Find Criminal History in Carlton County

Carlton County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in the city of Carlton. Located in northeastern Minnesota and part of the 6th Judicial District, Carlton County has about 36,000 residents. Whether you want to search a criminal case online, check inmate custody status, or find out how to access court records, this page covers each of the main tools and offices that handle criminal history for Carlton County.

Carlton County Sheriff and Criminal History

The Carlton County Sheriff's Office is at 317 Walnut Avenue in Carlton. The main number is (218) 384-3236. The Sheriff's website is at co.carlton.mn.us. The Sheriff handles law enforcement across the county and keeps records on arrests, incidents, and related criminal activity. If you have a question about a criminal record or arrest in Carlton County, calling the Sheriff during business hours is a good starting point.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, arrest data is public in Minnesota. This includes the name of the person arrested, the time and place, and the charges. Some data may be held back if it could harm an active investigation. The Sheriff's Office can provide basic arrest information within those rules. For complete records or certified criminal history reports, the Minnesota BCA at bca.dps.mn.gov is the right contact. The BCA serves all Minnesota counties and can be reached at (651) 793-2400.

Carlton County borders St. Louis County and is close to the Duluth metro area. Cases involving Cloquet and other communities in the county all go through the Carlton County District Court, not the St. Louis County court in Duluth.

Note: The Carlton County Sheriff handles local arrest records. Certified criminal history background checks are issued by the Minnesota BCA, which maintains the statewide database.

Carlton County District Court and MCRO Criminal Records

The Carlton County District Court is at 301 Walnut Avenue in Carlton, one block from the Sheriff's Office. The phone number is (218) 384-4281. The court is part of the 6th Judicial District. All criminal cases filed in Carlton County go through this court. Case files include charges, court orders, hearing dates, and final outcomes. You can visit the court in person to review records or request copies. Staff are available Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Minnesota Court Records Online gives free public access to Carlton County criminal cases. Search at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us by name or case number. The system shows charges, case status, docket entries, and how the case resolved. MCRO is useful for confirming that a case exists and seeing basic facts before going to the courthouse. Sealed records and juvenile files are not available in the public search.

The screenshot below is from Minnesota Court Records Online, the free statewide court search tool covering Carlton County.

Search Carlton County criminal cases for free at MCRO. Results include charges, docket entries, and case status for all public court filings.

The screenshot below is from the Carlton County court page on mncourts.gov, where you can find local contact details and resources.

Visit the Carlton County court page on mncourts.gov for court hours, forms, and links to case search tools.

BCA Criminal History for Carlton County

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs the statewide criminal history system. It pulls data from courts and law enforcement agencies in all 87 counties, including Carlton. The BCA is the most complete source when you need a full picture of someone's Minnesota criminal history and not just what is on file locally.

The free public search at cch.state.mn.us lets anyone look up conviction records by name and date of birth. It shows convictions going back 15 years, consistent with Minn. Stat. § 13.87, which governs how criminal history data is classified and shared. For a full certified background check, the BCA charges $15 and covers arrest records and non-conviction data as well. Request at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca. For people in state DOC custody, the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us is free and public.

Carlton County Inmate Search and VINE Link

VINE Link is the free national service for checking inmate custody status in Carlton County. Search by name at vinelink.com or call 1-877-664-8463. The service covers the Carlton County jail and other facilities across Minnesota. If you find the person you are looking for, you can register to get alerts when their custody status changes. This is helpful for tracking release dates or monitoring transfers between facilities.

The screenshot below is from VINE Link, the statewide inmate notification service that connects to the Carlton County jail system.

Use VINE Link to check inmate status and sign up for release or transfer notifications for Carlton County inmates.

For direct questions about the Carlton County jail, call the Sheriff at (218) 384-3236. If a person has been transferred to state prison, the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us covers all DOC-run facilities across the state.

Expungement of Carlton County Criminal History

Minnesota allows people to petition to have criminal records sealed from public view. The main statute is Minn. Stat. § 609A.02. Expungement restricts who can see the record but does not erase it from law enforcement systems. The law sets waiting periods and eligibility rules based on the type of offense. Lesser offenses are generally easier to seal. Serious felonies face stricter requirements and some cannot be expunged at all under current law.

To file for expungement in Carlton County, you petition the District Court at 301 Walnut Avenue in Carlton. The court notifies all agencies holding a copy of the record, and those agencies can object at a hearing. The judge then decides based on all the facts. For cases that ended in dismissal or acquittal, check whether automatic sealing applies under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015. That statute covers certain favorable case outcomes that do not require a full petition.

Legal aid options in northeastern Minnesota include Volunteer Lawyers Network and other regional organizations. The Minnesota Courts self-help tools at mncourts.gov include expungement guides and forms you can download for free.

Cities in Carlton County

Carlton County includes communities like Cloquet, Moose Lake, and Carlton in northeastern Minnesota. All criminal cases from cities and townships throughout the county go through the Carlton County District Court.

No cities in Carlton County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All residents access criminal records and case information through the county-level offices and tools described above.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Carlton County. If a criminal case was filed in a neighboring county, that county's court and sheriff hold those records.