Find Criminal History Records in Lake County

Lake County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the 6th Judicial District Court in Two Harbors. Whether you are looking up an arrest, checking on a court case, or verifying custody status, the Sheriff and the Minnesota Court Records Online system are your primary resources. Lake County covers a large area along the North Shore of Lake Superior. This guide walks you through how to search criminal records, access jail data, and understand your options under Minnesota law.

Lake County Sheriff's Office

The Lake County Sheriff's Office in Two Harbors is responsible for law enforcement throughout the county. Deputies patrol a large geographic area that stretches from the Lake Superior shoreline into the interior wilderness. The Sheriff keeps arrest records, incident reports, and related documentation. These are the starting point for most criminal history searches in Lake County. Staff can field questions about records in person or by phone at (218) 834-8385.

The office is located at 613 Third Ave in Two Harbors. If you need an arrest record or report, call ahead to confirm what is available and whether you need to submit a written request. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, certain arrest data must be made public. This includes the name of the person, the date and time of the arrest, the charges, and the place of arrest. Some details may be withheld if they relate to an active investigation or a protected person.

Lake County Criminal Court Records

Lake County is part of the 6th Judicial District. The District Court in Two Harbors handles all criminal matters filed in the county. Court records are available through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). You can search by name or case number for free. The system shows case status, charges, hearing dates, and docket entries. It covers many years of case history from the Lake County District Court.

The MCRO portal is shown below, which serves as a public gateway to Lake County court case data.

The Minnesota Court Records Online system provides free public access to Lake County criminal case records including charges, case status, and hearing information.

The Lake County District Court page at mncourts.gov has contact information for the clerk's office. Staff there can help with certified copies or requests for documents that are not available online. The court clerk is the right contact if you need a certified copy of a criminal judgment or charging document from the District Court.

The Lake County District Court handles all criminal filings in the county and is part of the 6th Judicial District serving northeastern Minnesota.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.87, criminal history data held by Minnesota government agencies is classified as private unless the person has a conviction. Public access depends on the charge type and outcome. The clerk can clarify what is accessible in a specific case.

Lake County Jail and Inmate Information

The Lake County Jail is located at the Sheriff's facility in Two Harbors. It has a capacity of about 25 inmates. The jail also houses inmates from Cook County and St. Louis County at times, depending on overflow needs in the region. To ask about a specific person in custody, call the inmate voicemail line at (218) 216-7460.

The jail information page is shown below, which includes visiting rules and inmate contact details.

The Lake County Jail page at co.lake.mn.us provides details on visiting hours, video visitation, and how to contact inmates in custody.

Visiting hours at the Lake County Jail are on Saturdays from 1 to 4 PM, Sundays from 1:30 to 5:30 PM, and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Video visitation is available through the Reliance Connect app at $0.25 per minute, seven days a week from 7 AM to 11 PM. If you are trying to reach an inmate outside of visiting hours, the inmate voicemail line is available for messages.

VINE Link is available for custody status notifications in Lake County. Sign up at vinelink.com to receive alerts when someone is released or transferred. This service is free and available around the clock.

VINE Link lets anyone sign up for automated alerts about custody status changes for inmates held at the Lake County Jail.

Statewide Criminal Background Checks

For a criminal background check that goes beyond Lake County, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the right resource. The BCA maintains a central database of criminal records from all 87 Minnesota counties. Their website is bca.dps.mn.gov. This is useful when you need a complete picture that may include activity in other parts of the state.

The BCA offers public background checks for a fee. The subject of a record can request their own file. Certain authorized agencies and individuals may request records under specific legal standards. The BCA processes requests online and by mail. Response times vary depending on the type of check and the volume of requests being handled at that time.

Expungement of Lake County Criminal Records

Minnesota's expungement statute at Minn. Stat. § 609A.02 allows certain criminal records to be sealed by court order. When a record is expunged, it is removed from public searches and sealed from most private background check services. Dismissed charges and cases that did not result in a conviction are often good candidates for expungement. Some convictions are also eligible depending on the offense level and time elapsed.

To seek expungement in Lake County, you file a petition with the 6th Judicial District Court in Two Harbors. The court notifies the prosecutor and the Sheriff. Both can respond or object. A hearing is scheduled. The judge reviews the petition and decides whether sealing the record serves the public interest. If granted, all agencies holding records of the case must seal them. Legal aid organizations in northeastern Minnesota may be able to assist people who cannot afford an attorney for this process.

Note: An expungement in Minnesota seals records from public view but does not destroy them. Some government agencies may still access sealed records under law for certain official purposes.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County is largely rural with a small overall population. The county seat is Two Harbors. Silver Bay and Beaver Bay are other communities within the county. All criminal cases in Lake County are handled through the 6th Judicial District Court in Two Harbors.

Nearby Counties

Lake County borders these Minnesota counties. If the records you need involve a nearby jurisdiction, check the correct county for that case.