Redwood County Criminal History and Court Records

Redwood County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Redwood Falls and the 5th Judicial District Court. Redwood County is in southwest Minnesota along the Minnesota River, and all criminal cases for the area are handled through the Redwood Falls courthouse. The Sheriff publishes both an in-custody list and an active warrant list online, making Redwood County one of the more transparent counties in the state when it comes to public criminal data. This page covers those local tools along with state-level resources for background checks and court records.

Redwood County Sheriff and Local Criminal Records

The Redwood County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the county and keeps records tied to local arrests and criminal activity. The office is at 303 E. 3rd Street, Redwood Falls, MN 56283. The phone is (507) 637-4036 and the fax is (507) 637-4007. You can reach staff during business hours for questions about specific arrests or records requests. The Sheriff's website at redwoodcounty-mn.us links to department information and the online tools listed below.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, arrest data is public in Minnesota. Names, arrest times, charges, and locations of arrest must be released on request. Data may be withheld only if it would harm an active investigation or if a court has restricted access. Most basic arrest information is available to anyone who asks.

Redwood County makes two types of criminal records available online through the Sheriff's Office. The In Custody List at redwoodcounty-mn.us/in-custody shows current inmates with booking numbers, charges, and bail amounts. The Active Warrant List at redwoodcounty-mn.us/active-warrant-listing lists people in Redwood County who currently have outstanding arrest warrants. Both tools are publicly accessible and free to use. These are among the more useful county-level criminal history tools in southwest Minnesota.

The Redwood County Sheriff's Office website is shown below. This is where you can access the in-custody list, warrant listings, and department contact information.

Visit redwoodcounty-mn.us to access the Redwood County Sheriff's Office and its public criminal records tools.

The Redwood County In Custody listing is shown below. This page is updated regularly and shows who is currently held at the Redwood County Jail with charges and bail information.

Check the Redwood County In Custody List to see current inmates and their booking data.

District Court Records and MCRO

The Redwood County District Court is part of the 5th Judicial District and is based in Redwood Falls. The court handles criminal case filings and maintains official records for all crimes charged in the county. If a person was charged with a crime in Redwood County, the case file is at this courthouse. Court staff can assist with records requests during business hours. Online access through MCRO is often the faster first step.

Minnesota Court Records Online, known as MCRO, is the state's free public case search tool. It covers courts across Minnesota including Redwood County. You search by name or case number. The system shows party names, charges, case status, and docket entries. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and some active investigation files are not available. Most adult criminal cases going back many years are viewable at no cost. MCRO is the quickest way to check whether a person has a criminal case in Redwood County without visiting or calling the courthouse.

The Redwood County District Court page on the Minnesota Courts website is shown below. This page lists local court hours, contact details, and services available in Redwood Falls.

Visit mncourts.gov/find-courts/redwood for Redwood County court contacts and resources.

The MCRO search portal is shown below. This is the interface you will use to search Redwood County court cases online.

Access Minnesota Court Records Online to search Redwood County criminal cases at no charge.

BCA Background Checks and State Criminal History

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension manages the state's official criminal history database. The BCA collects records from courts and law enforcement across Minnesota, Redwood County included. Two tools are available to the public. The free site at cch.state.mn.us shows conviction data for most adults with a Minnesota record. A certified background check costs $15 and is available at dps.mn.gov. Certified checks use fingerprints and return more complete results than a name-only search.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.87, criminal history data held by law enforcement is classified as private in most situations. The BCA can release a person's own record on request. Third-party access is more limited under state law. If you need a certified report or want to check your own file, the BCA process is the right route. The Minnesota Department of Corrections Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us is free and covers people in state prison or on DOC supervision, separate from the county jail. Both are publicly available.

Expungement of Criminal Records in Redwood County

Minnesota law allows people to petition to seal certain criminal records. Minn. Stat. § 609A.02 covers who is eligible and which charges or convictions can be sealed. Expungement does not erase a record. It limits who can view it. Law enforcement can still access sealed records in many cases, but public tools like MCRO, the Redwood County in-custody list, and the warrant listing will no longer show the case. For someone trying to move past a prior arrest, expungement can make a real difference in what the public can find.

To start the process in Redwood County, you file a petition at the District Court in Redwood Falls. The court looks at the charges involved, how much time has passed since the case closed, and whether sealing the record is in the interest of justice. Waiting periods vary by offense type. Under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015, some cases qualify for automatic sealing after a defined period without any petition required. The court clerk in Redwood Falls can help you determine whether your case falls into that automatic category or whether a formal petition is needed.

Legal aid organizations serve southwest Minnesota and can assist with expungement paperwork. The Minnesota Courts self-help center at mncourts.gov also has guides and forms for people who want to handle the process themselves.

VINE Link and Inmate Status

VINE Link is a free national service for tracking inmate custody status at county jails and state facilities across Minnesota. You can search by name at vinelink.com to see if someone is in custody in Redwood County. VINE also lets you register for alerts when an inmate's status changes, including releases and transfers. The Redwood County in-custody list is another good option for current jail data. Between VINE Link and the Sheriff's in-custody listing, you have two solid ways to check who is held in Redwood County without calling the jail directly.

Cities in Redwood County

Redwood County is a rural county in southwest Minnesota. The county seat is Redwood Falls, and other communities in the county include Lamberton, Sleepy Eye, and Morgan. All criminal cases in the county are filed at the Redwood County District Court in Redwood Falls.

No cities in Redwood County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All county residents use the county-level courts and Sheriff's Office listed on this page.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Redwood County. If you need records from a neighboring area, check where the incident took place or where the person was living at the time of the case.