What Are Wright County Public Records?
The Minnesota Data Practices Act defines Wright County public records. According to the Act, a public record is any document government agencies create, maintain, or store while carrying out official activities. These documents come in various forms, including paper, digital, audio or video recordings, maps, or charts. Regardless of physical structure, all government-generated records are in the public domain - unless exempted by law.
According to the Minnesota Data Practices Act, agencies whose records are publicly available include:
- Political subdivisions
- Minnesota state agencies
- The University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
- Statewide databases
- Corporations and nonprofit social service agencies under contract with a government entity
The Data Practices Act excludes some records from public view. Examples of exempt records include:
- Records from townships outside the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area
- Records from the Legislature
- Data patented or copyrighted by the government
- Property records of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking
- Names of individuals in IPAD advisory opinions
- Data on dead people that were private while they were alive
- Adoption records
Wright County Crime Statistics
Law enforcement agencies in Wright County generate reports on criminal activity and send them to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The Bureau collates this information and uses them to develop an annual uniform crime report.
According to the Minnesota BCA’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, law enforcement agents in Wright County recorded no murders. However, they recorded 28 rape cases, eight robberies, 68 cases of aggravated assault, 163 burglaries, 1123 robberies, 73 cases of vehicular theft, and four arson cases.
Are Wright County Criminal Records Public?
The Minnesota Data Practices Act dictates that McLeod County criminal records are publicly available for fifteen years after their initial production. Public criminal records contain the information on:
- The offense
- The offense date
- Court of conviction
- The conviction date
- Any sentence
- The level of conviction
- The probation agency or place of confinement
Although Wright criminal records are publicly available, the following are exempt from public view:
- All arrest information
- All juvenile records
- All court information
- Convictions more than 15 years old
Individuals interested in accessing Wright County criminal records may query the Minnesota Public Criminal History Search website. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the BCA allows the public to query this website for free.
How to Obtain Wright County Police Reports and Arrest Records
While Wright County arrest records are not available to the public, the Wright County Sheriff’s office provides monthly activity reports on the county’s website. These reports summarize the Sheriff’s arrests, including the arrestee’s names, ages, arrest location, and charges.
Individuals can also obtain copies of Wright County police reports by submitting in-person requests to the Sheriff’s office, located at the following address:
Wright County Sheriff’s Office
3800 Braddock Ave NE,
Buffalo, MN 55313,
Phone: (763) 682-1162
How to Find Wright County Sex Offender Information?
Individuals convicted of sex crimes in Wright County must register their details with the Sheriff’s Office, per Minnesota’s sex offender laws. The Wright County Sheriff’s Office maintains a list of all sex offenders and makes them publicly available on its website. Individuals interested in obtaining Wright County sex offender information may peruse this page for sex offenders currently and formerly living in the county.
Interested persons may also find Wright County sex offender information on the Minnesota Predatory Offender Search page.
How to Find Wright County Inmate Records
The Wright County Sheriff’s Office keeps a log of all inmates housed in the Wright County jail and makes it available to the public. Individuals interested in obtaining Wright County inmate information may peruse the Sheriff’s Jail Census sheet. The sheet contains inmates’ details, including full names, mugshots, sex, age, booking number, intake date, and charges. Individuals that require in-depth information on Wright County inmates may contact the Wright County Jail at
Wright County Law Enforcement Center
3800 Braddock Ave. NE.
Buffalo, MN 55313-3662
Phone: (763) 682-7653
How Do I Visit An Inmate In Wright County Jail?
The Wright County Jail allows friends and family members to visit inmates according to the following schedule:
- Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 11:25 AM and 2:30 PM - 4:05 PM
- Tuesday - Wednesday: 6:00 PM 8:00 PM.
- Saturday: 9:00 AM - 11:25 AM
Visitors must call (763) 684-2381 ahead of time to reserve visits, and scheduling is only available on Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Each inmate is allowed to receive two adult visitors for twenty minutes. Children may visit inmates in adult company. Visitors may only see one inmate per session. Wright County Jail staff reserve the right to deny visits to anyone that appears under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.
Wright County Court Records
Court officials in Wright County create and maintain recordings of all legal proceedings conducted in the courts. According to Minnesota’s laws, these records are publicly available, and the Wright County District Court provides them to interested persons upon request.
Anyone that wishes to obtain Wright court records may visit the Wright County Government Center, where the District Court provides digital access to public court records on publicly accessible terminals. Interested persons may also submit in-person requests to the court clerk for paper copies of public court records. The Wright County District Court is at the following address:
Wright County District Court
Wright County Government Center
10 NW 2nd Street, Room C201, Buffalo, MN 55313
Phone: (763) 682-7539
Fax: (763) 682-7300
Interested persons can also query the Minnesota Public Access (MPA) Remote page to obtain unofficial court records and limited case information.
Are Wright County Court Records Public?
The Rules of Public Access to the Records of the Minnesota Judicial Branch allow the public to view most Wright County court records upon request. Those rules, however, do not allow the public to access the following court records:
- Domestic Abuse and Harassment Records
- Court Services Records
- Judicial Work Product and Drafts
- Juvenile Appeal Cases
- Race Records
- Medical Records
- Request for Assistance Other Than Counsel and Any Resulting Order
- Response to Petition for Criminal Expungement
- Will Deposited for Safekeeping During Testator’s Lifetime
- Administrative Warrants
- Motion to Enforce or Quash Attorney General or County Attorney Subpoena
- Minor Victim Identifying Information
- Information Obtained From DPS for Collection of Court Debt
- Juvenile Protection Case Records Child Name Search Results
- Driver’s Licenses and Passports
- In Forma Pauperis Denials
How To Obtain Wright County Civil Court Case Records
The Wright County District Court generates civil court case records, stores them, and provides them to the public upon request. Individuals interested in obtaining Wright County civil court case records may visit the Wright County Government Center. The District Court provides publicly accessible terminals that anyone can use to access electronic copies of public case records. In addition, the public may submit in-person requests to the court clerk for paper copies of civil court case records. Individuals requesting paper copies must provide the following information:
- Case number
- Names of involved parties
The clerk of courts may charge a fee to obtain copies of these records. The Wright County District Court is at the following address:
Wright County District Court
Wright County Government Center
10 NW 2nd Street, Room C201, Buffalo, MN 55313
Phone: (763) 682-7539
Fax: (763) 682-7300
The public can also access digital copies of Wright County civil court case records on the Minnesota Public Access (MPA) Remote page. They can search for civil court case records using the following details:
- Case Number (default)
- Party Name
- Party Business Name
- Attorney Information (by Name)
- Attorney Information (by Bar Number)
Search results will display the case number, style (case title), filing date and location, type, and status of the case, for each public case it finds. The public can search the MPA page free of charge.
How To Obtain Wright County Criminal Court Records
The Wright County District Court generates records for criminal cases and disseminates them to the public upon request. Anyone can visit the Wright County Government Center to obtain criminal court records in digital or paper form. Individuals interested in getting digital copies of Wright County criminal court records may use the public terminals at the courthouse for free. Alternatively, individuals interested in obtaining paper copies of criminal records may query the office of the clerk of courts with the following information:
- Case Number
- Defendant/Party Name
- Citation Number
- Attorney Information
The clerk of courts may charge a fee to obtain copies of these records:
Wright County District Court
Wright County Government Center
10 NW 2nd Street, Room C201, Buffalo, MN 55313
Phone: (763) 682-7539
Fax: (763) 682-7300
The public can also access digital copies of Wright County criminal court records on the Minnesota Public Access (MPA) Remote page. They can search for criminal court records using the following details:
- Case Number (default)
- Defendant/Party Name
- Citation Number
- Attorney Information (by Name)
- Attorney Information (by Bar Number)
If the case records exist, the MPA will display the case number, defendant name and date of birth, filing date and location, type and status of the case, and charge(s).
What Are Wright County Vital Records?
Wright County administrators generate vital records to mark important events that county residents experience. Wright County vital records include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce decrees. Wright County divorce records are in the public domain and are available at the Wright County District Court. Birth and death records, on the other hand, are closed to the public. The Wright County Recorder's Office generates birth and death records and provides them to eligible persons upon request.
Where And How To Get Wright County Divorce Records?
Minnesota laws allow the public to obtain digital and paper copies of Wright County divorce records upon request. To get paper copies of Wright County divorce records, requesters may visit the Wright County District Court Clerk’s office, located at:
Wright County District Court
Wright County Government Center
10 NW 2nd Street, Room C201, Buffalo, MN 55313
Phone: (763) 682-7539
Fax: (763) 682-7300
Researchers must know the divorcee’s names, the divorce date, and the case number to expedite the request. Individuals interested in obtaining digital copies of Wright County divorce records may find them on the Minnesota Trial Court Public Access Remote View Portal. They will need to input the case number into the portal to obtain results.
Where And How To Get Wright County Marriage Records?
Per Minnesota laws, Wright County marriage records are available to the public upon request. The Wright County Recorder’s Office provides an online platform for interested persons to order and pay for copies of Wright County marriage certificates. Certified copies of marriage records cost $9 each. The public can also submit in-person and mail-in requests for marriage certificates directly to the Recorder’s office at the following address:
Wright County, MN
Online Recorder Payments
Ten 2nd Street, NW
Buffalo, MN 55313
Phone: (763) 682-7357
For mail-in requesters, handling charges cost $1. Individuals that require priority processing must pay $10, and returns via priority mail cost $7.70.
Where And How To Get Wright County Birth Records?
The Wright County Recorder's Office generates Wright County birth certificates and provides copies from 1935 to current to anyone that can show tangible interest in them. Such individuals include:
- A registrant on the record who is at least 16 years old
- A parent named on the record or a legal guardian with certified proof of guardianship
- Authorized representatives of specific state programs
- Parties who can provide a court order authorizing the unsealing of the birth records.
Eligible persons can obtain copies of birth records by completing a Minnesota Birth Record Application form, attaching the associated fees, and submitting the application in person or by mail. Mail-in applicants must notarize forms before sending them. Wright County birth records cost $26 for the first copy, and $19 additional copies ordered simultaneously. For mail-in requesters, handling charges cost $1. Individuals that require priority processing must pay $10, and returns via priority mail cost $7.70.
Wright County, MN
Online Recorder Payments
Ten 2nd Street, NW
Buffalo, MN 55313
Phone: (763) 682-7357
Where and How To Get Wright County Death Records?
Per Minnesota law, the Wright County Recorder's Office provides copies of Wright County death records from 1997 to current to anyone that can show tangible interest in them. Such individuals include:
- The deceased’s children
- The deceased’s parents
- The deceased’s spouse
- The dead’s grandparents or grandchildren
- The deceased’s legal representative
- The deceased’s successor
Eligible persons can obtain copies of death records by completing a Minnesota Death Record Application form, attaching the associated fees, and submitting the application in person or by mail. Mail-in applicants must notarize forms before sending them. Wright County death records cost $13 for the first copy, and $6 additional copies ordered simultaneously. For mail-in requesters, handling charges cost $1. Individuals that require priority processing must pay $10, and returns via priority mail cost $7.70.
Wright County, MN
Online Recorder Payments
Ten 2nd Street, NW
Buffalo, MN 55313
Phone: (763) 682-7357
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.
