Free links to official North Dakota state and county government records, courts, criminal histories, vital records, property, voter, business, and licenses across all 53 counties.
How to Search North Dakota Criminal Records (Start Here)
North Dakota criminal records come from two main sources: the state criminal history repository (maintained by the state police or equivalent agency) and individual county court systems. These are separate databases that may show different information.
What this page covers: North Dakota state-level criminal history searches, county court criminal case lookups, and sex offender registry searches. What it does not cover: Federal criminal cases (those require PACER) or arrest records that did not result in charges.
Where to start: For a broad criminal history check, start with the state repository. For specific case details (charges, dispositions, documents), go to the Clerk of District Court in the county where the case was filed. For sex offenders, use the state sex offender registry.
Common mistake: A state criminal history search and a county court search are not the same thing. The state repository compiles conviction data from across the state. County courts have the actual case files with full detail. You may need both.
Edited by Sam Rokni, Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026, Methodology: North Dakota repository URL, fee, and statute verified against the official North Dakota BCI (Attorney General) publisher on review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.
North Dakota Criminal Records, Key Numbers (2026)
ND BCI fees were updated August 1, 2025. Separate from court case search (ndcourts.gov).
$15 state / $5 specific purposes
Public access fee
Per state-only check
Mail
Primary method
How to submit
North Dakota BCI (Attorn
Issuing agency
Statewide repository
N.D.C.C. §12-60-16.9
Governing statute
State law citation
June 04, 2026
Last reviewed
By SearchSystems
What a state criminal-history check actually covers
State-only check (State Identification Bureau): Returns arrests, dispositions and convictions reported to that one state's repository. It does not include arrests from other states or most federal cases. See the FBI's directory of state agencies: State Identification Bureau Listing.
What state repositories miss: The FBI's national survey of state criminal-history information systems documents known reporting gaps (missing dispositions, delayed updates, sealed/expunged handling). See BJS: Survey of State Criminal History Information Systems.
FACTThe North Dakota BCI (Attorney General) check covers ONLY North Dakota arrests/convictions. Out-of-state and federal records are NOT included.
MYTH"Free third-party 'instant' checks are accurate."
FACTOnly attorneygeneral.nd.gov (the official North Dakota repository) is authoritative. Data brokers often have stale data.
MYTH"Sealed records will show on a check."
FACTRecords sealed or expunged under North Dakota law are removed from public-facing checks. Law enforcement may still access them.
MYTH"Arrest = conviction on my record."
FACTAn arrest is not a conviction. Most North Dakota public checks distinguish arrests, dispositions, and convictions; the FCRA bars non-conviction arrests older than 7 years from employer checks.
MYTH"State and FBI checks return the same data."
FACTThe North Dakota state check shows North Dakota-only records. The FBI check is fingerprint-based and shows records reported by all agencies nationwide.
Not sure who may legally check whom? The North Dakota background check guide explains the official routes, the court-record option, and your FCRA rights.
Looking for someone in custody right now? The North Dakota inmate search page collects the state, county, and federal locators in one place.
The mission of the Barnes County Corrections Facility is to protect the public by maintaining proper custody of offenders sentenced by a court of law or being detained for criminal violations and waiting an initial appearance before a court of law; to provide a safe and healthy environment for all staff and inmates; and to offer work, education and treatment programs when possible, encouraging inmates to make the needed changes to be law-abiding and successful in society. The Barnes County Correctional Center, herein referred to as “BCCC”, is regulated by the North Dakota Century Code…
It is the mission of the Cass County Jail to provide a safe and secure confinement for lawfully committed inmates or detainees in compliance with standards set forth by the North Dakota Century Code and the North Dakota Administrative Jail Rules.
An individual incarcerated in a North Dakota correctional facility but sentenced out-of-state will not appear in this lookup. Individuals currently incarcerated may be reviewed for a parole as determined by the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation based on eligibility and.
Court case information for North Dakota, dockets, hearing dates, and case lookups. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official criminal record office.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is the state’s central repository for criminal history information, a system that compiles records of arrests and prosecutions of individual offenders for use by law enforcement, the courts, and the.
Enter a last name and/or first name to search for registered offenders. Use the neighborhood search feature to show the location of offenders within a certain proximity to a fixed address. For instance, insert the address of your home, school, or local park and then choose a city and radius.
A Notice of Consultation regarding a vacancy in North Central Judicial District Judgeship No. 5, with chambers in Minot, has been posted. This notice is provided under North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 7.2.
The full 2025 Crime Statistics Report is provided as an attachment with the news release email. The 2025 report and additional crime statistics are also available online at FargoPolice.com/CrimeStats.
This is the court-records channel for North Dakota: case searches and docket details. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
53 North Dakota counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net, top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Which North Dakota counties publish jail rosters and sheriff records online
12 of North Dakota's 40 counties run their own online source for jail rosters and sheriff records, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above, click a county for its full records page.
How do I run an official North Dakota background check?▼
North Dakota's official statewide criminal-history check is administered by the North Dakota BCI (Attorney General). Begin the request at attorneygeneral.nd.gov. Most state-level checks require submitting fingerprints (live-scan or ink) plus a processing fee, and the response covers convictions and certain non-conviction data permitted by North Dakota statute.
Are North Dakota criminal records public?▼
Most adult criminal-history information in North Dakota is considered public record, but access is restricted depending on the requester (self, employer, government agency) and the data type (arrest, conviction, sealed, juvenile). The North Dakota BCI (Attorney General) explains who can request what at attorneygeneral.nd.gov. County-court records are also public and searchable through the trial-court system.
What's the difference between a state and an FBI background check in North Dakota?▼
A state check from the North Dakota BCI (Attorney General) (attorneygeneral.nd.gov) covers only criminal activity within North Dakota. An FBI Identity History Summary (fbi.gov) is the nationwide check covering federal records and contributing states. Employers and licensing boards often require both.
Can I get someone else's North Dakota criminal record?▼
Generally, no, only the record subject (with their own ID and signature) or a specifically authorized requester (such as a credentialed employer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a licensing board, or law enforcement) can pull a third-party criminal history from the North Dakota BCI (Attorney General). The North Dakota BCI (Attorney General) documentation at attorneygeneral.nd.gov lists each authorized requester category.
How do I challenge or correct a North Dakota criminal record?▼
If you find an error on your North Dakota criminal history, the North Dakota BCI (Attorney General) offers a record-review and challenge process. Begin at attorneygeneral.nd.gov, typical steps include fingerprint verification, a written dispute, and supporting court documents (such as a dismissal or expungement order) for each contested entry.
