Access Winona County Criminal History Records
Winona County criminal history records are held by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in Winona. With a population of about 50,000, the county is one of the larger ones in southeastern Minnesota and is served by the 3rd Judicial District. Court case records are searchable through the state's free MCRO system, and the Sheriff handles all local arrest and jail data. This page explains how to find criminal records in Winona County, what online tools are available, and who to contact when you need more details.
Winona County Overview
Winona County Sheriff Criminal Records
The Winona County Sheriff's Office is at 201 W Third St, Winona MN 55987. The main number is (507) 457-6368. For jail inquiries, call (507) 457-6503. The Sheriff manages law enforcement for the county and handles all booking and jail operations. Arrest records, incident reports, and booking data flow through the Sheriff's department for all agencies operating in Winona County. Visit the Sheriff's website at co.winona.mn.us/307/Sheriff for services and contact information.
Winona County's jail handles bookings from Winona city police, Sheriff's deputies, and other local agencies in the county. Booking records are public under Minnesota Statute 13.82. If you need a copy of a specific arrest report or want to confirm someone's custody status, start with the main line at (507) 457-6368 or the jail line at (507) 457-6503. Walk-in requests are accepted at the Sheriff's Office on W Third St during business hours.
The screenshot below is from the Winona County Sheriff's Office website, the main point of contact for law enforcement records and jail services in the county.
The Sheriff's website provides contact details, jail information, and links to services for people seeking law enforcement records in Winona County.
| Office | Winona County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 W Third St, Winona MN 55987 |
| Main Phone | (507) 457-6368 |
| Jail Phone | (507) 457-6503 |
| Website | co.winona.mn.us/307/Sheriff |
Winona County Criminal Court Records
Winona County is part of the 3rd Judicial District. The District Court is at the Winona County Courthouse in Winona and handles all criminal cases filed in the county. As a county with a university and a city of 25,000 or more, the court handles a meaningful volume of cases each year, from minor infractions to serious felonies. Case records include charges, hearing dates, case status, dispositions, and sentencing information.
Minnesota Court Records Online is the free public access system for court case data. You can search Winona County cases at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. Search by name or case number to get docket entries and case status. Some records are restricted or sealed by court order and will not appear in public searches. For those, the court clerk at the Winona County Courthouse can help you find and access them if you are authorized to do so.
The screenshot below is from the Winona County court page on mncourts.gov, which has current contact information, hours, and directions for the District Court in Winona.
The mncourts page for Winona County also links to self-help resources for people who want to understand the court process or access their own case records.
Winona County Jail and Victim Notification
The Winona County jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office at 201 W Third St. For current custody information, call the jail at (507) 457-6503. The county does not currently publish a public online inmate roster, so a phone call is the most reliable way to confirm whether someone is being held. Court records through MCRO may also reflect bail and detention orders that indicate custody status following a court appearance.
Winona County participates in the VINE victim notification system. VINE lets crime victims and others register to receive automatic custody alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or has a status change. Sign up at vinelink.com. The service is free, runs around the clock, and covers both the local jail and state DOC facilities if an inmate is transferred out of the county.
The screenshot below is from VINE Link, the national custody notification service that Winona County connects to for victim services and custody tracking.
Registering with VINE is fast and keeps you updated on custody changes without requiring you to call the jail repeatedly.
For broader court record searches that cover Winona County, use the MCRO system. The screenshot below is from Minnesota Court Records Online, which is the standard tool for case-level searches across all Minnesota counties.
MCRO gives you direct access to Winona County District Court case data and is the fastest free way to find case-level criminal history records.
Background Checks and BCA Criminal History
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains the statewide criminal history database that includes Winona County arrest records, charges, and dispositions. For a certified background check, go to bca.dps.mn.gov. Personal and third-party checks are both available through the BCA's online system. Fees vary by request type and purpose. The BCA site has instructions for each type of check.
Minnesota Statute 13.87 sets out who can access criminal history data and under what conditions. Arrest data is generally public. Full records with dispositions may require a formal request. If you are requesting your own criminal history, the BCA handles that through a personal record process that is different from third-party checks. Government and licensed entities have access levels that are broader than what is available to private individuals.
Note: The DOC Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer is a free tool for checking whether anyone from Winona County is currently in a Minnesota state prison or has been in DOC custody in the past.
Winona County Criminal Record Expungement
Minnesota Statute 609A.02 allows eligible people to petition to have their criminal records sealed. Expungement removes the record from most public searches and databases. Not all offenses qualify. The law specifies which charges can be expunged and how long you must wait after completing the sentence before you can file. For Winona County cases, you petition the District Court at the Winona County Courthouse.
The process requires serving the BCA, the arresting agency, and the prosecuting office. Each has a period to file an objection. The judge then reviews all responses and issues a decision. If granted, the record is sealed from public view but accessible to law enforcement under defined conditions. The whole process generally takes several months from start to a final ruling.
Legal aid organizations in southeastern Minnesota can help Winona County residents assess whether their records qualify for expungement and navigate the filing process at the local District Court.
Cities in Winona County
Winona is both the county seat and the largest city in Winona County. All criminal cases from across the county are filed with the District Court in Winona.
No cities in Winona County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Criminal records for Winona, Lewiston, and all other communities in the county are handled through the Winona County District Court.
Nearby Counties
Winona County is in the far southeast corner of Minnesota along the Mississippi River. Check where a case was filed before searching records in a neighboring county.