North Dakota Public Criminal Records show court cases and arrests for people across the state. These files live in the official District Court case search and payment portal. This site gives real-time data for criminal, traffic, and civil filings. It covers all district courts. It includes city entries from Bismarck, Fargo, and Grand Forks. You can look for files by docket number, name, or the date of the filing. The system resets every night at 02:00 AM Central Time. Closed files for kids and secret court orders stay hidden from this search.
North Dakota Public Criminal Records are also at the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. This office has more than 1.2 million files. These go back to 1970. The files show when the police take someone into custody. They show what the person was charged with in court. The data gets new facts every week. Law officers and the public can see these files. You can ask for a full history by filling out a form. You must send a check for $15 to the office in Bismarck. It takes about 10 to 14 days to get the paper back. For a fast 5-day check, you need to send a finger print card and $20.
Topical Authority Improvement Plan
- Add facts about the North Dakota Century Code and how it rules public data.
- Explain the difference between a state-wide search and a county-level search.
- Detail the specific forms like the SFN 60688 used for background checks.
- Describe the role of the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation in depth.
- Show how city court files differ from district court files in Fargo and Bismarck.
- List the specific costs for paper copies versus digital views.
Intent Map
People looking for North Dakota Public Criminal Records want to see if someone has a past. Some want to check their own file. Others need to find a court date or pay a fine. This content helps by giving direct links to the search tools. it tells you how much money to send for a background check. it tells you where the offices are located. This satisfies the need for fast facts and official rules.
North Dakota Court System – District Court Case Search and Payment Portal
The state court portal lets you see case facts as they happen. You can look at criminal, traffic, and civil files. This includes city court data from Bismarck, Fargo, and Grand Forks. The court clerk hides files that are private or for kids. You can find a list of counties on the site. The data helps you see what happened in a trial. You can see if a person was found guilty. You can see what the jail time was.
https://www.ndcourts.gov/public-access
Criminal History Records – Attorney General
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation acts as the main spot for state data. This office started in 1977. It has over 1.2 million files on arrests and court trials. These files go back to the year 1970. Police and regular people use this data. The office puts new data in the system every week. This happens right after the court makes a move. You can get these files if you follow the state rules.
https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/public-safety/criminal-history-records
North Dakota Criminal Records – StateRecords.org
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation is at PO Box 1054 in Bismarck. The phone number is (701) 328-5500. The court system has a free page for the public. It is called the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry. You can check a name without paying any money. This tool shows arrests and court wins since 1995. The facts pop up on your screen right away. This is a good way to see a person’s past fast.
https://northdakota.staterecords.org/criminal.php
North Dakota Criminal Records – NorthDakotaPublicRecords.org
An arrest file in this state shows when a person went to jail. It does not mean they are guilty of a crime. These files stay in paper form at the county office. They also stay as digital files in the state system. For example, the Bismarck County Sheriff keeps PDFs of each report. Older logs stay in a room that keeps them safe from heat. You can ask to see these papers if you visit the office.
https://northdakotapublicrecords.org/criminal-records/
North Dakota Court System – Criminal Case Records Searches
You can find a case by its docket number. Select the case option on the screen. Type the whole number. You can leave out the dashes. For example, typing 092009cr00001 works. You can also search by the name of the person. You can pick a date range too. The system gets fresh data every night at 2:00 AM. This keeps the data current for users.
https://www.ndcourts.gov/public-access/help/criminal
How to Get Paper Records by Mail
People can ask for files by mail. You must fill out the form called the Request for Criminal History. Send a check or money order for $15. Mail the items to the BCI office at 4205 State Street. The address is PO Box 1054 in Bismarck. It takes 10 to 14 days to get the files. The office sends the files back on a disk. This disk has a lock on it to keep it safe.
https://gov-record.org/north-dakota-criminal-records/
Official State Background Checks
For official seals, call the Secretary of State at (701) 328-2901. A state-only check takes five days. You need to send a finger print card. You need to pay $20. You can get a federal check through the same place. That check only shows FBI data. The state check does not include those federal files. You have to ask for both if you want the whole story.
Types of Public Data Available
Public files in this state include many documents. You can see tax rolls and birth data. You can see criminal court files. To get a court file, write to the clerk where the case started. You must pay $10. The clerk usually answers in three to five days. These files show what the judge decided. They show if the person had to pay a fine.
https://northdakota.staterecords.org/publicrecords
Online Search vs Official Records
Many sites say they have free files. These sites often have old data. Some data is two or three years old. For the best data, use the state court site. Use the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. These places have the newest facts. They get data directly from the judges and the police. Do not trust sites that do not update their data every day.
https://north-dakota-criminal-records.recordslookupvg.com/
Supreme Court Data Tools
The Supreme Court has a special tool for the public. You can pick from criminal or traffic cases. You can pick family or civil cases too. Choose the court city and type the name. You can see the court calendar. You can see the final judgments. These facts are current up to the last business day. This tool is free to use for anyone with a computer.
https://publicsearch.ndcourts.gov/Search.aspx?ID=100
Using Third Party Sites
Some sites collect data from many places. They take facts from the sheriff and the courts. They put them in one list. This can be helpful if you want to look at many counties at once. Make sure the site uses data from the BCI. If the data is old, it might miss a recent arrest. It might miss a charge that was dropped. Check the date of the last update on the site.
https://www.governmentregistry.org/criminal-records/north-dakota
County Sheriff Records
Each county sheriff keeps a list of people in jail. This list has mugshots and names. It shows the crime the person is in for. You can see when they can go home. County office sites let you search these lists. This is separate from the court system. The sheriff data shows the arrest. The court data shows the trial. You should look at both for a full picture.
https://www.countyoffice.org/nd-criminal-records/
Costs and Fees for Records
Getting files often costs money. The state has set prices for these items. Seeing a file on a court computer is free. Printing a page costs a small fee. Getting a certified copy costs more. Look at the table below to see common costs.
| Type of Service | Cost | Time to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Online Case Search | Free | Instant |
| Mailed Background Check | $15 | 10-14 Days |
| Fingerprint Background Check | $20 | 5 Days |
| Certified Court Copy | $10 | 3-5 Days |
District Court Locations
There are many district courts in the state. Each one keeps files for its area. You can visit these courts to see files in person. They have computers for the public to use. You do not have to pay to use these computers. You only pay if you want to print the pages. The clerks can help you find a file if you have the name or the case number.
East Central District Court
This court covers Cass, Steele, and Traill counties. The main office is in Fargo. Most criminal cases for this area happen here. You can see files for theft, drugs, and traffic. The office is open on weekdays. You can call them if you have questions about a file.
South Central District Court
This court covers Burleigh and Morton counties. The office is in Bismarck. It handles many cases every year. You can look for files from the local police and the sheriff. The search portal covers these files well. You can find data on trials that happened years ago.
Arrest Records and Warrants
Arrest records show when the police stop someone. A warrant is a paper from a judge. It says the police can pick someone up. These are part of public files. You can see if someone has an open warrant. This helps people know if they are in trouble with the law. You can find these on sheriff websites. You can also find them on some city police pages.
How to Clear a Record
Sometimes a person can hide a record. This is called expungement. In this state, you have to ask a judge. Not every crime can be hidden. You usually have to wait a few years. You must not get into trouble during that time. If the judge says yes, the file is sealed. Then the public cannot see it on the search portal.
Who Uses These Records?
Many groups look at these files. Bosses look at them before they hire someone. Landlords look at them before they rent a house. Banks might look at them for a loan. You can look at them to stay safe. Knowing a person’s past is helpful. It helps people make good choices about who they work with or live near.
Rules for Public Data
The North Dakota Century Code has the rules for these files. It says most court files are open. It says some files must stay secret. Files about kids are usually secret. Files that could hurt someone are often secret. The court clerk follows these rules every day. They make sure only the right files are public.
Official Contact Facts
Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
Address: 4205 State St, Bismarck, ND 58503
Phone: (701) 328-5500
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Monday – Friday)
North Dakota Supreme Court Clerk
Address: 600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505
Phone: (701) 328-2221
Authority & Entity Expansion List
- North Dakota Century Code Section 44-04-18 (Open Records Law)
- Administrative Rule 41 (Access to Court Records)
- SFN 60688 Form (Criminal History Request)
- North Dakota Secretary of State (Apostille Services)
- Fargo Municipal Court specific filing rules
- Bismarck Police Department arrest log archive
- Grand Forks County Sheriff warrant list
- Expungement eligibility criteria under state law
- Public access terminals in rural county courthouses
- FBI CJIS compliance for state background checks
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I see if I have a criminal record in North Dakota for free?
You can see your criminal record for free by using the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry site. This tool lets you search by your name. It shows all public cases from the district courts. You can see charges, court dates, and the final result of the case. It also shows traffic tickets. This site does not cost anything to use. It works on any computer or phone with the internet. If you need a paper copy that is official, you might have to pay a fee to the court clerk. The free site is great for just looking at the facts. It updates every night. This means it has the newest data from the judges. You do not need to make an account to use it. Just type your name and look for your birth date to make sure it is you.
What shows up on a North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation background check?
A check from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation shows a lot of data. it shows every time the police arrested a person in the state. It shows the date of the arrest. It shows what the person was accused of doing. It also shows what happened in court later. If the person was found guilty, it shows the sentence. This might include jail time or fines. It shows if the person is on probation. The check covers felonies and misdemeanors. It does not show federal crimes or crimes from other states. It only covers what happened inside North Dakota. This check is very deep and goes back to 1970. Many bosses use this check to make sure a new worker is safe. It is more official than a simple name search on a website.
Can I get North Dakota Public Criminal Records for someone else?
Yes, you can get these records for someone else. North Dakota has an open records law. This law says that criminal court files are public. You do not need the person’s permission to look at the court portal. You can search for a neighbor, a worker, or a friend. You just need their name. It helps if you know their birth date so you find the right person. If you want a full background check from the BCI, you can also do that. You fill out a form and pay the $15 fee. You do not need the person to sign the form for a state-only check. This makes it easy for people to check the past of others. Some files stay secret, like cases involving children. But most adult criminal files are open for everyone to see.
How long does a crime stay on your public record in North Dakota?
A crime usually stays on your record forever in North Dakota. The state does not take files off just because time passed. If you were found guilty 20 years ago, it will still show up on the court site. It will still show up on a BCI check. The only way to get it off is through a legal process called expungement or sealing. This is when a judge orders the file to be hidden. You have to ask the court for this. There are strict rules for who can get a record sealed. If the crime was very bad, it might stay public no matter what. If you were found not guilty, the record of the trial still stays public unless you ask to hide it. This is why it is important to know what is on your file.
What is the difference between an arrest record and a court record?
An arrest record and a court record are two different things. An arrest record is made by the police or the sheriff. It shows that someone was taken to jail. It shows the date and the reason the police stopped them. It does not mean the person did anything wrong yet. A court record starts when the state lawyer files a charge. This record follows the case through the trial. It shows what the judge said. It shows if the person is guilty or not. Sometimes a person is arrested but the lawyer does not file charges. In that case, there is an arrest record but no court record. Other times, a person gets a summons in the mail. They are never arrested, so there is a court record but no arrest record. You should check both to get the full story.
How do I fix a mistake on my North Dakota criminal record?
If you see a mistake on your record, you must act fast. First, find out where the mistake is. If it is on the court site, contact the clerk of the court where the case happened. Show them the right facts. They can fix typos or wrong dates. If the mistake is on a BCI background check, you need to contact the Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Bismarck. You might need to give them your fingerprints to prove who you are. They will check their files against the court files. If they find an error, they will fix it. This is important because a mistake could stop you from getting a job. Always check your own record every few years to make sure the data is right. You have the right to have a record that is correct.