Winona County Public Records / Winona County Arrest Records

Winona County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Winona County

Arrest records in Winona County are generally accessible to the public under Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act, codified at Minn. Stat. § 13.82, which governs law enforcement data and establishes which categories of information are public, private, or confidential. Under current law, certain arrest data — including the name of the arrested individual, the date, time, and location of the arrest, and the charges filed — are classified as public government data. However, not all information contained within an arrest record is automatically available; investigative data and data on juveniles may be protected from disclosure.

Members of the public should understand the distinction between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement, whereas a conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court. An arrest does not constitute proof of criminal conduct, and individuals who are arrested but not charged, or who are acquitted, retain an arrest record that remains separate from any conviction history. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) maintains the state's criminal history repository, which includes both arrest and conviction data subject to applicable access restrictions.

What's in Winona County Arrest Records

Winona County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and updated as a case progresses through the criminal justice system.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical descriptors including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Race and gender
Last known address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of the arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Winona County Sheriff's Office or Winona Police Department)

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed, including statute citations
Classification of offense (felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, or petty misdemeanor)
Whether charges were later amended or dismissed

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant)
Date of warrant issuance

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Date and time of booking
Facility where the individual was held

Bond/Bail Information:

Bail amount set by the court
Type of release (own recognizance, cash bail, conditional release)
Date of release if applicable

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the Winona County District Court
Scheduled court appearance dates
Presiding judge or judicial officer

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Projected or actual release date

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history on file with the BCA
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) records
Incident or offense report numbers associated with the arrest

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Winona County in 2026

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Winona County may pursue several official channels depending on the type of record needed and the level of detail required.

Winona County Sheriff's Office: Individuals may submit a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office for arrest and booking records. Requests may be submitted in person at the office or by mail. Requestors should include the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any known case or booking numbers to facilitate retrieval.

Winona County Sheriff's Office 175 W. 3rd St., Winona, MN 55987 (507) 457-6363 Winona County Sheriff's Office

Winona County District Court Administrator: Court records related to criminal cases, including charging documents and case dispositions, are maintained by the court administrator. Members of the public may inspect available records during regular business hours.

Winona County District Court 171 W. 3rd St., Winona, MN 55987 (507) 457-6380 Winona County District Court

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension: For a comprehensive criminal history that includes statewide arrest and conviction data, members of the public may submit a request to the BCA. Fees apply for non-subject requests.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 1430 Maryland Ave. E, St. Paul, MN 55106 (651) 793-2400 Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

Public counter hours for the Winona County Government Center are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

How To Find Winona County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Winona County arrest and court records without requiring an in-person visit.

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO): The Minnesota Judicial Branch operates the Minnesota Court Records Online portal, which allows members of the public to search for case information by name, case number, or date of birth. MCRO provides access to criminal case filings, hearing schedules, and case dispositions for cases processed through Winona County District Court.
BCA Public Criminal History Search: The Minnesota BCA's Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system is accessible online and provides public criminal history data, including arrest and conviction records, for individuals with records in the state system. This resource is available through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website.
Winona County Government Website: The county's official website provides contact information and links to relevant departments that maintain public records, including the Sheriff's Office and the court administrator.

How To Search Winona County Arrest Records for Free?

Free access to Winona County arrest records is available through several publicly funded platforms under Minn. Stat. § 13.03, which affirms the right of the public to inspect government data at no charge when viewing records in person.

In-Person Inspection: Members of the public may inspect arrest records and court documents at no cost by visiting the Winona County Sheriff's Office or the District Court Administrator's office during regular business hours. No fee is charged for viewing records on-site; fees may apply for printed copies.
MCRO Online Search: Basic case information through the Minnesota Court Records Online portal is available at no charge for general public searches. Certain document downloads may carry a nominal fee.
BCA Public Search: The BCA's online public criminal history search is available free of charge for searches of an individual's own record. Third-party searches of another person's record may require a fee.
Winona County Jail Roster: The Winona County Sheriff's Office may maintain a current jail roster or inmate lookup tool on its website, providing real-time custody status information at no cost.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Winona County

Minnesota law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure or sealing of records) and sealing (restricting public access without physical destruction). Expungement under Minn. Stat. § 609A.02 allows eligible individuals to petition the court to seal records held by both the courts and law enforcement agencies, effectively removing them from public view.

Expungement does not always result in the physical destruction of records; in many cases, records are sealed and accessible only to law enforcement and certain government agencies. The distinction is significant: sealing restricts public access while the record continues to exist within government systems, whereas a full expungement order may direct agencies to destroy or return records.

Cases eligible for expungement may include:

Arrests that did not result in charges being filed
Cases resolved through a diversion program
Acquittals or dismissals where no conviction was entered
Certain low-level convictions after a waiting period has elapsed

Steps to pursue expungement in Winona County:

Obtain a copy of the criminal record from the BCA and the Winona County District Court to identify all records subject to the petition.
Complete the petition for expungement forms available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Guidance on the process is available through the expungement of arrest records resource maintained by the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
File the petition with the Winona County District Court and pay the applicable filing fee, or request a fee waiver if eligible.
Serve copies of the petition on all agencies that hold records subject to the petition, including the BCA, the arresting agency, and the prosecuting attorney's office.
Attend the scheduled hearing and present the petition to the court.

What Happens After Arrest in Winona County?

The criminal justice process in Winona County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Winona County Jail for booking, where identifying information, fingerprints, and photographs are collected and entered into the county and state records systems.
Initial Appearance: Within 36 hours of a custodial arrest (excluding weekends and holidays), the arrested individual must appear before a judge or judicial officer for an initial appearance, at which time charges are read and bail conditions are set.
Charging Decision: The Winona County Attorney's Office reviews the arrest report and determines whether to file formal charges, decline prosecution, or refer the matter for diversion.
Arraignment: If charges are filed, the defendant is arraigned and enters a plea. The case is then scheduled for pre-trial proceedings or trial.
Pre-Trial and Trial: The parties engage in discovery, pre-trial motions, and, if no plea agreement is reached, a jury or bench trial is conducted in Winona County District Court.
Disposition: The case concludes with a verdict, guilty plea, or dismissal. Sentencing follows a conviction, and the disposition is recorded in the court and BCA systems.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Winona County?

Arrest records in Winona County are subject to retention schedules established under Minnesota law and administered by individual agencies. The Minnesota Historical Society, in coordination with state agencies, publishes official records retention schedules that govern how long law enforcement and court records must be maintained.

Under current Minnesota records retention guidelines, law enforcement agencies are generally required to retain arrest records for a minimum period that varies based on the severity of the offense and the outcome of the case. Felony arrest records are typically retained for longer periods than misdemeanor records, and records associated with convictions are generally kept indefinitely. The Winona County Sheriff's Office and the Winona County District Court each maintain their own retention schedules in compliance with state requirements.

Key principles governing retention include:

Retention periods mandated by state law ensure that records are preserved for evidentiary, accountability, and historical purposes.
Different agencies have different requirements: The BCA, the Sheriff's Office, and the court administrator each maintain records under separate schedules, meaning a record may be retained by one agency after another has destroyed or sealed its copy.
Records retention preserves evidence and accountability by ensuring that law enforcement and judicial records remain available for appeals, post-conviction proceedings, and public oversight.

How to Find Mugshots in Winona County

What Mugshots Are Mugshots are photographic images taken at the time of booking following an arrest. They are part of the official booking record and are maintained by the arresting agency as a component of the arrest file.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained In Winona County, booking photographs are maintained by the Winona County Sheriff's Office and, for arrests made by municipal agencies, by the respective police department. The Winona Police Department maintains booking records for arrests made within the city limits.

Winona Police Department 454 Mankato Ave., Winona, MN 55987 (507) 457-6302 Winona Police Department

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request booking photographs through a written public records request submitted to the Winona County Sheriff's Office or the Winona Police Department. Requests should identify the subject by full name and approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online At present, Winona County does not operate a publicly accessible online mugshot database. Third-party websites may republish booking photographs obtained from public records, though the accuracy and currency of such information cannot be verified through official channels.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official copies of booking photographs may be obtained by submitting a written request to the custodial agency. Fees for copies are set in accordance with the agency's fee schedule and applicable state law.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Booking photographs of juveniles are classified as private data under Minnesota law and are not subject to public disclosure. Additionally, if an individual's arrest record has been expunged pursuant to a court order, the associated booking photograph may also be sealed or returned to the subject.