Under the North Dakota Open Records Statute, Fargo public records include all recorded information, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that is stored, recorded, or reproduced, in the custody of a public entity or its agent and which has been received or prepared, in connection with the public entity’s performance of its governmental functions or its public business, regardless of format or location. Public records could be papers, e-mails, computer files, photographs, audiotapes or recordings, or videos. Pursuant to the state law, Fargo public records do not include:
The Fargo Police Department is the law enforcement agency of the city that provides the statistics of crime rate within Fargo City. In 2019, there were a total number of 3,697 crimes reported, including 520 violent crimes and 3,177 property crimes. The violent crimes comprised five homicides, 116 rapes, 83 robberies, and 316 aggravated assaults. The property crimes include 790 burglaries, 2,113 larcenies, 263 motor vehicle thefts, and 11 arsons. The 2019 crime figures represent a slight increase in crimes in the city from the previous year. Rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and arson rates increased by 15%, 30%, 8%, 2%, 26%, and 83%. There was a 17% and 3% decline in homicide and larceny rates respectively.
Based on North Dakota laws, Fargo criminal records are generally considered public records. Interested members of the public may request copies of criminal records from the custodian. This is however subject to instances where the criminal record is protected by law or court order. In situations like this, that criminal record is exempted from public viewing.
The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) keeps statewide criminal history record information in its possession. Persons that want to obtain copies of Fargo criminal record can submit requests to this state body. Also, the Records Bureau of the Fargo Police Department provides local criminal history checks at $10. The result of the check will only include arrest information and the information is limited to what is maintained by the Fargo Police Department. Interested persons can fill out the Request for Criminal History Check and submit it to the Police Department or call (701) 235-4493.
Interested persons can also reach out to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office to inquire about the availability of Fargo criminal records at the county.
Cass County Sheriff’s Office
Cass Law Enforcement Center
1612 23rd Avenue North
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: (701) 241-5800
Fax: (701) 241-5805
The Records Bureau of the Fargo Police Department documents the events following arrests, apprehensions, and other public security and enforcement related activity. It provides this information through Fargo arrest records, police reports, incident reports, and accident reports. Fargo residents can obtain incident and accident reports from the Fargo Police Department.
A Fargo incident report costs 25 cents for each page. The Records Bureau charges $25 per hour when typing a long report. Access to accident reports is restricted to parties affected by the incident or by an insurance company. The Records Bureau charges $7 for a complete accident report. Credit and debit cards are accepted for payment. There is no extra cost for the certification of the accident report.
To obtain a Fargo incident or accident report, complete a Request for Police Report form. Once the form is completed. submit it by fax, mail, or in-person to:
Fargo Police Department Headquarters
222 4th Street North
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: (701) 235-4493
Fax: (701) 241-8272
The Police Department’s Office is open from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The Fargo Police Department registers the information of sex offenders in the city and gives the information to the North Dakota Office of the Attorney General. This state office maintains a sex offender registry of North Dakota. Residents can access registered sex offender information online by visiting the North Dakota Sex Offender Registry. They can search the registry by the offender’s name, city, or county. The registry also provides a list of all the offenders for a selected city or county available for download.
The Cass County Jail houses persons apprehended in Fargo City. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office provides detailed inmates’ records online. To access the Cass County jail roster, visit the current inmate roster. It provides information about inmates’ personal information and information about their detention. This information includes the inmate’s name, date of birth, booking date, booking number, jurisdiction, charges, status, and scheduled release date.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office provides video visitation services for inmates and their prospective visitors throughout the week. To visit an inmate in jail, contact the jail facility with the details provided below:
Cass County Jail
450 34th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: (701) 271-2900
Fax: (701) 271-2967
The City of Fargo forms part of the judicial division of Cass County. Cass County court system consists of one District Court and six Municipal Courts. These courts handle cases ranging from civil, criminal, probate, family and domestic relations, traffic, and small claims matters. The courts and their clerks keep and maintain the documents and records from these cases. Individuals interested in obtaining court records can submit requests to the clerk or at the courthouse where the case was handled. These documents and records include court dockets, case notes, transcripts of trials, affidavits, submitted evidence, and case files.
The Cass County District Court belongs to the East Central District of North Dakota is the highest trial court in the County. The county also has municipal courts in different cities within the county. The addresses and contact details of these courts are provided below:
Cass County District Court
Cass County District Court
211 9th Street South
P.O. Box 2806
Fargo, ND 58108
Phone: (701) 451-6900
Fax: (701) 451-6939
Cass County Municipal Courts
Casselton Municipal Court
702 1st Street North
P.O. Box 20
Casselton, ND 58012
Phone: (701) 347-4861
Fax: (701) 347-4785
Fargo Municipal Court
402 Northern Pacific Avenue
P.O. Box 49
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: (701) 241-1316
Fax: (701) 241-1320
Kindred Municipal Court
31 5th Avenue North
P.O. Box 158
Kindred, ND 58051
Phone: (701) 428-3115
Fax: (701) 428-9100
Reiles Acres Municipal Court
4635 35th Avenue North
Reiles Acres, ND 58102
Phone: (701) 541-0035
Tower City Municipal Court
P.O. Box 55
Tower City, ND 58071
Phone: (701) 749-2343
Fax: (701) 749-2344
West Fargo Municipal Court
800 4th Avenue East
Suite 2
West Fargo, ND 58078
Phone: (701) 433-5516
Fax: (701) 433-5319
North Dakota Laws make court records subject to public viewing. This makes Fargo court records public. Interested members of the public can inspect and obtain copies of the records of judicial proceedings after they are concluded and entered in the court docket. However, this rule is subject to other rules and regulations of the courts. There are some court records that are not open to the public An example is where the case has to do with child custody. While the final order determining parentage is open, other records are open subject to the consent of the parties or court order. Juvenile court records are also confidential and are not subject to public disclosure. However, they may be open to the public where the record relates to a petition that has been considered in an open hearing. This is because the petition alleges conduct that may make the juvenile be criminally prosecuted.
The North Dakota Courts provide the public with access to district and municipal court records through the District Court Case Search Page. This search portal includes court records of criminal, traffic, civil, family, and probate cases. It does not provide information about restricted cases. Users should check out the help guide to aid research.
The Cass County District Court and Fargo Municipal Court also provide public terminals where persons can view and print public documents associated with court records. The record searches and court documents printed are free.
The Cass County Clerk of Court maintains copies of Fargo civil court case records. To obtain copies of these court records, interested persons can submit in-person or mail requests to the Clerk of Court with the courthouse address and contact details provided below:
Cass County Courthouse
211 9th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103
Monday to Friday; between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cass County Clerk of Courts
P.O. Box 2806
Fargo, ND 58108-2806
Phone: (701) 451-6900
The Fargo Municipal Court, through its Clerk, provides interested persons with copies of Fargo civil court case records in its custody. Requests for civil court case records can be made in person or by mail. Each copy requested costs $10. The Clerk must receive payment before the request for the record is processed. The request made must provide information that clearly identifies the record. Record search requests are processed as promptly as practical. Requesters should make in-person or mail requests to the address below:
402 NP Avenue
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: (701) 241-1316
P.O. Box 49
Fargo, ND 58107
Fax: (701) 241-1320
The Cass County Clerk of Court provides interested individuals with Fargo criminal court records. These court records are available to applicants upon request. To order a copy of a Fargo criminal court record, an applicant can make an in-person or mail request to the Clerk of Court with the courthouse address and contact information below:
Cass County Courthouse
211 9th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103
Monday to Friday; between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cass County Clerk of Courts
P.O. Box 2806
Fargo, ND 58108-2806
Phone: (701) 451-6900
The Clerk of the Fargo Municipal Court also maintains copies of the Fargo criminal court records that it handled. Interested persons can get copies of criminal court records by making in-person or mail requests. A copy of a criminal court record costs $10. The Clerk requires that the fee be paid before the request for the record is processed. It is important that the requester provides the Clerk with information that clearly identifies the case. Record search requests are processed as promptly as practical. Submit mail or in-person requests to the address below:
402 NP Avenue
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: (701) 241-1316
P.O. Box 49
Fargo, ND 58107
Fax: (701) 241-1320
Fargo vital records are official documents that report the occurrence of certain life events that occurred within the city. Fargo vital records include birth records, marriage records, divorce records, and death records. Fargo vital records are maintained at the county and state level. The Cass County Clerk of Court keeps Fargo divorce records, while the County’s Treasurer is the custodian of marriage records. The Vital Records Division of the North Dakota Department of Health processes requests for Fargo birth and death records.
The Cass County District Court maintains copies of Fargo divorce records. To order copies of divorce records, interested persons can make in-person requests by visiting the Clerk of District Court from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at:
Cass County Courthouse
211 9th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103
Monday to Friday; between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Alternatively, they can also submit written requests by mail to:
Cass County Clerk of Courts
P.O. Box 2806
Fargo, ND 58108-2806
Phone: (701) 451-6900
The Cass County Treasurer’s Office keeps records of marriages performed within the county, including Fargo marriage records. Interested applicants can order copies of the Fargo marriage certificates by telephone, in person, or by mail. A certified copy of a marriage record costs $10 for the first copy. Each additional copy requested at the same time costs $5. Where a requester pays with a credit card, there is a $1 convenience fee. Requests for Fargo marriage records are usually processed in one to two business days of receiving the request.
To make a telephone request, call the Finance Office at (701) 241-5600. A requester will be required to provide information about the marriage. For in-person requests, visit the finance office located at:
Cass County Courthouse
2119th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: (701) 241-5600
Fax: (701) 241-5728
The office is open from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Make mail requests by submitting a written request to:
Cass County Treasurer
P.O. Box 2806
Fargo, ND 58102
(701) 241-5611
All marriage records in Fargo are considered public.
The Vital Records Division of the North Dakota Department of Health provides eligible persons with certified copies of birth records upon request. The state body grants copies of birth records to:
These persons can submit mail, online, or in-person requests for Fargo birth records. To make a mail request, fill out the birth request application form. Enclose a check or money order made out to the “North Dakota Department of Health” and a valid means of identification. Legal representatives are to submit the notarized authorization form along with the request. Send these documents by mail to:
Division of Vital Records
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Department 301
Bismarck, ND 58505-0200
The Vital Records Division processes mail requests within three to five business days. Fargo birth certificate costs $15 each. Online requests for birth records are made through the North Dakota Health Department Website. Requesters should follow the instructions provided and pay for birth records with online payment like Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards.
To make an in-person request for a Fargo birth certificate, visit the Vital Record Office from Monday to Friday, between 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The office is located at:
North Dakota State Capitol
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Judicial Wing
First Floor
Room 118
Bismarck, ND 58505-0200
For any other inquiries or questions related to vital records, call (701) 328-2360 or send an e-mail to vitalrec@nd.gov.
The Vital Records Division of the North Dakota Department of Health maintains copies of Fargo death records. It provides three forms of certified copies of death records based on the eligibility and need of the requester. They are:
Interested persons can order Fargo death records by mail, online, or in-person. To order a death record by mail, complete the death request application form. Provide a check or money order made out to the “North Dakota Department of Health” and a valid means of identification. Mail these documents to:
Division of Vital Records
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Department 301
Bismarck, ND 58505-0200
Mail requests are processed within three to five business days. A Fargo death certificate costs $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy requested at the same time. Make online requests for death records with the North Dakota Health Department Website. Users should follow the procedures and pay for the copies requested with online payment like Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards.
To make an in-person request for Fargo death records, visit the Vital Record Office from Monday to Friday, between 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The office is located at:
North Dakota State Capitol
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Judicial Wing
First Floor
Room 118
Bismarck, ND 58505-0200
To make inquiries or ask questions related to vital records, call (701) 328-2360 or send an e-mail to vitalrec@nd.gov.
The first copy of a death certificate is $15, while each additional copy requested at the same time costs $10.
Fargo The seat of Cass County , the City of Fargo -in accordance with the North Dakota Open Records Statute -provides its residents and the general public with access to designated open records of its government, departments, and courts. These include Fargo arrest records, criminal records, court records, vital records, and other documents generated by government officials or departments. To obtain these records, interested applicants can submit requests to the custodian of the record. In some cases, the custodian will require the applicant to provide a valid means of identification and pay fees before the copies of the record are released. Overall, Fargo has a high transparency rating and its public records are reasonably easy to get. To obtain elusive Fargo records, try using a comprehensive record finder like the search tools provided by State Records .