Criminal History Records in Traverse County
Traverse County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in Wheaton. Traverse is one of Minnesota's smaller counties, with a population of around 3,500, and it operates a small jail with limited capacity. Criminal case records are searchable through the state's free MCRO system, and the Sheriff's Office publishes an online inmate roster. This page covers how to find criminal records in Traverse County, including who to contact and what tools are available online.
Traverse County Overview
Traverse County Sheriff Criminal Records
The Traverse County Sheriff is Trevor J. Wright. The office is located at the courthouse, 203 7th St N, Wheaton MN 56296, and the phone number is (320) 422-7800. The Sheriff handles law enforcement throughout Traverse County, which sits on the North Dakota border in the far west of the state. Booking records, arrest data, and jail information are all managed through this office. Visit the Sheriff's page at co.traverse.mn.us/departments/departments/sheriff for contact details and services.
Traverse County operates a small jail. The facility has a capacity of up to 11 inmates. Because of that small size, the county sometimes transfers inmates to neighboring county jails when its own facility is at or near capacity. If you are looking for someone and they are not showing on the Traverse County roster, they may have been transferred. Call the Sheriff's Office directly if the roster does not show who you expect to find.
The screenshot below is from the Traverse County Sheriff's Office website, which is the main contact point for law enforcement and jail records in the county.
The Sheriff's page includes the office address, phone, and links to county services for jail and law enforcement matters.
| Office | Traverse County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 203 7th St N, Wheaton MN 56296 |
| Phone | (320) 422-7800 |
| Sheriff | Trevor J. Wright |
| Website | co.traverse.mn.us/sheriff |
Traverse County Criminal Court Records
Traverse County is part of the 8th Judicial District. The District Court in Wheaton handles all criminal filings for the county. Because Traverse is a small county, court volume is lower than in larger counties, but the same rules and procedures apply. Case records include charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. The easiest way to search them is through Minnesota Court Records Online.
MCRO is available at no cost at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. You can search by name or case number and see docket entries for Traverse County cases. Some records are sealed or restricted under state law and will not appear in the public search results. For sealed or older records, the court clerk in Wheaton can assist. In small counties like Traverse, the clerk's office often handles records requests quickly because case volume is lower.
The screenshot below is from the Traverse County court page on mncourts.gov, which has court contact information and hours for the District Court in Wheaton.
Use the mncourts page to confirm current hours and find out the right contact for your specific records request.
Minnesota Statute 13.82 makes arrest records and law enforcement data public in most cases. This covers booking data held by the Traverse County Sheriff and case data at the District Court. If you are researching a criminal matter, check both sources since they can contain different details about the same incident.
Traverse County Jail Inmate Roster
Traverse County maintains a public inmate roster online. You can check who is in custody at co.traverse.mn.us/departments/departments/sheriff/inmate-roster. The roster is updated regularly and shows current inmates at the Traverse County jail. Given the small size of the facility, the list is typically short, but it is a useful tool for confirming whether someone is in local custody before making calls.
The screenshot below is from the Traverse County inmate roster page, which lists current jail occupants and is available to the public online.
If the roster shows no one in custody or you cannot find the person you are looking for, the county may have transferred inmates to a neighboring facility due to the jail's small capacity. Call (320) 422-7800 to confirm.
Traverse County also participates in the VINE victim notification system. You can register at vinelink.com to receive automatic updates when an inmate's custody status changes. VINE works whether the person is in the Traverse County jail or has been transferred to another facility or state prison. The service is free.
Background Checks and BCA Records
For a full statewide criminal history that covers Traverse County, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains the primary database. The BCA holds arrest records, charge histories, and dispositions from all Minnesota counties. You can access background check services at bca.dps.mn.gov. Both personal record requests and third-party background checks are available through the BCA's online system.
Minnesota Statute 13.87 defines what criminal history data is public and who can access full records. Arrest data is generally available to the public. Full records with dispositions require more formal requests and may require proof of authorization. The BCA's website explains the process for each type of request. Processing times vary by request type.
Note: The Minnesota DOC Offender Locator is a free public tool at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer for checking the current prison status of anyone from Traverse County who received a state sentence.
Traverse County Criminal Record Expungement
Under Minnesota Statute 609A.02, people with eligible criminal records can petition a court to seal those records. Expungement does not erase a record. It hides it from most public searches while still allowing law enforcement access under certain conditions. Eligibility is based on the type of offense, how much time has passed since sentencing, and whether all conditions of the sentence were completed.
For cases that happened in Traverse County, you file the expungement petition with the Traverse County District Court in Wheaton. Several agencies must be notified, including the BCA and the original arresting agency. A judge hears any objections and then makes a ruling. In a small county like Traverse, this process may move a bit faster than in larger counties with higher caseloads, but it still takes several months.
If you are unsure about eligibility, legal aid offices in western Minnesota can help you review the details of your case and determine the best path forward.
Cities in Traverse County
Wheaton is the county seat and largest community in Traverse County. All criminal cases from the county are filed with the District Court in Wheaton, regardless of where the arrest happened.
No cities in Traverse County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Records for Wheaton and all other communities in the county are handled through the Traverse County District Court.
Nearby Counties
Traverse County borders North Dakota to the west and several Minnesota counties to the east and south. Make sure you search the right county if a case could have been filed in more than one jurisdiction.