Cook County Criminal History Records

Cook County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in Grand Marais, Minnesota. The Sheriff's Office posts a public jail roster online, and criminal case records are available for free through the Minnesota Court Records Online system. This page covers how to find Cook County criminal history, who to contact, and what tools are available for searching cases and checking inmate status.

Cook County Sheriff and Criminal History

The Cook County Sheriff's Office is at 143 Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais. The main number is (218) 387-3030. The Sheriff is the main law enforcement agency in the county and handles arrests, patrols, and criminal history data for the region. Cook County is remote and largely rural, covering a broad area of northeastern Minnesota along Lake Superior, including parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Arrest records in Cook County are public under Minn. Stat. § 13.82. The law makes basic arrest data, including names, charges, and arrest dates, available to the public on request. The Sheriff's Office can provide this information. Records tied to juveniles or active investigations are handled differently and may not be fully accessible through standard public channels. For more thorough criminal history reports, contact the Minnesota BCA at bca.dps.mn.gov or call (651) 793-2400.

The screenshot below is from the Cook County Sheriff's Office website, which links to the jail roster and provides contact information for the department.

Visit the Cook County Sheriff's website for the jail roster, department contacts, and public law enforcement information.

Cook County Jail Roster

The Cook County Sheriff's Office posts a public jail roster on its website. You can view current inmates at cookcountymn.gov/sheriff/jail_roster.php. The roster lists individuals currently held in the Cook County jail. It is a direct, free resource for checking who is in custody without having to call the office. The roster is updated as bookings occur and is available to any member of the public at no cost.

For a broader custody tracking option, VINE Link is linked to the Cook County facility through the statewide network. Go to vinelink.com, search by name, and register for free alerts if you need notification when someone's custody status changes. VINE sends alerts by phone, email, or text and operates at all hours. Call 1-877-664-8463 for the automated phone line.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections maintains a separate public offender locator for those serving state prison sentences. This does not overlap with county jail bookings. Check it at coms.doc.state.mn.us if you believe someone may be in state custody rather than the Cook County jail.

Cook County District Court Criminal Records

The Cook County District Court is at 411 W Second Street in Grand Marais. The phone number is (218) 264-7001. The court is part of Minnesota's 6th Judicial District, which also covers St. Louis, Lake, and Carlton counties. The District Court handles all criminal cases filed in Cook County, from misdemeanors to felonies. The clerk's office is where you go to get case documents, request copies, or ask about a specific case. Staff are available during regular business hours.

Most Cook County criminal cases are searchable through the Minnesota Court Records Online system. MCRO is free and lets you search by name or case number. Results show charges, hearing dates, docket entries, and case outcomes. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.87, criminal history data held by courts is public unless a court order restricts it. For older cases or documents not in MCRO, contact the clerk directly at the Grand Marais courthouse.

The screenshot below is from the Cook County court page on mncourts.gov, which has the court's address, phone number, and links to court services.

Visit the Cook County court page on mncourts.gov for office hours, forms, and links to the statewide MCRO case search system.

The screenshot below is from Minnesota Court Records Online, the free state portal where Cook County criminal cases can be searched by name or case number.

Search Cook County criminal cases at no cost through MCRO. Results include charges, docket activity, and case outcomes.

Note: Cook County is part of the 6th Judicial District along with neighboring Lake and St. Louis counties. The court in Grand Marais handles only Cook County cases.

BCA Background Checks for Cook County Criminal History

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension handles official statewide criminal history background checks. A BCA report pulls data from courts and law enforcement agencies across all Minnesota counties, including Cook. You can access the free public conviction search at cch.state.mn.us. That tool shows conviction records going back 15 years and is governed by Minn. Stat. § 13.87.

Cook County is one of Minnesota's smallest counties by population. Its criminal case history is largely accessible through MCRO and the public jail roster. Still, if you want a thorough statewide criminal history report, the BCA check is more complete. It combines court data with arrest records from all agencies across the state. A certified BCA background check costs $15 and can be requested at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca or by calling (651) 793-2400. Individuals can request their own record directly from the BCA at no charge.

Expungement of Cook County Criminal Records

People with a criminal record in Cook County may be eligible to petition the court to seal that record under Minn. Stat. § 609A.02. Expungement seals the record so it no longer shows up in public tools like MCRO or most background check systems. The petition is filed at the Cook County District Court at 411 W Second Street in Grand Marais.

To qualify, the offense must be eligible under state law. Serious violent crimes are generally not expungeable. The process involves filing a formal petition, notifying all agencies that hold the record, and attending a hearing. The BCA and the arresting agency get notice and may respond. The judge then decides whether to grant the seal. If approved, the record is removed from public access, though law enforcement may still have access in limited circumstances. For cases that ended in dismissal or acquittal, check whether automatic sealing applies under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015, which covers qualifying outcomes that do not require a full petition.

Petition forms are available at the courthouse in Grand Marais or through the Minnesota Courts website. Given the county's remote location and small size, legal aid resources may be limited. The courts website has self-help tools and guides for people moving through the process without an attorney.

Cities in Cook County

Cook County has no cities that exceed the qualifying population threshold for individual city pages. Grand Marais serves as the county seat and is home to the courthouse and the Sheriff's Office. All criminal cases from across the county are filed at the Cook County District Court.

Nearby Counties

Cook County shares borders with Lake and St. Louis counties in northeastern Minnesota. These counties also fall under the 6th Judicial District.