Nobles County Criminal Records

Nobles County criminal records are filed with the 5th Judicial District Court in Worthington, the county seat in the far southwest corner of Minnesota near both the South Dakota and Iowa borders. Nobles County has a population of about 22,000, with Worthington serving as the main hub for court services in the county. Criminal matters here range from traffic and misdemeanor cases to felony prosecutions, all handled at the Nobles County Courthouse. You can search for public criminal records at no cost through Minnesota Court Records Online, or request a statewide conviction history from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for $8. This page explains how each option works.

Nobles County Sheriff and Criminal Records

The Nobles County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for rural areas of the county and runs the county jail in Worthington. The Worthington Police Department handles law enforcement within the city. Both agencies process arrests through the county jail, and all booking data becomes public record under state law.

Minnesota law under Minn. Stat. § 13.82 makes arrest data public government data. The Nobles County Sheriff and all other law enforcement agencies in the county must release arrest information including the date, time, charges, the identity of the person arrested, and their custody status. The Nobles County Courthouse sits at 315 10th Street in Worthington. The Sheriff's Office is located at the same address.

People who have been sentenced to a state prison term after a Nobles County conviction may appear in the DOC Public Viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us. This free tool shows people currently in state correctional facilities or under state supervised release.

Note: Nobles County borders both South Dakota and Iowa. If a person has a criminal history from courts in those states, those records will not appear in Minnesota systems. Each state maintains its own criminal history database.

How to Find Nobles County Criminal Records

Minnesota Court Records Online at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us is the primary free resource for Nobles County criminal case records. The MCRO system covers all Minnesota district courts, including the 5th Judicial District. Search by name or case number to find case status, party information, charges, and hearing history. Records from July 1, 2015 are available to view and download at no cost. No registration is required for basic searches.

For cases before MCRO's coverage period, contact the Nobles County Court Administrator in Worthington. Staff can search older records by name or case number and provide copies. Certified copies of court documents carry a higher fee. The court is open Monday through Friday during standard business hours.

The BCA's criminal history search at chs.state.mn.us costs $8 and covers statewide conviction data for 15 years following discharge of sentence, per Minn. Stat. § 13.87. A full name and date of birth are needed. The results show felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions from Nobles County and all other Minnesota counties. Arrest data and charges that ended without conviction are not included.

Court Records in Nobles County

The 5th Judicial District Court in Worthington handles all criminal matters filed in Nobles County. The court processes everything from petty misdemeanor citations through serious felony prosecutions. The court file for any criminal case includes the charging documents, all motions and orders, plea or trial outcomes, the sentencing order, and any probation conditions imposed. These records are public by default unless a specific case type is restricted or individual records are sealed.

Some case types do not appear in MCRO's online system even if portions of the record are technically public at the courthouse. Domestic abuse orders, harassment restraining orders, and certain juvenile delinquency filings are among those restricted from remote access. If a record you need does not appear in MCRO, the Nobles County Court Administrator can tell you what is available and how to access it.

Statewide Criminal Background Checks

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at bca.dps.mn.gov runs Minnesota's statewide conviction database. Convictions from Nobles County are reported to the BCA following sentencing and stored in the public record system. Anyone can search this database through the CHS portal at chs.state.mn.us for $8 per name. The search returns conviction data going back 15 years from the discharge of a sentence, governed by Minn. Stat. § 13.87.

The BCA maintains conviction records for felonies, gross misdemeanors, and misdemeanors. Arrest records, dismissed charges, and juvenile records are not included in the public search. The BCA also operates the predatory offender registry, processes automatic expungements under state law, and provides forensic and investigative support to law enforcement agencies in Nobles County and across Minnesota. Learn more at bca.dps.mn.gov.

The Minnesota Revisor of Statutes at revisor.mn.gov publishes all state laws governing public access to criminal records, including statutes that apply to Nobles County cases.

Expungement of Criminal Records

Minnesota provides two ways to seal a Nobles County criminal record. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015 applies to dismissed cases, completed diversions, and many convictions once a waiting period passes from discharge of sentence. The BCA identifies eligible records and seals them automatically, with no petition needed. Waiting periods: two years for petty misdemeanors and most misdemeanors, three years for gross misdemeanors, and four to five years for eligible felonies.

Petition-based expungement under Minn. Stat. § 609A.03 covers records that do not qualify for automatic sealing. The petition is filed at the 5th Judicial District Court in Worthington. It must include detailed case information, a full address history since the offense, and evidence of rehabilitation. The petition is served on the county attorney and all agencies holding related records. A hearing is scheduled at least 60 days after service. The court weighs the benefit to the petitioner against public safety concerns. If granted, the record is sealed but not destroyed, and law enforcement retains access for investigation purposes.

Note: Free expungement resources are available through LawHelpMN at lawhelpmn.org, which has step-by-step guides for people in rural communities like Worthington who may not have easy access to legal services.

Predatory Offender Registry

People living in Nobles County who were convicted of certain serious offenses must register as predatory offenders under Minn. Stat. § 243.166. Registration is required for convictions involving criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, and related crimes, whether the conviction occurred in Minnesota or another state. Registrants must provide their address, employment information, vehicle details, and phone numbers to law enforcement. Annual in-person verification is required, and any address change must be reported within five days of the move.

Under Minn. Stat. § 244.052, each registered offender is assessed for risk level before release. Level III offenders are posted publicly through the Department of Corrections. You can search for Level III offenders registered in Nobles County at coms.doc.state.mn.us. Level II offenders receive notifications to schools and similar facilities. Level I offenders are handled within law enforcement only. Failure to comply with registration requirements is a felony punishable by up to five years.

Cities in Nobles County

No major cities in Nobles County meet our population threshold for dedicated pages. Worthington is the county seat and the largest city. All criminal case filings from cities and townships in Nobles County go through the 5th Judicial District Court in Worthington.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Nobles County. Cases near county lines may be handled by a neighboring court.