Access Martin County Police Blotter Records
Martin County Police Blotter records are kept by the Martin County Sheriff's Office at the Law Enforcement Center in Fairmont, the county seat in south-central Minnesota near the Iowa border. The sheriff's office maintains incident reports, arrest logs, jail information, and other public safety data. Records are available to any member of the public who requests them during regular office hours, and the county's website includes a dedicated records page with guidance on how to submit a request.
Martin County Sheriff's Office Location and Contact
The Martin County Law Enforcement Center is at 201 Lake Avenue, Fairmont, MN 56031. The records unit can be reached through the county website at co.martin.mn.us. The records contact person is Kathy Peterson, who can be reached by email through the website. The office processes records requests on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays. When you visit, bring a valid photo ID.
The screenshot below is pulled from the Martin County website, which hosts the sheriff's department pages including records and jail information.
The Martin County site gives residents a direct path to records requests, jail information, and other law enforcement resources without having to make a phone call first.
How to Request Police Blotter Data
Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, law enforcement agencies must make basic arrest data available to anyone who asks. This includes the name of the person arrested, when and where the arrest happened, the offense charged, and the identity of the arresting officer. These facts are public by law. Agencies cannot withhold them.
For a specific incident report, visit or contact the records unit at the Law Enforcement Center. The more specific your request, the faster the staff can locate it. A date, location, or incident number helps narrow the search quickly. Photo ID is required when picking up records in person. If the request involves a fee for copies, the office will tell you the amount before processing.
Minnesota's broader public records framework, Minn. Stat. § 13.03, requires agencies to respond promptly and to explain what data is available, what is private, and why. You do not need to say why you want the information. That right belongs to everyone in Minnesota.
Martin County Jail
The Martin County Jail is part of the Law Enforcement Center at 201 Lake Avenue. The jail administrator is Tanya Rathman. Jail phone: 507-238-3150. To speak with the jail administrator directly: 507-238-3153. Email: tanya.rathman@co.martin.mn.us.
Visitation is available on Fridays and Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The county uses a video visitation system, so in-person contact visits may not be available in all circumstances. Call the jail directly for current visitation policies.
The VINE notification system is available through 1-877-MN-4-VINE. VINE lets registered users track when someone's custody status changes, which can be helpful for victims and family members who need to stay informed about a case. It is a free service. You can also check nationwide custody status through VineLink online.
Fingerprinting Services
Fingerprinting at the Martin County Sheriff's Office is by appointment only. Call 507-238-3150 to schedule. The fee for civilian fingerprinting is $10 per card, and payment must be in cash, exact change only. Plan ahead if you need fingerprinting for a background check or licensing application. The office does not take walk-in appointments for this service.
Statewide Records Resources
For court case records, the Minnesota Courts website provides public access to case filings and outcomes statewide. Martin County cases are handled in the Fifth Judicial District. If you want to know whether charges were filed after an arrest, or what the outcome of a hearing was, the courts site is where to look. Police Blotter data and court records often need to be read together to get the full story of a case.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension provides statewide criminal history records and supports background checks across all jurisdictions. Local blotter data is a snapshot of daily law enforcement activity. The BCA's criminal history records reflect the formal legal outcomes of those activities.
For regional crime data, Community Crime Map may include Martin County data depending on what local agencies submit. Check the tool to see what is available in Fairmont and the surrounding area.
Victim Services and Legal Resources
Martin County has resources for crime victims beyond the basic records process. The Martin County Attorney's office can connect victims with county victim services. If you need help understanding what records you are entitled to as a victim, or if you have questions about protective orders or other legal matters tied to an incident, the county attorney's office is a starting point.
The Minnesota Sheriffs' Association also maintains resources for the public on how to work with county law enforcement agencies across the state.
Nearby Counties
Martin County shares borders with several other south-central Minnesota counties. If an incident crossed county lines or you need records from a neighboring agency, check these offices.
- Jackson County - county seat Jackson
- Faribault County - county seat Blue Earth
- Watonwan County - county seat St. James
- Cottonwood County - county seat Windom
Tips for Searching Blotter Records
Start with a date range. Blotter records are organized chronologically, so knowing when something happened is the most important piece of information. If you have a case number or incident number, bring it. Staff can pull records much faster with a number than with just a name or rough description.
For older incidents, ask the office about their records retention schedule. Minnesota law sets minimum retention periods for different types of law enforcement records. Some records must be kept for years, others for shorter periods. If you are looking for something more than a few years old, ask first whether it still exists in searchable form.