What are Douglas County Arrest Records?
Arrest records in Douglas County are documents generated by law enforcement agencies that provide information about the apprehensions and detainment of individuals in the county, following alleged criminal offenses.
In Douglas County, there is no central repository for arrest records. Each agency, like the Sheriff’s Office or Alexandria Police Department, is responsible for maintaining and disseminating records of apprehensions made under its jurisdiction. Therefore, interested persons should direct record requests to the arresting agency.
Residents seeking these records should note two things. First, arrest records do not provide proof of criminal involvement, except when contained in an extensive criminal history report that provided conviction information. Second, although these records are presumed to be accessible by members of the public, agencies can refuse access to arrest information if disclosure has the potential to disrupt ongoing investigations.
An individual’s arrest record may feature information like
- Personal data
- Prior and pending warrants
- Alleged offenses
- Date of arrests
- Name of arresting officer and detainment center
- Charges and case number
- Other booking or bail details
Crime Statistics
According to the most recent Minnesota Uniform Crime Report gathered by the Department of Public Safety, Douglas County has 1,114 arrests and 1,762 recorded offenses in 2018. The breakdown of arrest statistics showed that there were two, three, seven, and 20 arrests for murder, robbery, rape, and aggravated assault, respectively. However, arrests for alleged property crimes and crimes against society were more frequent and included 10, 19, 138, 166, and 250 apprehensions for MVT, burglary, DUI, larceny, and drug abuse, respectively.
Contrarily, the 2018 offense data showed that actual offenses consisted of one murder, three robberies, 22 rapes, and 39 aggravated assaults. Other crimes included 47 MVTs, 93 burglaries, 138 DUIs, 470 larceny-thefts, and 213 drug abuse offenses, amongst others. The statistics also revealed that Douglas County had a 60% crime clearance rate.
What Are Douglas County Criminal Records?
Criminal records in Douglas County are rap-sheets or documents generated by law enforcement agencies in the county, which provide information about the criminal history of individuals in the county. These documents provide extensive details gathered from the course of the individual's criminal activities i.e. from the suspected offense to the issuance of warrants, to arrest, indictment, conviction, and sentences. In some cases, parole and probation details are inclusive.
At the county level, criminal records are available and issued by the Sheriff’s Office and other police departments in the county. However, the information will have a limited scope. At the state level, criminal information is in a central repository managed by both the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Department of Public Safety.
Individuals may need criminal records for official and personal reasons like employment, licensing, or for reviewing personal history. However, individuals should note that while these records are public, more in-depth results will be provided to persons with more official purposes. An individual’s criminal record may feature information like:
- Personal data
- Warrants and arrest summary
- Date of offense and related details
- Physical description and mugshots
- Pending charges
- Location, date, and level of conviction
- Disposition and sentences
- Incarceration, parole, or probation status (if available)
How Do I Get Douglas County Criminal Records?
In Douglas County, the Sheriff’s Office provides local background check services to residents at $3 per name search. Individuals conducting personal background checks can simply visit the Sheriff’s Office in person and provide government-issued photo identification. However, third-party requests must also submit a notarized informed consent form to;
Sheriff's Office
216 Seventh Ave. W
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: (320) 762-8151
Fax: (320) 763-4493
Interested persons can also use the search tool on the Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions website to get public criminal history information. Required information includes first name, last name, and date of birth. The public criminal information does not include court information, juvenile records, arrest information, and information on convictions that happened over 15 years ago.
For complete criminal history, individuals should send the filled informed consent form, $15 paid through check or money order, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to;
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Minnesota Justice Information Services - CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Ave E
St. Paul, MN 55106
How to Find Douglas County Sex Offender Information?
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for maintaining an updated registry of sex offenders who live in the county as well as ensure that predatory offenders uphold a complaint status. Individuals can locate sex offenders or get more specific information by contacting the office at:
216 Seventh Ave. W
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: (320) 762-8151
Fax: (320) 763-4493
Similarly, individuals can obtain information by conducting a predator offender search through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension website or use the search tool to find offenders who are incarcerated or supervised by the Department of Correction.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Douglas County Jail?
Individuals who wish to visit female, male, and juvenile inmates in the Douglas County Jail must apply and schedule visits beforehand using the jail’s computer software network. Users can see the available slots, choose convenient days and hours, and receive confirmation immediately. Visitors can also cancel appointments by using the same system. Interested person can call (320) 762-2139 to obtain more information about visitation procedure and rules before visiting the inmate at:
Douglas County Jail
509 3rd Ave W
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: (320) 762-2139
Inmates can only receive visits on the following days:
Tuesdays: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sundays: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where and How to Find Douglas County Inmate Information?
The Sheriff’s Office makes inmate roster available on their website. The listing provides information such as full names, booking dates, booking time, charges, arresting agencies, and status (sentenced, bail set, dropped charges, etcetera). Individuals can also search the online index by name or keyword. For additional information, interested persons should contact the jail or Sheriff’s Office at:
Douglas County Jail
509 3rd Ave W
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: (320) 762-2139
Sheriff’s Office
216 Seventh Ave. W
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: (320) 762-8151
Fax: (320) 763-4493
What Are Douglas County Court Records?
Douglas County court records are documents that are generated, preserved, or distributed by the District Court in the county. These include audio, paper, or electronic files like dockets, transcripts, sworn statements, orders, which are produced during civil, domestic, juvenile, and criminal cases tried in the court. These records are maintained and issued by the court administrator/clerk located in the courthouse.
Location of All Courts in Douglas County
Douglas County District Court
Douglas County Courthouse
305 8th Avenue West,
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: (320) 762-3033
Fax: (320) 762-8863
What Are Douglas County Vital Records?
Douglas County’s vital records are documentation of life events that occurred to residents and non-residents in the territory. Examples of these events include births, adoptions, marriage, military discharge, and deaths. The County Recorder and Court Administrator manages and issues these records in the county, while there are several state-run repositories available as well.
Most of these records are available to members of the public, and requesters can obtain these records upon the provision of record details, fees, and other requirements. However, persons should note that some custodians may redact sensitive information from the copies given to persons without direct relation to the document.
Where and How to Get Douglas County Divorce Records?
Persons can obtain records of divorces that happened in the county District Court from the Court Administration. Access to these documents is unrestricted. Individuals can also get these records by sending requests with detailed record description to the administrator at:
305 8th Ave W
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: (320) 762-3033 or (320) 762-3882
Fax: (320) 762-8863
The more specific the request is, the easier the record will be found. Required information often includes the date of the divorce and the full names of the parties involved. The court may also require requesters to pay fees for the search and duplication of records before the request can be processed.
Where and How to Get Douglas County Marriage Records?
Persons can obtain marriage certificates or copies of marriage records that occurred in Douglas County from the Recorder’s Office. Individuals can retrieve records by filling the application request form and sending it along with $9 per requested copy to:
Douglas County Recorder’s Office
305 8th Avenue West
Alexandria, MN 56308
Required information often includes the date of the marriage and the full names of the applicants involved. Individuals can also conduct a marriage record check by using the search tool on the Minnesota Official Marriage System.
Where and How to Get Douglas County Birth Records?
Persons can obtain birth certificates or copies of birth records that occurred in Douglas County from the Recorder’s Office. Individuals can get records by filling the application request form and sending it along with required fees to:
Douglas County Recorder’s Office
305 8th Avenue West
Alexandria, MN 56308
The office charges $26 for the first copy and $19 for subsequent copies in the same search. Required information includes the birth date, name of the parents, name of the child, and other related details. The Minnesota Department of Health also maintains and issues records of death at the state level.
Where and How to Get Douglas County Death Records?
Persons can obtain death certificates or copies of birth records that occurred in Douglas County from the Recorder’s Office. Individuals can get records by filling the application request form and sending it along with required fees to:
Douglas County Recorder’s Office
305 8th Avenue West
Alexandria, MN 56308
The office charges $26 for the first copy and $19 for subsequent copies in the same search. Required information includes the birth date, date of death, and other related details. The Minnesota Department of Health also maintains and issues records of death at the state level.
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
