Cass County Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Cass County
Arrest records in Cass County, North Dakota, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-18, all government records are presumed open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Law enforcement agencies operating within Cass County — including the Cass County Sheriff's Office and the Fargo Police Department — are required to make basic arrest information available to members of the public upon request.
It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of law. Under current North Dakota law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted retain certain privacy interests, and some records associated with non-conviction arrests may be subject to restricted access or expungement under N.D.C.C. § 12-60-16.6.
Cass County Sheriff's Office 211 9th St S, Fargo, ND 58103 (701) 241-5800 Cass County Sheriff's Office
What's in Cass County Arrest Records
Cass County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and maintained by the arresting agency. The following categories represent the typical contents of an arrest record in this jurisdiction.
Arrestee Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Physical descriptors including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
- Home address at time of arrest
- Race and gender as recorded by the arresting officer
Arrest Details:
- Date, time, and location of the arrest
- Name and badge number of the arresting officer
- Arresting agency (e.g., Cass County Sheriff's Office, Fargo Police Department)
- Circumstances or narrative summary of the arrest
Charge Information:
- Specific criminal charges filed, including statute references
- Classification of each charge (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)
- Case or incident number assigned by the arresting agency
Warrant Information (if applicable):
- Warrant number and issuing court
- Date the warrant was issued
- Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant, or fugitive warrant)
Booking Information:
- Booking number assigned at the detention facility
- Date and time of booking
- Facility where the individual was booked (e.g., Cass County Jail)
- Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation
Bond/Bail Information:
- Bail amount set by the court or pretrial services
- Bond type (cash, surety, or personal recognizance)
- Bond status and any conditions of release
Court Information:
- Assigned court and docket number
- Scheduled arraignment date and location
- Presiding judge, if assigned at booking
Custody Status:
- Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
- Release date and method of release, if applicable
Additional Information May Include:
- Prior arrest history as noted in the booking record
- Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
- Notation of any protective orders in effect
How To Look Up Arrest Records in Cass County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Cass County arrest records through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the agency that maintains it.
- Contact the Cass County Sheriff's Office directly at 211 9th St S, Fargo, ND 58103. The public counter is generally open Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Requesters may submit a written public records request citing N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 to ensure timely processing.
- Submit a written request identifying the subject of the record, the approximate date of arrest, and the requester's contact information. Agencies may charge a reasonable fee for copies pursuant to applicable state fee schedules.
- Visit the Cass County Jail for booking records related to individuals currently or recently in custody. Jail staff can confirm custody status and provide basic booking information.
- Contact the Fargo Police Department for arrest records originating from Fargo city limits.
Fargo Police Department 222 3rd St N, Fargo, ND 58102 (701) 235-4433 Fargo Police Department
Cass County Jail 211 9th St S, Fargo, ND 58103 (701) 241-5800 Cass County Jail
How To Find Cass County Arrest Records Online
Several official online platforms currently provide access to Cass County arrest and court-related records without requiring an in-person visit.
- The North Dakota Courts system maintains a publicly accessible portal where members of the public may search criminal case records by name, case number, or date range. The ND Court Records search portal allows users to retrieve case filings, charges, and disposition information associated with arrests that proceeded to court.
- The Cass County District Court page on the North Dakota Courts website provides location details, office hours, and contact information for the clerk's office, which maintains official court records.
- The Cass County Sheriff's Office website may post current inmate rosters or recent arrest logs, which are updated periodically.
- The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) maintains statewide criminal history records and provides background check services for authorized requesters.
North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation 4205 N Broadway, Minot, ND 58703 (701) 328-5500 North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation
How To Search Cass County Arrest Records for Free?
Members of the public may access certain Cass County arrest records at no cost through the following methods.
- Online court records portal: The North Dakota Courts public search system provides free access to case-level information, including charges and case status, for matters filed in Cass County District Court.
- In-person inspection: Under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at the maintaining agency's office at no charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested.
- Sheriff's Office public logs: The Cass County Sheriff's Office may make recent arrest logs available for public inspection at the front counter during regular business hours, typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Clerk of Court: The Cass County Clerk of Court, located at 211 9th St S, Fargo, ND 58103, allows members of the public to review court files in person without charge during office hours.
Cass County District Court – Clerk of Court 211 9th St S, Fargo, ND 58103 (701) 241-5600 Cass County District Court
How To Delete Arrest Records in Cass County
North Dakota law provides two distinct legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure) and sealing (restricting public access). Expungement results in the destruction or permanent removal of a record, while sealing restricts access to the record without physically destroying it. Under current law, sealed records are generally not accessible to the public but may remain available to law enforcement and certain government agencies.
Pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 12-60-16.6, individuals who were arrested but not convicted may petition the court to have their arrest records expunged. Eligibility criteria include:
- The charges were dismissed or the individual was acquitted
- No criminal charges were filed following the arrest
- A specified waiting period has elapsed without subsequent criminal activity
- The offense does not fall within a category excluded from expungement eligibility
The steps to pursue expungement in Cass County are as follows:
- Obtain and complete the appropriate petition form from the Cass County District Court Clerk's office.
- File the completed petition with the Clerk of Court and pay any applicable filing fee.
- Serve notice on the prosecuting attorney's office as required by court rules.
- Attend the scheduled hearing, at which the court will determine whether expungement is warranted.
- If granted, the court order is forwarded to all relevant agencies, including the BCI, directing them to expunge or seal the record.
Individuals with conviction records face more limited options, as North Dakota does not currently provide a broad expungement remedy for most criminal convictions.
What Happens After Arrest in Cass County?
The criminal justice process in Cass County follows a defined sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition. Understanding this process assists members of the public in locating relevant records at each stage.
- Arrest and booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Cass County Jail for booking, where identifying information, fingerprints, and photographs are recorded.
- Initial appearance: The arrested individual is brought before a judge, typically within 48 hours, for an initial appearance. At this stage, charges are formally presented and bail is addressed. Information regarding jail custody and court arraignment procedures is available through the City of Fargo.
- Arraignment: The defendant enters a formal plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest before the Cass County District Court.
- Pretrial proceedings: Motions, hearings, and negotiations between the prosecution and defense occur during this phase.
- Trial or plea: The case proceeds to trial or is resolved through a negotiated plea agreement.
- Sentencing: If the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with North Dakota sentencing guidelines.
- Post-conviction: The defendant may pursue appeals or post-conviction relief as permitted by law.
How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Cass County?
Arrest records in Cass County are subject to retention schedules established under North Dakota law and applicable agency policies. The North Dakota State Records Committee oversees records retention requirements for government agencies, including law enforcement.
Under current state guidelines:
- Law enforcement arrest records are generally retained for a minimum period consistent with the severity of the underlying offense. Records related to felony arrests are typically maintained for extended periods, often indefinitely, while misdemeanor arrest records may be subject to shorter retention schedules.
- Court records associated with criminal cases are retained pursuant to the North Dakota Courts records retention policy, which mandates permanent retention for felony case files and varying periods for lesser offenses.
- Booking records maintained by the Cass County Jail are subject to the county's adopted records retention schedule, which aligns with state requirements.
- Different agencies — including the Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments, and the BCI — maintain independent retention schedules, meaning the same arrest event may be documented in records held by multiple agencies for differing periods.
- Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for ongoing legal proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.
How to Find Mugshots in Cass County
What Mugshots Are Mugshots are photographic images taken of an individual at the time of booking into a detention facility. They are part of the official booking record and are maintained by the arresting or detaining agency.
Where Mugshots Are Maintained In Cass County, mugshots are primarily maintained by the Cass County Sheriff's Office and the Cass County Jail. Municipal agencies such as the Fargo Police Department maintain separate booking photograph files for individuals processed through city facilities.
Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request copies of booking photographs by submitting a written public records request to the Cass County Sheriff's Office or the relevant municipal law enforcement agency. Requests should identify the subject by full name and approximate date of arrest.
Can They Be Found Online At present, Cass County does not operate a publicly accessible online mugshot database. Some third-party websites aggregate booking photographs from public records; however, the accuracy and currency of such sources are not guaranteed by any government agency.
Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official copies of booking photographs may be obtained in person at the Cass County Sheriff's Office, 211 9th St S, Fargo, ND 58103, during regular business hours. A nominal fee may apply for reproduced copies.
Restrictions on Mugshot Access Booking photographs associated with juvenile arrests are not subject to public disclosure under North Dakota law. Additionally, mugshots connected to records that have been expunged or sealed pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 12-60-16.6 are no longer accessible to the public following the entry of a court order.