Minnesota Criminal History Records
Minnesota criminal history records are available to the public through several state-run systems at no cost. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs the statewide criminal history database and offers a free online search for conviction data. Minnesota Court Records Online gives access to criminal case filings in all 87 counties. Each county also has its own Sheriff's Office and District Court where local records are kept. Whether you need a basic name search or a detailed background check with fingerprints, this guide covers every option available to search criminal history in Minnesota.
Minnesota Criminal History Overview
Where to Find Minnesota Criminal History Records
Three main systems cover criminal history in Minnesota. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension holds the statewide conviction database. The Minnesota Judicial Branch runs Minnesota Court Records Online, which covers case filings in all District Courts. The Department of Corrections manages records on individuals under state supervision. Each system returns different information, and a full search may require checking all three.
The BCA public search is the fastest starting point. You enter a name and date of birth and the system returns conviction data. It is free and open to anyone. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.87, conviction records are public data for 15 years after a person completes their sentence. Arrest data is not public under this statute. The search will not return dismissed charges, juvenile records, or out-of-state convictions.
Court records are a separate source. Minnesota Court Records Online covers criminal case filings going back to July 1, 2015 in full. Older cases show limited data. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. The system shows charges, case status, and docket entries. Neither the BCA search nor MCRO replaces a fingerprint-based background check when you need a complete criminal history.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety oversees the BCA and sets the rules for what data gets released publicly. The agency also administers the Government Data Practices Act, which governs access to state records under Minn. Stat. § 13.03. That statute says all government data is public unless another law classifies it otherwise.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety website links to the BCA, the predatory offender registry, and other criminal history tools. The screenshot below was taken from the DPS site at dps.mn.gov.
From there you can reach the BCA, background check services, and law enforcement data portals.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
The BCA is Minnesota's central state agency for criminal history data. The office is at 1430 Maryland Avenue East in St. Paul. Phone is (651) 793-2400. The BCA maintains the state's criminal history repository and handles both the free public search and paid background check requests from agencies, organizations, and individuals.
The public criminal history search at cch.state.mn.us returns conviction data for Minnesota offenses. Results show the offense, the court of conviction, the date, and the sentence. Records stay in the system for 15 years after the sentence ends. What the search does not return is equally important to know. Arrests, dismissed charges, stays of adjudication, juvenile records, federal convictions, and out-of-state cases do not appear. This is a Minnesota-only conviction tool, nothing more.
The BCA homepage at bca.dps.mn.gov is where you access the public search and find information on background check services. The screenshot below shows the BCA site.
The BCA site also links to the predatory offender registry, the identification unit, and criminal justice information services used by law enforcement agencies statewide.
To get a copy of your own criminal record, the BCA charges $8.00. You must send a notarized consent form and a set of fingerprints. Mail the request to: Attn: CJIS Criminal History Access Unit, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, 1430 Maryland Avenue East, St. Paul, MN 55106. The BCA's Predatory Offender Unit maintains records on more than 15,000 registered offenders across Minnesota. Non-compliant offender searches are available through the BCA website as well. The statute governing criminal history data at the BCA is Minn. Stat. § 13.87, shown in the screenshot below.
Section 13.87 sets out what criminal history data is public, what stays private, and how long the BCA must keep conviction records in the public-facing database.
Minnesota Court Records and Criminal Case Search
Minnesota Court Records Online is the Judicial Branch's free public access system for state court filings. It covers all 87 District Courts. The main URL is publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. You can search by person name, business name, attorney name, case number, or citation number. The system also lets you search by attorney bar number if you need to find cases tied to a specific lawyer.
Criminal cases in MCRO show charges, case status, hearing dates, and docket entries. For cases filed after July 1, 2015, public documents are available online in both major and minor criminal cases. Cases filed between 2005 and 2015 show judgments, orders, and court-generated notices but not the full filing. Older records require an in-person request at the District Court where the case was filed. Juvenile records, sealed records, and expunged records do not appear. The information page for MCRO at mncourts.gov explains the system in detail.
The MCRO information page explains search options, document availability by date range, and how to access records not available online.
The direct case search is at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearch. Enter a name and select a county or search statewide. The screenshot below shows the search portal.
MCRO is the first place to check when you need to look up a criminal case by name or case number in any Minnesota county.
Minnesota DOC Offender Locator and VINE
The Minnesota Department of Corrections runs a public offender search tool at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer. This tool shows people committed to the Commissioner of Corrections. That includes current inmates and people on supervised release or community supervision. The search is free. You can also look up Level 3 sex offenders and others required to register publicly. New registrants appear within 48 hours of the DOC receiving authorization from law enforcement.
The DOC offender locator is shown in the screenshot below, taken from the state's public viewer site.
Use this tool to check on anyone currently under state corrections supervision or in a Minnesota state prison.
VINE Link is a nationwide custody notification system. Minnesota participates in VINE, which covers more than 2,900 jails and prisons across 48 states. The service is free at vinelink.com. You can also call 1-877-664-8463 by phone or 1-866-847-1298 for TTY users. VINE lets you check the custody status of someone held in a county jail or state facility and sign up for notifications if their status changes. The screenshot below shows the VINE platform.
VINE is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and sends alerts by phone or email when a person is released, transferred, or reclassified.
BCA Background Checks in Minnesota
A standard criminal history background check through the BCA costs $15. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status pay a reduced rate of $8 per check. Fingerprint-based checks carry additional fees. Guardianship and conservatorship background checks cost $32. All of these requests go through the BCA's background check service at dps.mn.gov.
Paid BCA background checks return more complete criminal history data than the free public search, including records from law enforcement agencies across the state.
Under Minn. Stat. § 299C.11, the BCA must maintain an identification data system that includes fingerprints submitted by law enforcement. This statute also provides for automatic record destruction when charges are dismissed without conviction. Local agencies are authorized to conduct criminal history checks for licensing under Minn. Stat. § 299C.72. Child protection checks are authorized under Minn. Stat. § 299C.62. These paid checks draw on the BCA's full criminal history repository rather than just the 15-year public window available through the free search.
The Minnesota Judicial Branch site at mncourts.gov also has self-help guides on accessing court records and information about record access rules. The screenshot below shows the Judicial Branch homepage.
The Judicial Branch site links to MCRO, court forms, self-help tools, and guidance on accessing case records across all Minnesota counties.
What Minnesota Criminal History Records Show
Public criminal history through the BCA includes conviction data only. The system shows the offense type, the court that entered the conviction, the conviction date, and the sentence. Records stay in the public window for 15 years after the sentence ends. Arrests that did not lead to conviction are not included. Neither are dismissed charges, juvenile records, sealed records, or cases from other states or federal courts.
Court records through MCRO contain more detail. A typical criminal case file in Minnesota includes the criminal complaint, charging documents, orders, hearing records, and the final disposition. Not all documents are online, but those filed since July 1, 2015 are generally available. Older documents require a trip to the courthouse.
Law enforcement data rules in Minnesota come from Minn. Stat. § 13.82. This statute governs what agencies can release. Arrest data is public under § 13.82. Investigative data stays private while a case is active and generally becomes public when it closes. Victim and witness identities may be protected. The screenshot below shows this key statute on the state legislature's Revisor of Statutes site.
Section 13.82 is a foundational statute for understanding what criminal and law enforcement data is public in Minnesota.
A basic Minnesota criminal history record can include:
- Offense type and charge description
- Court where the conviction was entered
- Date of conviction and sentence imposed
- Case status and final disposition
- Hearing records and court orders (through MCRO)
- Booking date and charges if held in a county jail
Social security numbers, private contact details, and juvenile identifiers are not released. Ongoing investigation records stay sealed until a case closes. Some data involving victims may also be withheld even after a case ends.
Expungement of Minnesota Criminal Records
Expungement seals criminal records from public view. It does not erase them. Minnesota courts can order expungement of both court records and BCA records under Chapter 609A of the Minnesota Statutes. Once an order is granted, the records are sealed and removed from public search results. The BCA and all state court systems must comply with the order and seal their copies of the records.
Waiting periods apply before you can petition. Misdemeanors require 2 years after completing the sentence. Gross misdemeanors need 4 years. Certain felonies allow petitioning after 5 years. Offenses that require predatory offender registration are not eligible at all. These rules are set by Minn. Stat. § 609A.02, which lists the full grounds for expungement. The screenshot below shows this statute on the state's official site.
Section 609A.02 is the main statute that sets out who can seek expungement and which offense types qualify.
Minnesota also provides automatic expungement for some records. Under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015, certain dismissed charges and qualifying offenses are automatically sealed without a court petition. Cannabis offenses may also qualify for automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. § 609A.055, added as part of the state's cannabis law changes. For records that require a petition, the filing fee is $300 unless the court waives it. The petition process is governed by Minn. Stat. § 609A.03, which covers service requirements, hearing procedures, and the clear and convincing evidence standard.
After expungement takes effect, records sealed by the court no longer appear in MCRO. The BCA removes them from the public search as well. Under Minn. Stat. § 609A.05, people do not have to disclose expunged records in most situations. The State Law Library at mn.gov/law-library can help with legal research on expungement eligibility and procedures.
Browse Minnesota Criminal History by County
Each of Minnesota's 87 counties has a District Court and Sheriff's Office with local criminal records. Select a county below to find specific search tools, sheriff contact info, and local resources for criminal history in that area.
Criminal History in Major Minnesota Cities
Residents of major cities access criminal history through their county's District Court and Sheriff's Office. Pick a city to find police department contact info, local records search tools, and county resources for that area.