Stevens County Criminal History Records
Stevens County criminal history records are held by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in Morris. The county is small, with a population of about 10,000, but it runs a full court and jail system through the 8th Judicial District. You can search court case records through the state's free MCRO system, check jail data through the Sheriff, or request a certified background check from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. This page covers the main ways to find criminal records in Stevens County and who to contact when you need help.
Stevens County Overview
Stevens County Sheriff Criminal Records
The Stevens County Sheriff's Office is the lead law enforcement agency in the county. It handles arrests, jail operations, and keeps booking records for anyone taken into custody in Stevens County. The main office is at 400 Colorado Ave Suite 401, Morris MN 56267. You can call them at (320) 208-6500. The jail administrator is Jason Dingman, and you can reach him directly at jasondingman@co.stevens.mn.us for questions about inmates or custody matters.
Arrest records and booking data are public under Minnesota law. The Sheriff's Office processes all law enforcement activity in the unincorporated areas of Stevens County and works with local police in Morris and other communities. If someone was arrested in Stevens County, the booking data will flow through the Sheriff's department. For specific records requests, contact the office by phone or email and ask for the records unit. Walk-in requests are handled at the courthouse address above.
The screenshot below was captured from the Stevens District Court page on mncourts.gov, which gives contact and location details for court services in Morris.
Use the court page to find filing hours, clerk contact info, and what services are available in person versus online.
| Office | Stevens County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 400 Colorado Ave Suite 401, Morris MN 56267 |
| Phone | (320) 208-6500 |
| Jail Admin | Jason Dingman |
| Jail Email | jasondingman@co.stevens.mn.us |
Stevens County Criminal Court Records
Stevens County is part of Minnesota's 8th Judicial District. All criminal cases filed in the county, from traffic offenses to felonies, are handled by the District Court in Morris. The court maintains case files that include charges, hearing dates, judgments, and sentencing information. For most people, the easiest way to access these records is through the free online system called Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO).
MCRO is available at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. You can search by name or case number and pull up docket entries for Stevens County cases. The system covers both active and closed cases, though some records are restricted by court order or by statute. Juvenile records, for example, are not public. If you can't find what you need online, the court clerk in Morris can help you search in person or by phone.
The screenshot below is from Minnesota Court Records Online, the state's public access portal for court case data including Stevens County criminal records.
MCRO is free to use and does not require registration. It is the fastest way to check whether a criminal case exists in Stevens County District Court.
Minnesota Statute 13.82 sets out what law enforcement data is public. Arrest records, case numbers, and booking information are generally available. Some details can be withheld if they would compromise an active investigation or if the court has issued a sealing order. For older cases, the court may hold paper records that are not fully digitized yet. The clerk's office can help locate those files.
Stevens County Jail and Warrant Information
Stevens County operates a jail through the Sheriff's Office at the Morris courthouse location. If you need to know whether someone is currently in custody, contact the Sheriff's Office at (320) 208-6500 or email the jail administrator directly. The county does not currently maintain a public online inmate roster, so phone and email are the fastest ways to check.
For victim notification and custody status alerts, Stevens County participates in the VINE system. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. You can register through vinelink.com to get automatic alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or has a change in status. The service is free and available around the clock. You do not need to go to the courthouse to sign up.
The screenshot below is from VINE Link, the national notification system that Stevens County connects to for custody alerts and victim services.
VINE covers jails and prisons statewide. If someone connected to a case moves from the Stevens County jail to a state prison, VINE can still send alerts about their custody status.
Background Checks and BCA Criminal History
For a certified criminal history background check that covers all of Minnesota, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is the right place to go. The BCA maintains a statewide database of arrests, charges, and dispositions from every county, including Stevens. You can access the BCA's background check services at bca.dps.mn.gov. Requests can be made online, and fees apply depending on the type of check and the requestor.
Minnesota Statute 13.87 governs how criminal history data is maintained and who can access it. Most people can see arrest-level information, but full disposition records may require a formal request with proper identification. Government agencies and licensed entities have broader access than private individuals. If you are requesting your own record, the process is different from requesting someone else's. The BCA website has step-by-step instructions for both personal and third-party checks.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections also runs an Offender Locator tool at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer. If someone from Stevens County was convicted and sent to a state prison, you can look them up there. The tool shows current facility, custody status, and release information. It is free and open to the public.
Stevens County Criminal Record Expungement
Minnesota law gives people the right to petition for expungement of certain criminal records under Minnesota Statute 609A.02. An expungement seals the record from public view. Not every offense is eligible. The law lists which arrests and convictions can be expunged and what waiting periods apply before you can file. For cases that happened in Stevens County, you file the petition with the District Court in Morris.
The petition process requires serving several agencies, including the BCA, the arresting agency, and the prosecuting office. Each agency gets a chance to object before the judge decides. The process typically takes a few months. If granted, the record is sealed from public view but can still be seen by law enforcement and certain government bodies under specific conditions.
Note: Legal aid resources in the region can help Stevens County residents understand whether they qualify for expungement and how to file correctly.
Cities in Stevens County
Stevens County's county seat is Morris, which is also the largest city in the county. All criminal cases filed anywhere in Stevens County go through the District Court in Morris.
No cities in Stevens County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. Criminal records for Morris and other communities in the county are all handled through the Stevens County court system.
Nearby Counties
Stevens County borders several counties in west-central Minnesota. If you are not sure which county handled a particular case, check where the arrest or incident took place.