Stearns County Criminal History Records

Stearns County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The county serves a population of about 160,000 and is part of the 7th Judicial District. The Sheriff's Office provides several online tools including an inmate search, warrant search, most wanted list, and a criminal case search by last name. This page covers those tools along with the state resources for criminal records, background checks, and expungement in Stearns County.

Stearns County Sheriff Criminal Records

The Stearns County Sheriff's Office is located at 807 Courthouse Sq Room S100, St Cloud MN 56303. The main phone number is (320) 259-3700. The jail phone is (320) 259-3750. The Warrants Division can be reached at (320) 259-3955. Juvenile records go through a separate line at (320) 259-3760. The Sheriff's Office website is at stearnscountymn.gov/342/Sheriffs-Office.

The Stearns County Sheriff provides one of the more complete online search tools available at the county level in Minnesota. The Inmate/Warrant Search at stearnscountymn.gov/561/Inmate-Warrant-Searches lets you search current inmates, view past booking records going back up to 7 years, check outstanding warrants, and see the most wanted list. All of this is available through a single search interface on the county website. This is a useful starting point before using state databases.

The screenshot below is from the Stearns County Sheriff's Office website, the main hub for law enforcement record requests and online search tools in Saint Cloud and the surrounding county.

The Sheriff's site links to the inmate search, warrant list, most wanted, and contact information for each division including records and warrants.

Stearns County Court Records and Criminal Case Search

The Stearns County District Court is located at 725 Courthouse Sq, St Cloud MN 56303. The court phone is (320) 656-3620. Stearns County is part of the 7th Judicial District. The court handles all criminal case types in the county, from misdemeanors through felonies. The District Court page is at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/Stearns.aspx.

The Sheriff's Office also operates a Criminal Case Search at stearnscountymn.gov/250/Criminal-Case-Search. You can search by last name, court file number, or ICR number. This gives you a county-level look at cases handled by the Sheriff. For the full court docket, use MCRO at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. MCRO is the statewide free portal and pulls data directly from the court system. It covers Stearns County cases going back many years and shows charges, hearing dates, and case status.

The screenshot below is from the Stearns County Inmate/Warrant Search page, which gives the public access to current and historical booking records, warrant data, and the most wanted list.

This search tool is one of the more useful county-level criminal history resources in Minnesota, covering both live inmate data and historical records up to 7 years back.

The screenshot below is from the Stearns County District Court page on mncourts.gov, listing the courthouse address, court contacts, and available services for criminal and civil cases in Saint Cloud.

The court page is the right starting point for understanding which division handles a case type and confirming courthouse hours before a visit.

Minnesota Statute 13.82 governs what law enforcement data is public in Minnesota. Arrest data, booking records, and incident reports are generally accessible under this statute. Some details may be restricted while a case is under active investigation.

The screenshot below is from Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), the statewide system that covers all Stearns County criminal court case filings and docket activity.

MCRO is free to use, does not require an account, and gives full case-level data including charges, hearings, and case status for Stearns County filings.

Stearns County Jail, Warrants, and Most Wanted

The Stearns County Jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office in Saint Cloud. The inmate/warrant search at stearnscountymn.gov/561/Inmate-Warrant-Searches covers current inmates, past bookings up to 7 years old, outstanding warrants, and the most wanted list. This is a comprehensive public tool that handles most common lookup needs without requiring a phone call or courthouse visit.

For warrant-specific questions, call the Warrants Division at (320) 259-3955. Warrants are tracked in the Sheriff's system and will appear in the online search tool when active. The most wanted list gives additional context about people with significant outstanding warrants in the county. For juvenile records, those are handled separately through the dedicated juvenile records line at (320) 259-3760. For state prison inmates, check the DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer.

Background Checks and BCA Criminal History

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at bca.dps.mn.gov maintains the statewide criminal history database that includes Stearns County arrests, charges, and dispositions. The BCA is the official source for a comprehensive and certified Minnesota criminal history. You can request a personal record check or an authorized third-party check through their portal.

Minnesota Statute 13.87 sets the rules for criminal history data access. Arrest-level data is generally public. Full disposition histories require authorized access. The Stearns County Sheriff's criminal case search and inmate/warrant tool are good county-level resources, but the BCA check gives a complete statewide picture. For most searches, starting with the Sheriff's online tools and then checking MCRO will cover the basics before deciding if a formal BCA request is needed.

Stearns County Criminal Record Expungement

People with Stearns County criminal records may qualify for expungement under Minnesota Statute 609A.02. Expungement seals a record from public searches. The law sets eligibility rules and waiting periods based on the charge type and how the case was resolved. Not every offense qualifies under state law. Petitions are filed with the District Court in Saint Cloud.

The petition must be served on the BCA, the arresting agency, and the prosecuting attorney. Each has a review window to respond or object before the judge rules. If the court approves the request, the record is sealed from public view. Law enforcement retains limited access to sealed records under circumstances allowed by state law. The full process typically takes several months from filing to a ruling. The court clerk in Saint Cloud can provide information about self-help forms and resources for people filing without an attorney.

Victim Notification: VINE Link

VINE Link is a free notification service that lets crime victims track offender custody status in Stearns County and across the state. Register at vinelink.com to receive automatic alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes. The service runs around the clock and covers both the county jail and state correctional facilities.

Cities in Stearns County

Stearns County includes Saint Cloud and surrounding communities. All criminal cases filed anywhere in the county are handled by the Stearns County District Court in Saint Cloud.

Other communities in Stearns County include Waite Park, Sartell, Sauk Centre, Albany, and Cold Spring. Criminal records for all of these communities are handled through the Stearns County court system.

Nearby Counties

Stearns County borders several other Minnesota counties. Use the links below to find records in a neighboring county if needed.