North Dakota Police Records and Police Departments

Basic arrest information is generally public in North Dakota, including the person arrested, charges filed, and arrest date. However, detailed arrest reports containing investigative information may be withheld during ongoing investigations. Current arrest information is often available through county jail rosters published online by sheriff's offices. Arrest records that did not result in conviction may be eligible for sealing under N.D.C.C. § 12-60.1-07.1, which would remove them from public access.

The cost depends on the type of check. Name-based searches through the North Dakota Courts website are free. Fingerprint-based criminal background checks through the Bureau of Criminal Investigation cost $20 for a state-only check or $42.50 for a combined state and FBI national check. These fees do not include the cost of fingerprinting services, which typically range from $10-30 at local law enforcement agencies or private fingerprinting providers.

North Dakota uses the term "sealing" rather than "expungement." Under N.D.C.C. § 12-60.1-07.1, you may petition the court to seal criminal records in certain circumstances: if charges were dismissed or you were acquitted; after successful completion of a deferred imposition of sentence; or for certain offenses after a waiting period (five years for class C felonies, three years for misdemeanors). Sealed records are not accessible through public searches, though they may still be visible to law enforcement and courts.

Contact the law enforcement agency that responded to the incident, the municipal police department for incidents in cities or the county sheriff's office for incidents in unincorporated areas. Most agencies require you to provide the incident date, location, and case number or names of parties involved. Fees typically range from $0.25-0.50 per page, with some agencies charging additional report preparation fees of $5-25. Most agencies provide reports within 3-10 business days.

No, North Dakota has no statewide law requiring law enforcement officers to wear body cameras. However, many agencies, particularly larger departments like Fargo, Grand Forks, and Bismarck police departments, have voluntarily adopted body camera programs. Each agency sets its own policies regarding body camera use and footage retention. Body camera footage is subject to open records requests, though agencies may redact portions to protect privacy or ongoing investigations.

Points remain on your North Dakota driving record for three years from the conviction date. However, the underlying conviction remains on your record longer, typically seven years for major violations like DUI and three years for minor violations. Accumulating 12 or more points within 12 months results in a 30-day license suspension. CDL holders cannot mask violations and face stricter standards under federal commercial driving regulations.

No, police disciplinary records are generally not public in North Dakota. N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18.1 exempts personnel records from the open records law, and law enforcement agencies routinely withhold information about officer discipline and internal investigations. Some information may become public if misconduct leads to criminal charges, civil lawsuits, or revocation of the officer's certification by the POST Board, but internal disciplinary records themselves remain confidential.

Many county sheriff's offices and municipal police departments publish wanted lists on their websites featuring individuals with outstanding warrants. You can also contact the clerk of court in the county where you believe a warrant may have been issued. The North Dakota Courts website allows searching of court records, which may indicate if a warrant has been issued in a criminal case. However, there is no single statewide database of outstanding warrants accessible to the general public.