Warrants are public records in Lake County, Minnesota, pursuant to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13). This legislation classifies most warrant information as public data that must be made available to citizens upon request. The Lake County Sheriff's Office maintains these records in accordance with state transparency requirements established under Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, which governs comprehensive law enforcement data.
Public access to warrant records serves multiple governmental and civic purposes. These records enable citizens to verify the legal status of individuals, promote accountability in the judicial system, and ensure that law enforcement agencies operate with appropriate transparency. The Minnesota Supreme Court has consistently upheld the public's right to access such records, with limited exceptions for sealed warrants related to ongoing investigations as specified in Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure 33.04.
Warrant records maintained by Lake County authorities typically contain the following information as required by Minnesota Statutes § 629.471:
The Lake County District Court, located at 601 3rd Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616, maintains the official warrant records in conjunction with the Sheriff's Office. Pursuant to Minnesota Court Rules, certain sensitive information may be redacted from public copies of warrant records, including Social Security numbers and financial account information.
Members of the public may access warrant information in Lake County through several no-cost methods established under Minnesota Statutes § 13.03:
Individuals seeking warrant information should be prepared to provide identifying information such as full name and date of birth to ensure accurate results. The Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch permit these searches without requiring identification from the requesting party.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office is the primary agency responsible for executing warrants within county jurisdiction as authorized by Minnesota Statutes § 387.03. Sheriff's deputies maintain an active warrant list that is updated daily to reflect new issuances, served warrants, and recalled warrants. This information is managed through the Minnesota Justice Information Services (MNJIS) network in compliance with state data practices regulations.
Sheriff's warrants in Lake County fall into several categories:
The Lake County Sheriff's Office coordinates warrant service with other jurisdictions through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and maintains reciprocal agreements with neighboring counties including Cook and St. Louis Counties. The Lake County Jail processes individuals arrested on active warrants at its facility located at 613 3rd Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616.
Individuals seeking to determine if they have an active warrant in Lake County may utilize several official verification methods established under Minnesota Court Rules:
The Minnesota Judicial Branch has implemented enhanced digital access protocols for 2025, allowing more comprehensive online searches while maintaining compliance with Minnesota Statutes § 13.82 regarding data privacy. Individuals should note that warrant status can change rapidly, and the most current information is available directly from the Lake County Sheriff's Office or District Court.
Outstanding warrants in Lake County may be verified through multiple official channels as authorized by Minnesota Statutes § 13.03:
Pursuant to Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch, Rule 8, certain warrant information may be temporarily restricted if disclosure would compromise an active investigation. The Lake County Sheriff's Office Records Division can be reached at (218) 834-8385 for questions regarding warrant search procedures.