Olmsted County Criminal History Records
Olmsted County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office, the District Court, and state agencies serving the Rochester area. The county is the most populous in southeastern Minnesota, with a court system that handles a significant volume of criminal cases each year. You can search criminal history records through statewide online tools, contact the courthouse directly, or work with the BCA for a full background check. This page covers the key sources for Olmsted County criminal records, how to access them, and what the law says about public access.
Olmsted County Overview
Olmsted County Sheriff Criminal Records
The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county and the keeper of arrest and jail records. The Sheriff handles patrol outside Rochester city limits and provides support across the county. All bookings into the Olmsted County jail run through the Sheriff's department, making it the first stop for recent arrest information. The office is at 101 4th St SE, Rochester MN 55904. You can call them at (507) 328-6780, and the jail line is (507) 328-6770.
The Sheriff's Office maintains records of all arrests made under county jurisdiction. These records include booking data, charges, and custody status. If someone was recently booked into the Olmsted County jail, the Sheriff's office is where that information is held. Requests for copies of arrest records or incident reports can be directed to the Records Division at the same address. Some records may require a written request or an official form depending on the type of data you need.
Olmsted County is the most populous county in the 3rd Judicial District. That means the Sheriff's office deals with a high volume of law enforcement activity compared to neighboring counties. It also means the records system is more developed, with more staff and more established procedures for public records requests.
| Office | Olmsted County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 4th St SE, Rochester MN 55904 |
| Main Phone | (507) 328-6780 |
| Jail Phone | (507) 328-6770 |
| Website | olmstedcounty.gov/departments/sheriff |
Olmsted County Court Records and MCRO
The Olmsted County District Court is part of Minnesota's 3rd Judicial District and handles criminal cases from misdemeanors through felonies. The courthouse is at 151 4th St SE, Rochester MN 55904. Court records can be reached at (507) 206-2400. This is the court that handles all criminal matters filed in Olmsted County, and its records go back many years.
The screenshot below is from the Olmsted County District Court page on mncourts.gov, which lists court locations, contact information, and court divisions in the county.
The court page links to filing information, self-help resources, and contact details for each division. Use it as a starting point if you need to request records in person or find the right office.
Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO, is the statewide free public access tool for court case data. You can search by name or case number and find docket entries, hearing dates, charges, and case outcomes. The screenshot below is from publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us, the MCRO portal.
MCRO covers Olmsted County cases and is updated regularly. Some records are sealed or restricted by court order and will not appear in full. For sealed or expunged cases, you would need to contact the court directly.
Minnesota Statute 13.82 lays out what law enforcement data is considered public. Under this statute, arrest data, case summaries, and booking records are largely accessible to the public, though certain personal details may be withheld in specific situations.
Olmsted County Jail and Warrant Information
The Olmsted County jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office at the same facility on 4th St SE in Rochester. To ask about a current inmate, call the jail directly at (507) 328-6770. Jail staff can confirm whether someone is in custody and provide general booking information. For more detailed custody data, the VINE notification system is available through vinelink.com. VINE lets you register for automated alerts when an inmate's status changes.
The screenshot below is from VINE Link, the victim notification service that tracks inmate custody status across Olmsted County and all Minnesota counties.
VINE is free to use and available around the clock. You can sign up for phone, text, or email alerts without going to the courthouse.
For active warrants in Olmsted County, the best approach is to contact the Sheriff's Office directly or check with the District Court. Warrant information is not always published in a public online list at the county level, so a phone call or in-person visit may be needed to confirm warrant status. The court clerk can also confirm whether a warrant has been issued in connection with a specific case.
Background Checks and BCA Criminal History
For a complete criminal history background check covering Olmsted County and all of Minnesota, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the main source. The BCA keeps statewide criminal history data that includes arrests, charges, and court dispositions from every county in Minnesota. You can request a personal record check or a third-party check through bca.dps.mn.gov.
Minnesota Statute 13.87 governs criminal history data held by law enforcement. It sets limits on who can access full criminal history records and under what conditions. Arrest-level data is generally public, but full disposition records may require formal authorization depending on the purpose of the request. Courts and government agencies have broader access rights than private individuals.
The DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer tracks people currently or previously in Minnesota Department of Corrections custody. If someone from Olmsted County was convicted and sentenced to prison, you can look them up in this system to find their current facility and release status.
Olmsted County Criminal Record Expungement
Minnesota law provides a path to seal certain criminal records through expungement under Minnesota Statute 609A.02. Not every offense qualifies, and waiting periods apply before you can file. For cases handled in Olmsted County, petitions go to the District Court in Rochester. The court reviews the petition, and several agencies get a chance to respond before a judge rules on it.
An expungement seals the record from public view. It does not erase the record entirely. Law enforcement and certain state agencies can still see sealed records in specific circumstances. But for most everyday purposes, the sealed record is not visible. The process takes several months from filing to final decision. Legal aid organizations serving Rochester and Olmsted County can help you determine if you qualify and how to file correctly.
Note: Expungement eligibility depends on the specific offense and how much time has passed since the case was resolved.
Cities in Olmsted County
Olmsted County is anchored by Rochester, the largest city in southeastern Minnesota. All criminal cases from across the county are handled by the Olmsted County District Court in Rochester.
Other communities in Olmsted County include Byron, Stewartville, Eyota, and Chatfield. Criminal records for all of these are handled through the Olmsted County court system.
Nearby Counties
Olmsted County borders several counties in southeastern Minnesota. If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, check where the arrest or case was filed.