Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. The arrest and crime counts are the ones each agency reported to the FBI, as the FBI held them on October 8, 2026. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 23, 2026 and October 2, 2026.
Northfield, Minnesota, in Rice County, has about 21,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A police report belongs to the agency whose officer wrote it, so which office holds a report from Northfield depends on where the incident happened. This guide names each agency, where its records page is and what the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act requires of it.
This guide covers which agency, the city's records page, the sheriff's reports, what the law requires and common questions.
Related guides: Northfield public records, Rice County police reports, Northfield arrest records, Northfield warrants, Northfield inmate search, Northfield criminal records, Minnesota arrest records and Minnesota inmate search.
Which Agency Holds a Report from Northfield
The report of an incident is released by the agency that took it; the court and the jail hold their own records of the same event, but not the report.
Inside Northfield that is the agency that reports to the FBI for the city (filed by the FBI as Northfield Police Department); outside it, the Rice County Sheriff's Office.
Reports from the Northfield Police
For Northfield, SearchSystems opened and checked the Northfield police records page at northfieldmn.gov/595/Police-Reports (page title: Police Reports | Northfield, MN), phone 507-645-4477, 1615 Riverview Drive Northfield, MN 55057, which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 25, 2026.
The agency that reports for Northfield had 37 violent and 196 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 274 arrests for 2025.
Reports from the Rice County Sheriff's Office
The Rice County Sheriff's Office is the county agency; it had 11 violent and 13 property crimes reported for 2025 and reported 140 arrests for 2025.
Its reports come from its records unit. The office's page SearchSystems verified is its jail page, at ricecountymn.gov/279/Rice-County-Jail (page title: Rice County Jail | Rice County, MN), a site that blocks automated checks (HTTP 429), so open it in a browser.
What the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act Requires
Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act the agency must answer a request promptly, within a reasonable time, and it may charge copying, and staff time for requests over 100 pages. The request goes to the agency that holds the report, in writing, and does not have to say why the report is wanted.
A defendant who has been charged gets the report through the case: the County Attorney, 507-332-6103, handles discovery for pending cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a police report in Northfield?
From the agency that took it. The Northfield police records page is at northfieldmn.gov/595/Police-Reports, phone 507-645-4477; the sheriff's reports come from the Rice County Sheriff's Office.
How long does an agency in Northfield have to answer?
Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, promptly, within a reasonable time. It may charge copying, and staff time for requests over 100 pages.
How do I get a report from the Rice County Sheriff's Office?
From its records unit. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act the answer is due promptly, within a reasonable time.
Is this the official Northfield website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official city, county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.