Hennepin County Criminal History Records

Hennepin County criminal history records are kept by the Sheriff's Office, the District Court, and the County Attorney's Office in Minneapolis. With a population of about 1.28 million, Hennepin is the largest county in Minnesota and runs the busiest court in the state. You can search criminal history records online through state databases, look up active cases through the County Attorney, or visit the courthouse in person. This guide covers where to search, what tools are free, and how the county handles criminal records under state law.

Hennepin County Sheriff Criminal Records

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the county and maintains arrest and jail records as part of that work. The Sheriff serves the unincorporated areas of the county and provides support to cities across the county. Booking records, jail rosters, and arrest data all flow through the Sheriff's department. The main office is at 350 S 5th St Room 6, Minneapolis MN 55415. You can reach them at (612) 348-3744.

The Sheriff's Office publishes a Jail Data Dashboard that gives the public a look at current jail population and trends. Visit hennepinsheriff.org/jail/jail-data-dashboard to access it. This tool shows data on who is booked, how long people stay, and what charges are involved. It is not a direct inmate search, but it gives useful context about jail activity. For direct jail inquiries, call (612) 596-9900.

The screenshot below was captured from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office website, which is the starting point for jail and law enforcement record requests.

The Sheriff's site has contact info for the jail, civil division, and records unit. Use it to find the right office for your specific request.

Hennepin County Criminal Court Records

The Hennepin County District Court handles all criminal cases filed in the county, from misdemeanors to felonies. It is part of Minnesota's 4th Judicial District. The court sits at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S Sixth St, Minneapolis MN 55487. Court records can be reached at (612) 348-3991, and general court inquiries go to (612) 348-6000.

Minnesota Court Records Online, known as MCRO, is the free public access system for court case records. You can search by name or case number and pull up docket entries, hearing dates, charges, and case status. MCRO covers Hennepin County District Court cases going back many years. Access it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. Some records are sealed or restricted by court order, so not every case will appear in full.

The screenshot below is from the Hennepin County District Court page on mncourts.gov, which lists court locations, hours, and contact information for all court divisions in the county.

The court page also links to self-help resources and forms for people who want to access or correct their own criminal records.

Minnesota Statute 13.82 governs what law enforcement data is public. Arrest data, incident reports, and booking information are largely public under this statute, though some details can be restricted. If you are looking at older cases, the court maintains paper and digital records going back decades. Staff at the Records Center can help you locate files that are not fully online.

Hennepin County Attorney Case Search

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office prosecutes adult felonies in the county. Their office runs a public case search tool that lets you look up adult felony cases directly. You can search by name, case number, or other identifiers. This is a separate system from MCRO and often gives more detail about charging decisions and prosecution outcomes. Access it at hennepinattorney.org/en/cases/adult-felonies/case-search.

The screenshot below is from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office website, where the adult felony case search tool lives alongside other public information about county prosecutions.

This case search covers felony-level charges handled by the County Attorney. For misdemeanor cases handled by city attorneys, check directly with MCRO or the relevant city.

Note: The County Attorney case search is limited to adult felonies. Juvenile records and most misdemeanors do not appear in this system.

Background Checks and BCA Criminal History

For a full criminal history background check in Minnesota, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is the primary source. The BCA maintains statewide criminal history records that include arrests, charges, and dispositions from courts across Minnesota, including Hennepin County. You can request a personal record check or a third-party check through their online portal at dps.mn.gov.

The BCA also runs the Minnesota sex offender registry and maintains records on violent offenders under various state statutes. If you need an official certified criminal history for legal or administrative purposes, the BCA is where to go. The Predatory Offender Registration system is separate from a general background check and covers people required to register under state law. You can search the public offender list at bca.dps.mn.gov.

Minnesota Statute 13.87 sets the rules for criminal history data maintained by law enforcement. It limits who can get full criminal history records and under what conditions. Most members of the public can access arrest-level data, but full disposition histories may require a formal BCA request with proper authorization. Courts and government agencies have broader access than private individuals.

The DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer shows current and past offenders in Minnesota Department of Corrections custody. For anyone convicted and sentenced to prison, this is where you check their current status, facility, and release information. It covers offenders statewide and is free to use.

Hennepin County Criminal Record Expungement

Minnesota law allows people to petition for expungement of certain criminal records under Minnesota Statute 609A.02. An expungement seals the record from public view. Not every offense qualifies. The law sets out which convictions and arrests are eligible and what waiting periods apply before you can file. Hennepin County handles expungement petitions through the District Court.

Filing for expungement means submitting a petition to the court where the case was handled. For Hennepin County cases, that is the District Court in Minneapolis. The petition must be served on several agencies, including the BCA, the arresting agency, and the prosecuting office. Each has a chance to object before the judge rules. The process takes several months from start to finish.

If granted, an expungement does not erase the record entirely. Law enforcement and certain agencies can still see sealed records under specific circumstances. But for most everyday purposes, the record is not visible to the public. Legal aid organizations in Hennepin County can help you figure out if you qualify and how to file the petition correctly.

Victim Notification: VINE Link

VINE, which stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday, is a free service that lets crime victims track the custody status of offenders. If someone was arrested and jailed in Hennepin County, you can register for automatic alerts through vinelink.com. Notifications go out when an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes. This service is available around the clock and does not require you to go to the courthouse to stay informed.

Cities in Hennepin County

Hennepin County covers Minneapolis and a large number of suburbs. All criminal cases filed anywhere in the county go through the Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis.

Other communities in Hennepin County include Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, and Edina. Criminal records for all of these cities are handled through the Hennepin County court system.

Nearby Counties

Hennepin County borders several other Minnesota counties. If you are not sure which county has the records you need, check where the arrest or case was filed.