North Dakota Public Records

In North Dakota, background checks are governed by the North Dakota Open Records Law (North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18 through § 44-04-21.1). They may include criminal history, sex offender status, court filings, arrest records, and vital statistics. Agencies must respond within Reasonable time. The law is administered by North Dakota Attorney General's Open Records Division, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505; (701) 328-2210.

Police reports in North Dakota are public records under the North Dakota Open Records Law. Submit your request to the agency that generated the report. Who may request: Any person - no residency requirement. Response deadline: Reasonable time. If access is denied, you may appeal to district or circuit court. Police report requests in North Dakota are processed under the North Dakota Open Records Law (N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18). Requesters must provide the incident date, location, and the names of parties involved. The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) administers state trooper report requests from its records office in Bismarck, ND. For local reports, contact the municipality or county where the incident occurred. Most agencies respond within 10 business days; certified copies are available for court use.

Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) in North Dakota are maintained by the state Department of Health or Vital Statistics. Standard fees: Actual cost of reproduction; a reasonable fee for staff time when the request is. Certified copies carry separate fee schedules. Fee waivers may be available for journalists, nonprofits, and public-interest requesters - always ask.

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction does not provide school district performance data. However, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction does provide school district report cards, which provide information on student achievement, school climate, and other indicators of school performance. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (www.nd.gov/dpi), headquartered in Bismarck, ND, is the authoritative source for North Dakota school district performance metrics. Reported metrics include proficiency rates in English language arts and mathematics, English learner progress, science achievement, and school climate indicators. Data is updated annually and can be searched by district, school, or student group on the department's data portal.

According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, North Dakota had a total of 8,945 reported crimes in 2019. Of those, there were 1,845 violent crimes and 7,100 property crimes. The violent crime rate was 218.2 per 100,000 people, and the property crime rate was 845.7 per 100,000 people. Crime data for North Dakota is collected under the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and reported annually to the FBI. The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) coordinates data collection from local law enforcement agencies across all counties and municipalities in North Dakota. Full statistical breakdowns - including arrest data, clearance rates, and hate-crime incidents - are publicly available through the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)'s annual crime report published each year for the prior calendar year.

If arrested in North Dakota, you would be taken to the local county jail. Court appearances are scheduled in the county where the arrest occurred. Under the North Dakota Open Records Law, arrest records and booking information are generally public. Oversight: North Dakota Attorney General's Open Records Division, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505; (701) 328-2210. Appeals go to district or circuit court.

Yes. North Dakota state and public libraries provide access to public records databases. The North Dakota Open Records Law (North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18 through § 44-04-21.1) guarantees public access to government documents. Many libraries offer free access to LexisNexis, court records portals, and vital record indexes. Under the North Dakota Open Records Law (N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18), North Dakota residents can access public records through state and local libraries. The North Dakota State Library, 604 E maintains research collections including historical newspapers, land records, probate files, and legislative archives. Libraries also provide free access to LexisNexis Public Records and other subscription databases not available at home. Reference librarians are available to help navigate North Dakota government records portals and submit public records requests.

The North Dakota State Library is located in Bismarck, North Dakota. In addition to its main location, the North Dakota State Library coordinates resources and services for public libraries statewide. Patrons can access LexisNexis, ProQuest Historical Newspapers, and PACER court records indexes through the library. Under the North Dakota Open Records Law (N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18), government documents are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Reference librarians in Bismarck, ND can assist with inter-library loans, records requests, and genealogical research inquiries.

The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) provides fingerprinting services for individuals who need to submit fingerprints for background checks. The BCI has offices located in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot. In addition to North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) facilities in Bismarck, many county sheriff offices and city police departments in North Dakota offer walk-in or appointment fingerprinting. LiveScan electronic fingerprinting is accepted for most North Dakota licensing boards, courts, and employment agencies. The ORI (Originating Agency Identifier) number must be provided by the requesting agency. Fees typically range from $5 to $50 depending on purpose. Results are sent directly to the requester's agency, not to the applicant.