Duluth Criminal History Records

Duluth criminal history records are held by the Duluth Police Department, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, and the St. Louis County District Court in Minnesota's 6th Judicial District. You can request law enforcement records from the Duluth Police Department, search court cases through Minnesota Court Records Online, and run background checks through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. This page explains how each system works and where to find criminal records connected to Duluth, Minnesota.

Duluth Police Department Records

The Duluth Police Department serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the city. The department is at 2030 North Arlington Avenue, Duluth, MN 55811. You can reach them by phone at (218) 730-5400 or by email at police@duluthmn.gov. The DPD website is at duluthmn.gov/police. The department handles incident reports, arrest data, and local criminal records for Duluth city limits.

The screenshot below is from the Duluth Police Department website, the starting point for law enforcement information, public safety news, and records requests in Duluth.

The DPD site provides contact information for specific divisions and explains how to submit records requests through the city's data practices process.

For criminal records requests from the Duluth Police Department, you can contact the department directly by phone or in person. Duluth follows the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, which means most incident data and arrest records are public once cases have moved through the system. Some investigative data may be withheld while cases are active.

St. Louis County Sheriff's Office

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for areas outside Duluth city limits and runs the county jail, where many Duluth arrests result in booking. The Sheriff's Office is at 100 North 5th Avenue West, Suite 226, Duluth, MN 55802. You can reach them at (218) 726-2323. Their website is at stlouiscountymn.gov/sheriff.

The screenshot below is from the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office website, which covers the jail, law enforcement services, and records for the county that encompasses Duluth.

The Sheriff's site provides jail contact information, civil process details, and links to crime reporting resources for all of St. Louis County.

For Duluth arrests that lead to criminal charges, the St. Louis County Sheriff manages the jail where defendants are held before arraignment or while awaiting trial. Booking records from the county jail are part of the public record under Minn. Stat. 13.82. The basic facts of each booking, including name, charge, and date, are available to the public.

St. Louis County Court Records

All Duluth criminal cases go through the St. Louis County District Court, which is part of Minnesota's 6th Judicial District. The court handles criminal cases from the city of Duluth as well as the wider St. Louis County area. St. Louis County is the largest county in the state by land area, covering a large portion of northeastern Minnesota.

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) gives you free access to St. Louis County court cases from a browser. Go to publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us and search by name or case number. MCRO shows charges, case status, docket entries, and hearing dates. Documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are typically available online. Older records may require a request to the court administrator's office in Duluth.

Under Minn. Stat. 13.82, arrest data from Duluth cases is public. Once a case is in the court system, the basic facts are accessible to anyone. Active investigation records can be restricted until an investigation closes, but most criminal case data opens up as cases proceed through the courts.

Note: For certified copies of Duluth court records, contact the St. Louis County Court Administrator directly. MCRO allows viewing but not certified copies.

BCA Background Checks

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains the statewide criminal history database that includes Duluth and all of St. Louis County. For a background check, use the BCA's portal at dps.mn.gov. Standard checks cost $15. For state background check questions, call the BCA at (651) 793-2400. Their office is at 1430 Maryland Avenue East, St. Paul, MN 55106.

Under Minn. Stat. 13.87, conviction data from Duluth cases is public in the BCA database for 15 years after someone completes their sentence. Arrest data without a conviction is not part of the public BCA search. For Duluth arrest records specifically, contact the Duluth Police Department or check MCRO for court filings that resulted from the arrest.

The DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer covers anyone sentenced to Minnesota state prison, including those convicted in Duluth courts. You can check current facility, status, and release date for free through this tool.

Duluth Criminal Record Expungement

People with criminal records from Duluth cases may be able to get them sealed under Minn. Stat. 609A.02. Expungement seals the record from public access. It does not destroy it. Misdemeanors require a two-year wait. Gross misdemeanors need four years. Certain felonies require five years after the sentence is completed. Offenses requiring predatory offender registration do not qualify.

Expungement petitions for Duluth cases are filed in St. Louis County District Court. You file the petition and serve copies on the BCA, the arresting agency, and the prosecutor. The process takes several months. Filing fees are around $300, though the court can waive them for those who cannot afford to pay. Some cases qualify for automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 without filing a formal petition.

Victim Notification: VINE

Crime victims connected to Duluth or St. Louis County cases can sign up for VINE alerts at vinelink.com or by calling 1-877-664-8463. VINE sends automatic notifications when someone in custody is released, transferred, or escapes. The service is free and operates around the clock. You can register online or by phone and choose text, email, or phone call as your notification method.

Nearby Cities

Duluth is in northeastern Minnesota. Other qualifying cities in the state are in the Twin Cities metro and greater Minnesota areas, each with their own county court systems.