Access Cottonwood County Criminal History

Cottonwood County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in Windom, Minnesota. The Sheriff's Office publishes a free jail roster updated twice daily, and court case records are available online through Minnesota Court Records Online at no cost. This page explains how to find criminal records in Cottonwood County, who keeps them, and where to go for court filings, inmate information, background checks, and expungement details.

Cottonwood County Sheriff and Criminal History

The Cottonwood County Sheriff's Office is at 902 5th Avenue in Windom. The phone number is (507) 831-1375. Sheriff Jason J. Parrington leads the office, which handles all law enforcement duties in the county. The Sheriff keeps arrest records, incident reports, and criminal history data for Cottonwood County. It is the primary contact for questions about arrests, criminal activity, or jail bookings in the area.

Minnesota law makes basic arrest data public. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, law enforcement must make available the name of the person arrested, the date, the charges, and the agency involved. The Sheriff's Office can provide this on request. Juvenile records and records tied to ongoing investigations may be withheld or restricted under applicable law. For certified criminal history reports covering Cottonwood County cases and all other Minnesota counties, contact the BCA at bca.dps.mn.gov or call (651) 793-2400.

Cottonwood County Jail Roster

Cottonwood County provides a free public jail roster available as a PDF. The roster is updated twice daily, once at 6 AM and again at 6 PM. It lists current inmates with their booking details. This schedule means the roster may lag slightly behind real-time changes, but it gives a solid picture of who is in custody at the county jail on any given day. No login or fee is required to view it.

The screenshot below is from the Cottonwood County Jail Roster page, where the PDF is posted twice daily and updated by the Sheriff's Office.

Access the jail roster directly from the Cottonwood County website. The PDF is free and includes booking details for all current inmates.

For people who need ongoing custody monitoring with automatic alerts, VINE Link at vinelink.com connects to the Cottonwood County jail statewide network. Search by name and register for free notifications by phone, email, or text when an inmate's status changes. Call 1-877-664-8463 for the automated phone line.

Note: The jail roster PDF is updated at 6 AM and 6 PM. For up-to-the-minute custody status, call the Sheriff at (507) 831-1375 or use VINE alerts.

Cottonwood County District Court Criminal Records

The Cottonwood County District Court is at 900 3rd Avenue in Windom. The phone number is (507) 831-4551. The court is part of Minnesota's 5th Judicial District. All criminal cases filed in Cottonwood County go through this court. The clerk's office manages case files, accepts requests for copies of court documents, and can help you find a specific case by name or case number. Staff are available Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Criminal case records in Cottonwood County are public and can be searched online through the Minnesota Court Records Online system. MCRO is free and lets you look up cases by name or case number. Results include charges, case status, hearing dates, and dispositions. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.87, criminal history data maintained by courts is subject to public access rules. Sealed records are not visible in MCRO. For cases that do not appear in the online system, or if you need certified copies, contact the clerk's office at the Windom courthouse directly.

The screenshot below is from the Cottonwood County court page on mncourts.gov, which lists the court address, phone number, and court services.

See the Cottonwood County court page on mncourts.gov for office hours, forms, and direct access to the MCRO case search system.

BCA Background Checks and Criminal History

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension handles official statewide criminal history background checks. A BCA report combines court data with law enforcement records from all Minnesota counties, including Cottonwood. This gives a more complete picture than searching MCRO alone. Contact the BCA at (651) 793-2400 or visit bca.dps.mn.gov. Background check details are at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca.

The free public conviction 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 the access rules in Minn. Stat. § 13.87. For a full certified background check that includes arrests and non-conviction data, the BCA charges $15. Individuals can also request their own criminal history directly from the BCA at no cost. For people in state DOC custody, the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us is free and public.

The screenshot below is from Minnesota Court Records Online, the free state court portal that covers Cottonwood County criminal cases.

Use MCRO to search Cottonwood County criminal cases by name or case number at no cost. Results include charges, docket activity, and case outcomes.

VINE Link Victim Notification in Cottonwood County

VINE is a free statewide service that lets you track inmate custody status in Cottonwood County and across Minnesota. The service connects to the county jail and state facilities and sends alerts when custody changes. Search by name at vinelink.com or call 1-877-664-8463. Registration is required only if you want alerts sent to you automatically by phone, email, or text.

The screenshot below is from VINE Link, the statewide inmate tracking and notification service that covers the Cottonwood County jail.

Use VINE Link to track custody status and receive free alerts when an inmate's status changes at the Cottonwood County jail or a state facility.

Expungement of Cottonwood County Criminal Records

Minnesota law gives people a way to seal their criminal record through an expungement petition. The governing statute is Minn. Stat. § 609A.02, which defines who may petition and what cases qualify. A person with a Cottonwood County criminal record would file their petition at the District Court at 900 3rd Avenue in Windom. The court then notifies all agencies holding a copy of the record, and those agencies may respond before a judge rules.

Expungement seals the record. It does not erase it entirely. After expungement, the record will not show up in MCRO or most background check systems. Law enforcement agencies may still be able to access sealed records under specific conditions set by law. Eligibility depends on the nature of the offense and how the case was resolved. Certain serious crimes cannot be expunged. 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 Windom courthouse or through the Minnesota Courts website. If you are not sure whether your record qualifies, a legal aid organization or attorney familiar with Minnesota expungement law can help you assess your options before you file.

Cities in Cottonwood County

Cottonwood County is a rural county in southwestern Minnesota. Windom serves as the county seat and the location of both the courthouse and the Sheriff's Office. All criminal cases from across the county are handled by the Cottonwood County District Court in Windom.

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

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cottonwood County. Each handles criminal cases through its own District Court as part of the 5th Judicial District.