Search Faribault County Booking Reports
Faribault County booking reports are public records documenting arrests and jail intakes processed at the county facility in Blue Earth. This page covers how to access booking data, what information each record contains, and where to find related court and custody records for Faribault County.
Faribault County Booking Reports
Faribault County Booking Reports and How to Access Them
The Faribault County Sheriff's Office in Blue Earth handles all jail bookings for the county. Booking records document each arrest intake, including the person's name, charges, and booking date. The county's main website is at faribaultcountymn.gov, where you can find contact information for the Sheriff's Office and links to county services.
Not all counties in Minnesota post a real-time or daily jail roster online. Faribault County falls into the category where direct contact with the Sheriff's Office is the most reliable way to confirm current custody status. If the website does not show a live roster when you visit, call the office at 507-526-5148. Staff can tell you whether someone is currently in custody and provide the booking number if intake has occurred.
For a broader view of Minnesota booking records across the state, the statewide offender locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us covers people in state prison and on supervised release. The screenshot below shows that tool, which is free to use without an account.
The DOC locator does not show county jail holds, but it's the right tool once a case has progressed to a state prison sentence or supervised release. Search by first and last name to see current facility, offense type, and projected release date for anyone in state custody.
Note: Faribault County and the city of Faribault are not the same place. The city of Faribault is the county seat of Rice County, not Faribault County. Faribault County's county seat is Blue Earth.
Sheriff's Office Contact and Location
The Faribault County Sheriff's Office handles all arrest bookings, jail operations, and records requests for the county. It is located in Blue Earth, which sits in the southwestern corner of the county along the Iowa border.
| Address | 320 Dr. H. Russ Street, Blue Earth, MN 56013 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 507-526-5148 |
| County Website | faribaultcountymn.gov |
| Judicial District | Fifth Judicial District |
The Fifth Judicial District covers several counties in south-central and southwestern Minnesota, including Faribault. Cases from county jail bookings move to the district court in Blue Earth. Court records for Faribault County cases can be searched through the statewide portal at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us.
What a Faribault County Booking Report Contains
A booking report is created at the time of arrest intake. It records identifying information about the person, the charges filed, the arresting agency, booking date and time, and bail or bond conditions if set. These records are public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which classifies arrest data as accessible government data.
Charges on a booking record reflect what the arresting agency alleged at intake. They are not a conviction. A prosecutor reviews the charges and may add counts, drop some, or modify them based on evidence. The booking record does not automatically update when those changes happen. Court records are the right place to check once a case moves past intake.
Booking data can be requested in writing if it is not available online. Submit a data practices request to the Faribault County Sheriff's Office at 320 Dr. H. Russ Street, Blue Earth, MN 56013. Include the subject's name, approximate date of booking, and your contact information. A small copying fee may apply for printed records. The office is required to respond within a reasonable time under Minnesota's Data Practices Act.
Note: Juvenile booking records are handled differently under Minnesota law. Information about people under 18 at the time of arrest may be restricted regardless of the charges involved.
Minnesota Data Practices and Booking Record Access
Minnesota Statute 13.82 is the primary law governing access to arrest data. It classifies booking information as public government data, which means the Sheriff's Office must make it available upon request. There is no requirement to show cause or explain why you want the records.
The broader framework is the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, found in Chapter 13 of the statutes. It governs all government data in Minnesota, setting out which data is public, which is private, and how agencies respond to requests. Booking data lands on the public side of that framework with a few exceptions for active investigations and protected categories.
If a request is denied, you can ask for a written explanation. The agency must provide one. Disputes about data practices requests can be taken to the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings. That process is separate from a court appeal and is designed to be accessible without a lawyer.
Statewide Minnesota Booking and Arrest Resources
Faribault County booking records cover only that county. When a search needs to go broader, several statewide tools are available at no cost or low cost. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension criminal history search at dps.mn.gov provides statewide arrest and conviction records. Public name searches have a small fee. Agency searches are free.
Court records for Faribault County cases are searchable through publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. The portal covers all Minnesota district courts and shows case type, charges, parties, hearing dates, and dispositions. It is free to search. Not all documents are available online, but case summaries are generally accessible.
VINE at vinelink.com or 1-877-664-8463 provides free custody status alerts. Register a name and get notified when that person's custody status changes at the Faribault County jail or any Minnesota state facility. It's a good option for family members or victims who need ongoing notification rather than a one-time search result.
Note: The Minnesota Statute 13.87 covers criminal investigative data and sets rules for what can be released during an active investigation. Once a case is closed or charges are filed, more data typically becomes public.
Requesting Past Faribault County Booking Records
Older booking records are not always available online. To get historical records, contact the Sheriff's Office in writing. A data practices request is the standard method. State your name, the subject's name, approximate dates, and what records you need. The office will let you know if a fee applies before pulling the file.
Basic copies are typically low cost. Requests requiring significant staff time to locate or compile records may carry a higher fee, which the agency is allowed to charge. Turnaround is usually a few business days for straightforward requests.
Court records connected to a Faribault County arrest are kept by the Fifth Judicial District Court in Blue Earth. Those are separate from the Sheriff's records and require a separate request if you need court documents rather than the booking record itself.
Nearby Counties
Faribault County is surrounded by several counties in southern Minnesota, each maintaining its own booking records and jail roster.