Bloomington Criminal History Records

Bloomington criminal history records go through the Bloomington Police Department for local law enforcement data and the Hennepin County District Court for all criminal case filings. You can request police records through Bloomington's online FOIA portal, search court cases through Minnesota Court Records Online, and run background checks through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. This page covers the main tools for finding criminal records in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Bloomington Police Department Records

The Bloomington Police Department handles law enforcement for the city and manages local criminal and incident records. The department is at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington, MN 55431. You can reach the department at (952) 563-4900 or by email at BPDqa@bloomingtonmn.gov. The lobby is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM. The BPD website is at bloomingtonmn.gov/pd/BPD.

The screenshot below is from the Bloomington Police Department website, where you can find department contact information, public safety news, and links to records request tools.

The BPD site links directly to the Data Practices Center and the JustFOIA portal, which are the two main tools for requesting Bloomington criminal records.

Bloomington Records Request Portals

Bloomington has two main tools for requesting records. The first is the Data Practices Center at bloomingtonmn.gov/dr/data-practices. This is the city's formal system for requesting government data under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The Data Release Coordinator handles these requests and can be reached at (952) 563-8592.

The screenshot below is from the Bloomington Data Practices page, which explains the request process and provides instructions for what to include when asking for police or city records.

The Data Practices Center handles a wide range of city data, not just police records. If you know you want police-specific data, the JustFOIA portal is often faster for that category.

The second tool is the JustFOIA public portal at bloomingtonmn.justfoia.com/publicportal. This system lets you submit a records request online and track its progress. You get a confirmation when the request is received and updates as it moves through the review process.

The screenshot below is from the Bloomington JustFOIA portal, where you can submit requests for police reports and other Bloomington records online without visiting the department in person.

Using JustFOIA gives you a tracking number so you can follow up on your request if you do not hear back within the expected timeframe.

Local background checks from the Bloomington Police Department cost $10 for a certified check. For a full statewide criminal history, you need to go through the BCA. Bloomington's local check only covers what the department has in its own records, which is limited compared to the statewide system.

Hennepin County Court Records

All Bloomington criminal cases are filed in the Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis, part of Minnesota's 4th Judicial District. The courthouse is at 300 S Sixth St, Minneapolis MN 55487. Court records for Bloomington cases are searchable online through Minnesota Court Records Online at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us.

MCRO lets you search by name or case number and gives you docket entries, charges, case status, and hearing dates. It covers criminal cases going back many years. Documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are generally available for viewing online. Older records may require a request to the Hennepin County Court Administrator's office in person or by mail.

Minnesota Statute 13.82 makes most arrest data from Bloomington cases public. This includes the name of the person arrested, the charges, and the date and location of the arrest. Active investigative data may be withheld, but it typically becomes accessible once a case closes.

BCA Background Checks

For a full criminal history covering Bloomington and the rest of Minnesota, use the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at dps.mn.gov. The BCA keeps statewide records of arrests, charges, and court outcomes. Standard background checks cost $15. The BCA is also the place to go for the predatory offender registry and information on registered sex offenders in Bloomington and the surrounding area.

Under Minn. Stat. 13.87, conviction data is public for 15 years after someone completes their sentence. Arrests without convictions are not part of the public BCA search. The DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer is the right tool for checking on anyone sentenced to state prison. It shows current facility, status, and expected release, and it is free to use.

Bloomington Criminal Record Expungement

If you have a Bloomington criminal record, you may qualify to have it sealed under Minn. Stat. 609A.02. Expungement seals the record from public view without erasing it. Misdemeanors require a two-year wait. Gross misdemeanors need four years. Some felonies require five years after the sentence ends. Expungement petitions for Bloomington cases go through Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis. The process takes several months from start to finish, and filing fees are typically around $300.

Some cases qualify for automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 without filing a petition. Legal aid organizations serving the Hennepin County area can help you figure out which path applies to your situation and walk you through what to file.

Victim Notification: VINE

Crime victims in Bloomington can use VINE to track the custody status of someone who was arrested. Register for free at vinelink.com or call 1-877-664-8463. Bloomington arrests that result in jail time run through the Hennepin County jail system, and VINE covers that facility. You will get alerts when the person is released, moved, or escapes, any time of day or night.

Nearby Cities

Bloomington sits in Hennepin County near several other qualifying cities. Some neighboring cities are in different counties and use separate court systems.