Rice County 24 Hour Booking Search

Rice County 24 hour booking records are managed by the Sheriff's Office in Faribault. With around 67,000 people, Rice County is one of the larger counties in southern Minnesota. The jail processes all arrests from Faribault, Northfield, and surrounding communities. Booking data must reach the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension within 24 hours. This page covers how to search for Rice County booking records, what data is public, and the laws that govern the 24 hour booking process.

Rice County Sheriff and Jail

The Rice County Sheriff's Office runs the jail in Faribault. All arrests in the county lead to booking at this facility. Staff take fingerprints and photos during the booking process. Under Minnesota Statute 299C.10, that data must be entered into the BCA database within 24 hours. This is the 24 hour booking rule that applies to every county in Minnesota.

Rice County covers a rural area around Faribault. The sheriff's office provides law enforcement for the entire county. Local police departments also bring arrested persons to the county jail for booking. The jail keeps a current roster and permanent records of all bookings.

How to Search Rice County Bookings

The VINE system lets you check if someone is in the Rice County Jail. It is free and works around the clock. You can search by name and register for alerts when an inmate's status changes. This is one of the fastest ways to look up a recent booking.

Court records tied to Rice County bookings are on Minnesota Court Records Online. The system covers the 3rd Judicial District. Search by name or case number to see charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. For records not posted online, call the sheriff at (507) 332-6010. Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, arrest data is public. You can ask for booking dates, charges, and names without a formal request.

The Rice County website provides access to county departments and services. Visit the Rice County main website for more information.

County offices in Faribault serve all communities in Rice County.

What Rice County Booking Records Show

A booking record from the Rice County Jail includes the person's full name, age, sex, and last known address. The charges are listed along with the arresting agency and the date and time of booking. If bail or bond has been set, that amount is in the record too. All of this data is public under Minnesota law.

Booking photos are also public in most cases. Minnesota treats mugshots as public data under Statute 13.82, subdivision 26. The sheriff can briefly hold back a photo if releasing it would hurt an active investigation. Private data like medical records, juvenile info, and Social Security numbers never appear in public booking reports.

Booking Rules for Rice County

Several state laws control how booking works in Rice County. The 24 hour rule under Statute 299C.10 requires fingerprint data to reach the BCA within a day. This covers felonies, gross misdemeanors, and targeted misdemeanors like DWI, domestic assault, and order for protection violations.

The sheriff must keep permanent records of every person held in jail under Statute 641.05. Each record has the person's name, charges, commitment date, and committing authority. The sheriff also checks every person booked against the state predatory offender registry. Booking fees are allowed under Statute 641.12 and can be refunded if all charges are dismissed.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension stores booking data from Rice County in its Criminal History System. When a court disposition cannot be matched to an arrest record, Statute 299C.111 requires the BCA to notify the right agency so records stay accurate.

How to Get Rice County Booking Copies

Call the Rice County Sheriff's Office at (507) 332-6010 for booking record requests. You can submit a data request under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The county must respond within a reasonable time.

The MN DOC Offender Locator is free for checking on people in state custody. For background checks, the BCA offers fingerprint-based reports for a fee. The Minnesota Sheriffs' Association can also help you find the right contact for jail records in Rice County.

Rice County 24 Hour Booking Process

The Rice County Jail in Faribault processes bookings for the entire county area. Staff collect fingerprints, take a photo, and record all personal data during booking. Charges are logged with the arresting agency. The data goes to the BCA within 24 hours. Faribault and Northfield are the two main cities in Rice County, and both send arrested persons to the county jail.

Northfield is home to Carleton College and St. Olaf College. The college population adds to the area's demographics but the booking process is the same for everyone. Each booking creates a permanent record. The sheriff checks every intake against the predatory offender registry and reports all bookings to the district court as required by state law.

Rice County Record Retention

Rice County keeps booking records on file for years after the arrest. Arrest reports are stored for at least six years. Booking data is kept for six to ten years depending on the case. The BCA stores fingerprint records permanently. Mugshots stay on file for at least six years and often longer than that.

For very old records, the Minnesota Historical Society may have archived Rice County jail records at their History Center in St. Paul. For current or recent booking records, contact the Rice County Sheriff's Office at (507) 332-6010.

Cities in Rice County

Faribault is the county seat. Other small communities are also part of Rice County. All arrests lead to booking at the county jail. No cities in Rice County have a separate page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Rice County. Check the right county if you are unsure where the arrest took place.