Martin County Criminal History Records

Martin County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Fairmont and the 5th Judicial District Court. The county publishes an online jail roster with inmate photos, charges, custody status, and projected release dates. Minnesota Court Records Online gives free access to criminal case data from the District Court. This page explains how to search Martin County criminal history, look up court cases, check on an inmate, and understand your rights under Minnesota law.

Martin County Sheriff Criminal Records

The Martin County Sheriff's Office is at 201 Lake Ave, Suite 199 in Fairmont. The main phone is (507) 238-3150 and the jail line is (507) 238-3151. The office website is at co.martin.mn.us. The Sheriff handles law enforcement across the county, including arrests and jail operations. Arrest records and incident reports kept at the Sheriff's Office form the core of Martin County criminal history data.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, arrest data is public in Minnesota. The name of the arrested person, the date and time, the charges filed, and the location of the arrest are all required disclosures. Some information may be withheld if releasing it would harm an active investigation. Martin County also publishes an online jail roster at co.martin.mn.us/jail_roster. The roster lists current inmates with photos, charges, custody status, and projected release dates.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office page is shown below, sourced from co.martin.mn.us.

Visit the Martin County Sheriff's Office for contact details, the jail roster link, and criminal records access information.

District Court Criminal Records

Martin County is part of the 5th Judicial District. The District Court in Fairmont handles all criminal filings in the county. The courthouse is at 201 Lake Ave in Fairmont, with a general line of (507) 238-3211. Court staff keep complete case files including charging documents, hearing schedules, and dispositions. For certified copies or records not available online, contact the clerk directly or visit in person during business hours.

The free public tool for searching Martin County court records is Minnesota Court Records Online. Go to publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us and search by name or case number. MCRO shows charges, docket entries, case status, and outcomes. Juvenile cases and sealed records do not appear. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, most adult criminal case data is public and will appear in results.

The Martin County District Court page on mncourts.gov is shown below, sourced from mncourts.gov.

See the Martin County court page for clerk contact details, court hours, and links to case search tools.

The Minnesota Court Records Online search portal is shown below, captured from publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us.

Search Martin County criminal cases for free at Minnesota Court Records Online.

Background Checks and BCA Criminal History

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension manages the state's criminal history database. Two public tools are available. The free Criminal History Search at cch.state.mn.us shows conviction records and open cases for most adults in Minnesota. For a more complete certified report, the $15 paid BCA background check is at dps.mn.gov. That paid report covers a broader range of records and is certified for official use.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.87, criminal history data held by law enforcement is private. People can request their own records from the BCA. Third-party requests require a legal basis. For people serving state prison time, use the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us. That free tool covers all DOC facilities and shows current location and expected release date.

Expungement

Minnesota lets people petition to seal certain criminal records from public view. The main statute is Minn. Stat. § 609A.02, which sets out which offenses qualify, what waiting periods apply, and how the court weighs the petition. Dismissed cases and not-guilty outcomes are typically the strongest candidates. Some conviction records also qualify after the right waiting period has passed.

To file in Martin County, you submit a petition to the 5th Judicial District Court in Fairmont. The court notifies every agency holding the record, and those agencies can object. A hearing is set. The judge decides whether to grant the seal. Cases that ended in a dismissal or acquittal may qualify for automatic sealing under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015, which does not require a full petition. The process from filing to decision can take three to six months. The Minnesota Courts self-help page at mncourts.gov has forms and guides. Legal aid in southern Minnesota can help if you are unsure whether your case qualifies.

VINE Link

VINE Link is a free service for tracking inmate custody status in Martin County. It covers the county jail in Fairmont as well as state prison facilities throughout Minnesota. Go to vinelink.com and search by name to check current custody status. You can also register for automated alerts by phone, text, or email that notify you when a person is released, transferred, or has a custody change. For direct questions about a specific person at the Fairmont jail, call the jail line at (507) 238-3151. VINE Link is available at no cost and does not require registration for a basic name search.

Cities in Martin County

Martin County's county seat is Fairmont, which is the largest city and home to the Sheriff's Office and District Court. Other communities in the county include Sherburn, Trimont, and Welcome. All criminal cases in Martin County are handled by the 5th Judicial District Court in Fairmont.

Nearby Counties

Martin County borders these Minnesota counties. Check the right county if you are unsure where records are held.