Search St. Paul Arrest Records
St. Paul arrest records are available through the Saint Paul Police Department's Records Unit, which processes public data requests. St. Paul is the state capital and the second-largest city in Minnesota, with a population of about 310,000 in Ramsey County. The SPPD has one of the most detailed public records systems in the state, with multiple request types available and an online portal for submissions. Crime statistics are also published annually and the city runs an open data portal with crime incident data. This page walks you through how to find St. Paul arrest records from official sources.
St. Paul Quick Facts
Saint Paul Police Department Records
The Saint Paul Police Department (SPPD) was founded in 1854 and is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in Minnesota. It serves about 310,000 residents with over 500 sworn officers and more than 100 professional staff. The Records Unit at the SPPD is where you go to request any public data the department maintains. That includes incident reports, arrest records, body camera footage, 911 transcripts, and more.
The Records Unit is on the first floor of the police department building at 367 Grove Street. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The online records request portal is the recommended method for most requests. You can also call the Records Unit directly or contact the Public Information Officer if your request is media-related.
| Department | Saint Paul Police Department (SPPD) |
|---|---|
| Address | 367 Grove Street, St. Paul, MN 55101 (1st Floor Customer Service) |
| Records Phone | 651-266-5770 |
| Non-Emergency | 651-291-1111 |
| Records Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Public Info Officer | 651-755-7195 / SPPD-PIO@stpaul.gov |
| Website | Saint Paul Police Department |
The SPPD website at stpaul.gov/departments/police links to all records request forms, crime statistics, and public data resources the department maintains.
The Saint Paul Police Department website provides access to records request forms, crime data, and department information.
The main SPPD page is where you start for any public records request, crime statistics lookup, or contact with the Records Unit in St. Paul.
How to Get St. Paul Arrest Records
The SPPD maintains a wide range of public records. For arrest records and police reports, the online data request portal is the preferred way to submit. You go to the department's records page and fill out the request form with the details you know. For records about yourself, you need to provide a color copy of your photo ID.
The Police Records and Data page covers everything the Records Unit handles. That includes incident reports, crash reports, local records checks by name or address, body camera video, police photographs, interview audio, 911 transcripts, and CCTV footage. Most of these have separate request forms.
Fees apply for several record types. Police reports cost 25 cents per page up to 99 pages. For 100 or more pages, you pay the actual cost of the search and retrieval. Body camera video, CCTV footage, and dash camera video each cost $30 per CD. Photographs cost $15 per CD. Payment is accepted by mail or in person. Online payment is not currently available, so plan for that if you are submitting remotely.
The Records Unit page has the most current information on how to submit your request and what to include. Third-party requests for video footage require authorization from the data subject before the department can release it.
Note: 911 call recordings are private under state law. However, transcripts are public data and may be released with some redactions. Contact the Records Unit at 651-266-5700 to ask about specific request types before submitting.
The Police Records and Data page outlines all the record types available through the St. Paul Police Department.
This page is your starting point for any formal arrest records or police report request in St. Paul.
Online Search Tools for St. Paul Records
The SPPD and the City of St. Paul offer a few online tools for accessing public safety data without filing a formal request. These are good for getting a general picture of crime trends or checking if a particular type of incident was reported.
The city's Open Information St. Paul portal includes publicly available crime data, traffic stop data, and pedestrian crash information. You can explore the data by location, time period, and crime type. The Crime Incident Report dataset is updated regularly and lets you search individual crime reports at a high level.
For court case data tied to St. Paul arrests, use the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system. It covers Ramsey County District Court and shows case numbers, charges, and current status. This is free to use and doesn't require a records request.
The BCA Criminal History System gives you statewide criminal history records. It covers St. Paul arrests as well as cases from across Minnesota. A fee applies for individual criminal history searches through the BCA.
The SPPD Crime Statistics page publishes annual crime data and trends for St. Paul.
Annual crime statistics published by the SPPD let you track crime trends in St. Paul over time by category and district.
The Open Data Portal gives you downloadable crime incident data for St. Paul in a searchable format.
The open data portal covers crime incidents, traffic stops, and other public safety data the city makes available to residents and researchers.
File or Request a St. Paul Police Report
If you need to file a police report in St. Paul, the SPPD offers both in-person and online options for non-emergency incidents. You can submit certain types of reports through the city's online reporting system. For emergencies, always call 911.
The File a Police Report page on the city website explains when you can file online versus when you need to contact an officer. Online reporting works for property crimes with no suspect information, minor incidents, and similar non-emergency matters.
This page outlines when online reporting is appropriate and walks you through the steps to file a non-emergency police report in St. Paul.
Once a report is filed, it becomes part of the public record system. You can later request a copy through the Records Unit. Requesters often need the incident number and date to track down a specific report quickly.
State Resources for St. Paul Arrest Records
State-level tools supplement what the SPPD provides at the city level. These tools cover Ramsey County and statewide records.
The BCA Criminal History System lets you search for an individual's criminal history across Minnesota. It covers arrests and court outcomes statewide and is useful when you need more than just a St. Paul police report.
The MCRO court records system shows court case data for Ramsey County District Court. This is the court that handles criminal cases from St. Paul arrests. MCRO is free and updated regularly.
Use VINELink to check the custody status of someone held in the Ramsey County jail. VINELink also lets you register for custody change notifications. For state prison records, check the Minnesota DOC offender locator.
Ramsey County Arrest Records
St. Paul is the county seat of Ramsey County. Arrest bookings, jail custody, and court records from St. Paul cases all flow through Ramsey County. The county sheriff maintains inmate records and booking data for people held at the Ramsey County jail. For a complete view of a St. Paul arrest from initial booking to court disposition, you may need records from both the SPPD and Ramsey County.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in the Twin Cities area also have their own police departments and arrest records systems.