. No cities in this county currently exceed the population threshold for a dedicated background check page.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Rice County and each have their own district court and background check pages.