St. Louis County Criminal History Records
St. Louis County criminal history records are kept by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in Duluth, Minnesota. The county is the largest in Minnesota by area and serves a population of about 200,000 people. It is part of the 6th Judicial District. Whether you need to find an arrest record, look up a court case, or check someone's custody status, this page points you to the right tools and offices for St. Louis County criminal records. Several free online resources are available through the county and state.
St. Louis County Overview
St. Louis County Sheriff Criminal Records
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office is located at 1001 E Hwy 12, Duluth MN 55805. The main phone number is (218) 726-2323. For non-emergency calls, use (218) 726-2455. The Sheriff manages law enforcement for a very large geographic county and operates the county jail. Arrest records, booking data, and incident information are all processed through this office. Jail administration is handled by Robyn Wojciechowski, who can be reached at wojor@stlouiscountymn.gov for jail-related administrative inquiries.
The Sheriff's Office website at stlouiscountymn.gov/sheriff has contact information, division listings, and links to services. Given the size of the county, the Sheriff's department handles a significant volume of law enforcement activity. Arrest data is generally public under Minnesota Statute 13.82, which sets out what law enforcement records must be made available. Incident reports and booking records are typically accessible to the public. Some details may be limited during active investigations.
The screenshot below is from the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office website, which is the starting point for jail inquiries and law enforcement record requests in the county.
The Sheriff's site lists office contacts, division information, and resources for the public seeking records or assistance from the department.
| Office | St. Louis County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 1001 E Hwy 12, Duluth MN 55805 |
| Main Phone | (218) 726-2323 |
| Non-Emergency | (218) 726-2455 |
| Jail Admin | wojor@stlouiscountymn.gov |
| Website | stlouiscountymn.gov/sheriff |
St. Louis County Court Records and Criminal Case Search
The St. Louis County District Court handles all criminal cases in the county. It is part of the 6th Judicial District. The court can be reached at (218) 726-2460. For court location details and hours, visit the St. Louis County court page at mncourts.gov. Given the county's size, there are multiple courthouse locations across the county, with the main one in Duluth.
Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO, is the free public search tool for court case data statewide. You can search by name or case number and find docket entries, charges, hearing dates, and case status for St. Louis County criminal cases. Access it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. MCRO covers cases going back many years and is updated as courts process activity. Some records are sealed or restricted by court order and will not appear in full. MCRO is the fastest way to check a case in St. Louis County without visiting the courthouse.
The screenshot below is from Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), which covers all St. Louis County criminal court case filings and is free to use.
MCRO does not require an account and is available any time. It is the main free tool for searching St. Louis County court case data by name or case number.
Minnesota Statute 13.82 defines what law enforcement and arrest data must be made public in Minnesota. Booking records, arrest information, and incident reports are generally accessible under this law. For older cases or records not available online, the court clerk in Duluth can assist with locating files. Some older records may be on paper and require a manual pull from court archives.
St. Louis County Jail and Custody Information
The St. Louis County Jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office in Duluth. It is one of the larger county jails in northern Minnesota. If you need to find out whether someone is in custody, call the Sheriff's main line at (218) 726-2323 or the non-emergency line at (218) 726-2455. For administrative matters related to jail operations, contact Robyn Wojciechowski at wojor@stlouiscountymn.gov.
For people sentenced to state prison on St. Louis County convictions, the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer shows current facility, sentence data, and release information. Outstanding warrants are tracked internally by the Sheriff and may show up in MCRO docket entries. If you believe a warrant is active, contact the Sheriff's Office or run a name search through MCRO to check the case file. Addressing a warrant voluntarily through the court is typically the most straightforward approach to resolving it.
Note: St. Louis County is the largest county in Minnesota by area. If you are looking for records from a specific city or area of the county, confirm which courthouse handles that location before visiting in person.
Background Checks and BCA Criminal History
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains the statewide criminal history database at bca.dps.mn.gov. This database includes arrests, charges, and dispositions from St. Louis County and every other county in Minnesota. The BCA is the primary official source for a comprehensive Minnesota criminal history. You can request a personal record check or an authorized third-party check through their online portal.
Minnesota Statute 13.87 governs access to criminal history data and sets limits on who can obtain which parts of a record. Arrest-level data is generally accessible to the public, but full criminal histories with all dispositions require an authorized formal request. The BCA also maintains the sex offender registry and other public safety databases that include St. Louis County records. For a certified and complete view of a person's Minnesota criminal history, the BCA is the standard tool. MCRO gives case-level data for free and covers most general searches.
St. Louis County Criminal Record Expungement
People with St. Louis County criminal records may be eligible to petition for expungement under Minnesota Statute 609A.02. An expungement seals a record from public view. The statute sets eligibility rules and waiting periods based on the charge type and how the case ended. Not every offense qualifies. Petitions go through the District Court in Duluth, where the original case was heard.
An expungement petition must be served on the BCA, the arresting agency, and the prosecuting attorney. Each has a window to review the request and potentially object. After the review period, the judge holds a hearing and makes a ruling. If the petition is granted, the record is sealed from public view. Law enforcement retains limited access to sealed records under circumstances defined by state law. The process usually takes several months. Northern Minnesota legal aid organizations serve St. Louis County and can help you understand whether your record qualifies and how to file.
Victim Notification: VINE Link
VINE Link is a free service that lets crime victims track the custody status of people held in St. Louis County or at state facilities. Register at vinelink.com to receive automatic alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes. Notifications can be sent by phone, email, or text. The service runs around the clock and does not require any contact with the Sheriff's Office or courthouse to stay informed about custody changes.
The screenshot below is from VINE Link, the free victim notification service that covers St. Louis County jail inmates and all state correctional facilities.
Registration is free and you can choose to receive alerts by phone call, text message, or email whenever an offender's custody status changes.
Cities in St. Louis County
St. Louis County is the largest county in Minnesota and includes Duluth along with many smaller cities and communities. Criminal cases from across the county go through the District Court system headquartered in Duluth.
Other communities in St. Louis County include Virginia, Hibbing, Eveleth, Chisholm, Two Harbors, and Mountain Iron. Criminal records for all of these communities are handled through the St. Louis County court system.
Nearby Counties
St. Louis County borders several other Minnesota counties. If you are looking for records from a neighboring area, use the links below.