Rice County Warrant Records Search
Rice County warrant records are handled by the Sheriff's Office and District Court in Faribault. This southern Minnesota county has about 67,000 residents and is part of the 3rd Judicial District. You can search Rice County warrant records online through state databases or reach out to the sheriff for active warrant checks. The county includes the cities of Faribault and Northfield, both of which have their own police departments that work alongside the sheriff on warrant-related matters. The District Court processes all criminal filings, and the sheriff serves warrants throughout the county. This page explains how to find and access Rice County warrant records.
Rice County Overview
Rice County Sheriff and Warrants
The Rice County Sheriff's Office is based in Faribault and serves warrants across the county. Deputies carry out arrest warrants, bench warrants, and search warrants issued by the 3rd Judicial District Court.
Rice County covers a fairly large area south of the Twin Cities metro. Faribault and Northfield are the main population centers. The sheriff provides law enforcement for areas outside those cities and assists city police when needed. The office manages the county jail, civil process, and warrant service. You can call the Sheriff's Office to ask about active warrants. Staff will check their records and tell you what they find. For detailed case files, the court clerk at the Rice County Courthouse in Faribault handles document requests. The Rice County official website has links to county offices. The Rice County Sheriff's site has more details on law enforcement services.
| Office | Rice County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 118 NW 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021 |
| Phone | (507) 332-6010 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
How to Find Rice County Warrant Records
The main online tool for Rice County warrant records is Minnesota Court Records Online. This free portal covers all Minnesota district courts. Search by name or case number to find cases in Rice County. Results show case type, filing date, charges, and docket activity.
For best results, use full first and last names. The system updates in near real time from the court's case management system. Documents from after July 2015 may be viewable online. Older Rice County records may require an in-person visit to the courthouse in Faribault.
You can also use the BCA Public Criminal History Search. This free tool needs a name and date of birth. It shows conviction records from the past 15 years but does not show active warrants. For active warrant checks, contact the Rice County Sheriff by phone.
Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, warrant index data in Rice County is confidential until the person is arrested or served. This means active warrants may not show up in online court searches even though the underlying case exists.
Rice County Records Resources
The Rice County official website provides access to county departments and government services. Visit co.rice.mn.us for links to the sheriff, court, and county attorney.
From this site you can find contact information for all offices involved in Rice County warrant records.
The Rice County Sheriff's website has details about law enforcement operations and jail services. Visit ricecountymn.gov for current information.
This site provides direct contact details for deputies who handle warrant service in Rice County.
Rice County Warrant Records and the Law
Warrant records in Rice County follow Minnesota state statutes. Under Minn. Stat. § 626.05, a search warrant is a written court order directing a peace officer to search a person or place and seize specified property. The Rice County District Court issues these warrants based on applications from law enforcement officers.
Probable cause is the foundation. Under Minn. Stat. § 626.08, no warrant can be issued without a sworn affidavit from the officer. The affidavit must describe with detail the person or place to be searched and the property to be seized. A Rice County judge reviews the application and decides whether the evidence supports the warrant.
Under Minn. Stat. § 626.11, once a judge is satisfied that probable cause exists, the warrant must be issued. Rice County warrants must be served within 10 days per Minn. Stat. § 626.15. Service happens between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. unless a judge allows nighttime execution.
Note: Rice County shares all warrant data with the BCA statewide network under Minn. Stat. § 299C.115, so warrants are visible to officers across Minnesota.
Types of Rice County Warrant Records
Rice County handles several warrant types. Arrest warrants are the most common. A judge issues one when probable cause links someone to a crime. The Rice County Sheriff then finds and arrests that person.
Bench warrants are issued by the court itself. They come up when someone skips a hearing, does not pay a fine, or breaks a court order. These are very common across the state, and Rice County is no different. Search warrants let officers enter a specific location for evidence. Under Minn. Stat. § 626.07, five grounds justify a search warrant: stolen property, criminal tools, contraband, property held with criminal intent, and crime evidence.
Clearing Rice County Warrants
An active Rice County warrant stays on file until you deal with it. You face arrest any time your name comes up in a law enforcement check.
Get a lawyer. The 3rd Judicial District has legal aid options. Call the Rice County court clerk in Faribault to learn what the warrant involves. For bench warrants, your attorney can often set a new court date. For arrest warrants, a voluntary surrender at the Rice County jail is usually the best approach. Use Minnesota Court Records Online to review your case before taking steps.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Rice County. Make sure to search in the county where the case was filed.