Big Stone County Criminal History Records

Big Stone County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in Ortonville. This small county in western Minnesota is part of the 8th Judicial District and has about 5,000 residents. If you want to search a criminal case, find out about an arrest, or access court records from Big Stone County, this page covers the main tools and offices involved.

Big Stone County Sheriff and Criminal History

The Big Stone County Sheriff's Office is at 102 2nd Street SE in Ortonville and can be reached at (320) 839-6170. The Sheriff provides law enforcement for the entire county and keeps records on arrests, criminal incidents, and related activity. Because Big Stone County is a smaller rural county, the Sheriff's Office often handles records requests directly. Staff can confirm arrest data and point you to the right resources for more detailed records.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, arrest records are public in Minnesota. This includes who was arrested, when it happened, where the arrest took place, and what charges were filed. If releasing the information would compromise an active investigation, some data may be withheld. But the core arrest facts are a matter of public record and the Sheriff's Office can provide them. The county website at bigstonecounty.org has general county information including department contacts.

For certified criminal history reports covering Big Stone County, contact the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at bca.dps.mn.gov. Call (651) 793-2400 or visit the BCA background check page at dps.mn.gov. The BCA maintains the statewide database of criminal history records, and it is the most complete source for official reports.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.87, criminal history data held by law enforcement agencies is generally classified as private. The BCA can release a person's own record to them. Access for others is more limited under state law, and requests typically require a specific legal basis. For public case data, MCRO is the better tool.

Big Stone County District Court and MCRO Criminal Cases

The Big Stone County District Court is at 20 2nd Street SE in Ortonville. The court handles all criminal matters filed in the county. The phone number is (320) 839-2536. The court administrator keeps the full case files for every criminal case that goes through the system, including charges, court orders, hearing records, and final dispositions. You can visit during business hours to view files or get copies.

Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO, gives free online access to Big Stone County criminal cases. Go to publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us to search by name or case number. You can see charges, docket entries, case status, and how the case resolved. This system does not show sealed records or juvenile files. For small counties like Big Stone, MCRO is often the fastest way to confirm whether a criminal case exists and see its basic details without making a trip to Ortonville.

The MCRO portal is shown below, where you can access Big Stone County criminal history records online.

Search Big Stone County criminal case records for free at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us.

Inmate Search in Big Stone County

VINE Link is the best free tool for checking inmate custody status in Big Stone County. This service covers county jails and state facilities across Minnesota. You can search by name at vinelink.com. If someone is in the Big Stone County jail, you can find their status there and set up alerts for when their custody situation changes.

The VINE Link tool is shown below and can be used to check custody status for people in Big Stone County.

Visit VINE Link to search inmate status and register for custody notifications in Big Stone County.

For direct questions about the county jail, call the Sheriff at (320) 839-6170. For people transferred to state prison, use the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us. That system covers all Minnesota DOC facilities and is also free to use.

Expungement of Big Stone County Criminal Records

Minnesota allows people to petition to have criminal records sealed through the expungement process. The governing statute is Minn. Stat. § 609A.02. Expungement seals the record from public access while allowing law enforcement to retain it for their purposes. The law lists which offenses qualify, sets waiting periods, and describes the process. Petty misdemeanors are generally easier to seal than felonies. Some felonies cannot be expunged at all.

To file for expungement in Big Stone County, you petition the District Court at 20 2nd Street SE in Ortonville. The court notifies all agencies holding a copy of the record. Each agency can object. The judge reviews the petition at a hearing and weighs whether the public interest favors sealing. Under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015, dismissed cases and certain other favorable outcomes can qualify for automatic sealing without a full petition. This is worth checking if your case ended in a dismissal or acquittal.

Self-help expungement guides are available at mncourts.gov. Regional legal aid may also be able to help residents of Big Stone County understand whether they qualify and what steps to take before filing.

Cities in Big Stone County

Big Stone County is a rural western Minnesota county with Ortonville as the county seat. All criminal cases from communities in the county are handled at the Big Stone County District Court in Ortonville.

No cities in Big Stone County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All county residents search and access criminal history records through the county-level offices listed above.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Big Stone County. If a case was filed elsewhere, contact that county's offices for records.