How to Look Up Arrest Records in Watonwan County, Minnesota

There is no single place to see every arrest in Watonwan County. You check three official sources, each covering a different stage: the jail roster for recent bookings, the courts for charges and outcomes, and the state for convictions. All three are free.

Last reviewed October 31, 2026

Sheriff: Watonwan County Sheriff's Office
Jail: Watonwan County Jail
Address: 715 Third Avenue S, St. James, MN 56081 (Courthouse)
Jail phone: 507-375-1206
County seat: St. James
Court district: Fifth Judicial District

1. Check whether someone is in jail right now

OfficialWatonwan County Jail Roster (PDF)

The sheriff's office posts its jail roster as a PDF. Use Find in Page (Ctrl+F) to search for a name.
Administrative office hours are weekdays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A roster only covers people booked into the Watonwan County jail. If the arrest was made in another county, or the person was taken straight to a state facility, they will not appear here. City police departments in Watonwan County generally book arrestees into the county jail, so the sheriff's roster is the right first stop for most local arrests.

2. Search the court case

OfficialMinnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)

Once charges are filed, the case moves to Watonwan County District Court. MCRO is the Minnesota Judicial Branch's free statewide search. It covers Watonwan County along with every other district court in the state, so one search finds cases filed anywhere in Minnesota.

Case Search finds cases by name or case number and shows the register of actions: charges, hearings, and how the case ended.
Hearing Search shows upcoming court dates.
Document Search pulls public filings, but only when you have the case number.

One big limit: a pending criminal case won't come up when you search the defendant's name online. Name searches only find criminal cases that ended in a conviction. For an open case, search by case number (it's on the citation or charging paperwork), or use the public access terminals at the courthouse in St. James, which search statewide records and show more than the website does.

3. Check conviction history

OfficialMinnesota Public Criminal History Search (BCA)

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs the state's free public criminal history search. You need the person's first name, last name, and date of birth. It shows convictions, the court, the sentence, and the level of offense (felony, gross misdemeanor, and so on).

It does not show arrests that never led to a conviction, juvenile records, out-of-state or federal cases, or convictions where the sentence ended more than 15 years ago. That is why a clean BCA result does not mean a person was never arrested.

Booking photos (mugshots)

Under Minnesota law, booking photos are generally public data, though an agency can hold one back temporarily if releasing it would hurt an active investigation (Minn. Stat. § 13.82, subd. 26). Arrest Registry does not post booking photos. To request one, contact the Watonwan County Sheriff's Office directly.

What an arrest record does and doesn't tell you

An arrest means police had probable cause to take someone into custody. It is not a finding of guilt. Plenty of bookings end with charges dropped, reduced, or dismissed, so read the court record before drawing conclusions.

Minnesota's Clean Slate Act, in effect since January 1, 2025, also seals many records automatically, including dismissed cases and certain lower-level convictions after a crime-free waiting period. Once a record is expunged it drops out of public view. See our guide to Minnesota expungement for who qualifies.

Helpful guides

Find someone in jailRosters, state prison, federal and ICE custody Jail roster termsWhat ROR, hold, Huber and other terms mean How bail worksRelease options and how fast someone sees a judge Check for a warrantCounty lists and what to do next

Common questions

How do I find out if someone is in the Watonwan County jail?

Use the Watonwan County Jail Roster (PDF) published by the Watonwan County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office posts its jail roster as a PDF. Use Find in Page (Ctrl+F) to search for a name. You can also call the jail at 507-375-1206.

Are Watonwan County arrest records public?

Jail booking information is public while it is posted on the county roster, and court case records are public through Minnesota Court Records Online. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction are not part of the public criminal history the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension releases.

Can I see old convictions from Watonwan County?

The BCA's free public search shows a conviction for 15 years after the sentence is completed. District court records in MCRO can show older cases, unless a record was expunged or sealed.

Which court handles criminal cases in Watonwan County?

Watonwan County District Court, part of Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District. The main courthouse is in St. James, the county seat.

Other counties in the Fifth Judicial District

Sources

Checked against official pages on October 31, 2026. Agencies change their sites, so confirm details before you act on them.