Minnesota Criminal History, Jail and Court Record Lookup
Need to check a Minnesota arrest, current jail custody or a criminal case quickly? This guide shows which official system to open, what information to enter, how to verify the right person, and where to go next for bail, court dates, visitation, legal help or record correction.
Start With the Record That Answers Your Question
Search the arresting county’s official jail roster first.
Use the free Minnesota BCA Public Criminal History Search.
Use MCRO for case details, hearings and available documents.
Use the MNDOC public viewer after a state commitment or transfer.
Do not wait on a statewide criminal-history result. Identify the arresting agency, search that county’s roster, then call the jail booking desk if the person has not appeared after intake processing.
Choose Your Minnesota Record Task
Select the result you need. This tool runs only in your browser and does not ask for a name, date of birth or case number.
Minnesota Arrest Records, Criminal History and Court Records Are Different
No single Minnesota portal shows every arrest, booking, court event and prison status. Use the system that matches the stage of the case.
Question | Official starting point | What you need | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
Is someone in a county jail now? | County sheriff or jail roster | Name, county and approximate booking date | County systems have different update and release-retention windows. |
Does a public Minnesota conviction appear? | Complete first name, last name and date of birth | The public website does not provide a complete arrest history. | |
What was filed in court? | Name, case number, citation or hearing details | Some records or documents are restricted or unavailable online. | |
Was the person transferred to state prison? | Name or MNDOC identification number | Recent county detainees may not appear. |
How to Search Minnesota BCA Public Criminal History
The BCA’s online service is free. It shows qualifying public conviction information for 15 years after completion of the sentence, but it does not show a complete arrest history, juvenile data, other-state records or federal records.
Use the Minnesota Public Criminal History Search. Confirm the domain is chs.state.mn.us.
Provide the complete last name, complete first name and date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Compound and multi-part names may require special formatting. Follow the search tips shown above the form instead of guessing.
Compare reported names, dates of birth, court, conviction date, statute, conviction level, sentence and court file number.
The BCA warns that aliases and mistaken identity are possible. Fingerprint comparison is the only definitive way to verify that a record belongs to a particular person.
Save the court file number. It gives you a stronger route into MCRO than repeating a broad name search.
The name may be entered differently, the record may not be public, data may not have reached BCA, or the relevant information may exist only with a local court or agency.
What a BCA public result can show
Find a Minnesota County Jail Booking or Current Inmate
Minnesota does not provide one complete statewide county-jail roster. Identify the arresting county and use that sheriff’s official roster. If the arrest happened very recently, intake may still be underway.
Write down the arresting agency, city and county. Minneapolis normally routes to Hennepin County; St. Paul normally routes to Ramsey County.
Start with the surname. Add the first name or booking date only if the list is too broad.
Compare age, booking date, arresting agency, charges, bail, housing location and any scheduled court information.
Have the legal name, date of birth, arresting agency and approximate arrest time ready. Ask whether intake is complete and which facility holds the person.
County | Official roster | What it currently covers | Useful search note |
|---|---|---|---|
Hennepin | Current inmates and people released during the listed recent period; charges, bail and court dates may appear. | The sheriff says the roster is updated hourly. | |
Ramsey | Current inmates and a short period after release. | People in the intake process may not appear immediately. | |
Dakota | People currently held at the jail. | Released people may not appear; identity is not guaranteed from name data alone. | |
Anoka | Current custody and people released within the portal’s recent window. | The record may show a transfer to another jail. | |
Olmsted | Current Adult Detention Center custody in the Rochester area. | The ADC information line is 507-328-6790. |
Use MCRO to Check Charges, Hearings and Case Outcomes
Minnesota Court Records Online provides public access to many district-court records and documents. Use it after a jail or BCA result gives you a county or court file number.
Start at Minnesota Court Records Online and choose Case Search.
Use person name, business name, attorney, case number, citation number or attorney bar number. A court file number is normally the fastest route.
Compare county, case type, filing date and defendant information. Do not choose a result only because the name matches.
Review charge descriptions, hearing entries, warrants, orders, dispositions and documents that are publicly available online.
Return to MCRO and choose Hearing Search when the immediate question is the next scheduled court appearance.
MCRO offers many public documents, especially in major and minor criminal case types filed on or after July 1, 2015. Older or restricted documents may require a court copy request.
From Arrest to Final Record: What Usually Changes
A private arrest listing or jail roster is an early snapshot. The official court record can change as prosecutors file, amend or dismiss charges.
The allegation entered during intake; it may not be the final filed charge.
The charging document describes the alleged facts and legal counts; it is not proof of guilt.
The court’s recorded outcome, such as dismissal, plea, acquittal or conviction.
Minnesota Bail and Bond: What Families Should Verify
Bail is money posted as a guarantee of future appearances. A bond is a guarantee provided through a bonding company. Bond fees are not the same as refundable cash bail.
Open the Minnesota Bail Bond Program and use the Active Bail Bond Agent and Agency Report. Minnesota district courts require agents and agencies issuing court bonds to be approved through the state program and appropriately licensed.
Do not send money because an unknown caller claims release must be paid immediately. Call the official jail or court using a government-listed number and confirm the booking, amount, payment route and holds.
Apply for a Minnesota Public Defender or Find a Lawyer
A court may appoint a Public Defender for a financially eligible person charged with a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or felony carrying possible jail time.
- Open the Public Defender Information page.
- Choose the online application or the statewide form.
- Answer financial and charge questions truthfully.
- Submit it to the court handling the case.
- Remember that only the court can appoint the Public Defender.
Use the Minnesota State Bar Association directory to search participating member attorneys, or use LawHelpMN’s provider directory for legal-aid and clinic options.
Ask about criminal-defense experience, the written fee agreement, who will appear in court and whether any result is being guaranteed. A reputable lawyer should not promise a specific outcome.
For legal information and court-resource guidance, call the Minnesota Statewide Self-Help Center at 651-435-6535, Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., excluding holidays. Staff cannot give legal advice.
Minnesota DOC Visitation, Video Visits and Approval
These rules apply to Minnesota state correctional facilities, not automatically to county jails. County-jail visitation must be checked with that specific sheriff or detention center.
Open MNDOC Visiting Information, then choose the facility and application route. Current processing information is posted on the page; visiting status is not disclosed by phone. The Visiting Application Unit number for process questions is 320-358-0466.
Video visits are available across DOC facilities for approved visitors. The official page currently lists 15-minute visits scheduled through JPay, with facility and living-unit availability controlling the time. Check the live Video Visitation page before paying.
No approved appointment, missing photo ID, an active protective or no-contact directive, prohibited items, inappropriate clothing, a facility lockdown, or the person’s transfer to another facility.
Send Money, Email or Mail to a Minnesota State Prison
Use the MNDOC money page. Personal deposits currently route through JPay. Money orders and cashier’s checks must follow the lockbox instructions and include the required deposit form.
Use the MNDOC email guidance. You need the person’s MNDOC identification number before creating the provider account.
Find the person’s exact facility and mailing instructions first. Put the full committed name and MNDOC number on the envelope and review the facility’s prohibited-item rules.
MNDOC states that personal deposits use the approved deposit route. Incorrectly addressed funds may be delayed or rejected.
What to Do When the Person Disappears From a Jail Roster
Check the county’s release window, then verify the court case and conditions through MCRO.
Call the original facility and ask where custody moved. Search the receiving county.
Search the MNDOC public viewer after transfer processing.
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for federal prison custody.
Juvenile information is generally more restricted. Contact the handling court or authorised guardian route.
Recent intake, a system outage or a spelling variation may temporarily hide the record.
Register for Minnesota Custody and Release Notifications
Use Minnesota VINE or call 877-664-8463. The service can provide custody-status information and available notifications for participating county records.
Use the MNDOC Custody Status and Release Notification route for individuals sentenced to the Commissioner of Corrections. Available notices can include transfers, release and supervision changes.
Do not rely on one automated notification service as your entire safety plan. Keep contact information current and work with a victim advocate or law-enforcement agency when safety is at risk.
Fix Minnesota Criminal Record and Inmate Search Problems
Use the jail booking number or BCA court file number to locate the matching MCRO case rather than relying on a name-only search.
BCA states that offenders may use aliases, including another person’s name. Do not assume a record belongs to someone without stronger identifiers.
Correct, Challenge or Expunge a Minnesota Criminal Record
Record the URL, court file number, name, date of birth, conviction entry and date checked.
Compare BCA, MCRO and the local agency. Contact the agency that supplied the inaccurate information instead of asking an unrelated office to change it.
Open the Judicial Branch Criminal Expungement help topic and read the eligibility, automatic-expungement and petition information.
Open the Criminal Expungement forms page. Follow the service and filing instructions for the county handling the case.
Expungement generally seals a record from public access; it does not necessarily destroy every record or make it unavailable for every authorised purpose.
BCA’s current search pages explain that qualifying records may be automatically sealed under Minnesota’s Clean Slate Act and cannabis-expungement provisions. A missing result may therefore reflect a record that is no longer public.
Minnesota Criminal Record Phone Numbers, Addresses and Hours
St. Paul, MN 55106
Phone: 651-793-2400
Business hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Lobby: Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: 651-361-7200
Use for: State prison, facilities, family and victim resources.
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Main: 612-349-2565
Use for: Office locations and public-defense system information. Appointment is made by the court.
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 651-296-2474
Use for: Statewide administrative routing, not a substitute for the county court handling a case.
The BCA says public criminal-history records can be viewed through its website or on public terminals in the headquarters lobby.
Call first if you need a printed record, a private-record request or identity assistance. County arrest and jail questions normally belong with the county agency.
Continue With the Right Minnesota Search
Use the separate Arrests.org Minnesota guide for private booking-search navigation and official county verification.
Use the Arrests.org USA search hub to choose a state and then verify the result through that state’s official jail and court systems.
Minnesota Arrest Records Search FAQs
Where can I search Minnesota arrest records online?
There is no single complete statewide public arrest-history portal. Use the arresting county’s official jail roster for a recent booking, Minnesota Court Records Online for the court case, and the BCA Public Criminal History Search for public Minnesota conviction information.
Is the Minnesota BCA criminal history search free?
Yes. The Minnesota BCA describes its online Public Criminal History Search as a free service. The search requires a complete first name, complete last name and date of birth.
Does the BCA public search show every Minnesota arrest?
No. The BCA states that its public website does not include arrest data. It primarily displays qualifying public conviction information, while local agencies, courts and federal systems may hold other records.
How long do Minnesota convictions remain public through BCA?
BCA says conviction data is public through its service for 15 years after completion of the sentence. Records may also be sealed through automatic or court-ordered expungement.
How do I find someone recently arrested in Minnesota?
Identify the arresting county and search that county sheriff or jail roster. If the arrest was very recent and no record appears, call the jail booking desk because intake may still be underway.
How can I find a Minnesota criminal court date?
Open Minnesota Court Records Online, choose Hearing Search, and search by person name, case number, judicial officer or attorney information. Confirm the county and case number before relying on the date.
What is the difference between bail and a bond in Minnesota?
Bail is money posted to guarantee future court appearances. A bond is a guarantee provided through a bonding company for a fee and may involve collateral. Confirm the exact conditions with the jail or court before paying.
How do I apply for a Minnesota Public Defender?
Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch online Public Defender Application or statewide form and file it with the court handling the criminal case. The court reviews financial eligibility, and only a judge can appoint a Public Defender.
How do I visit someone in a Minnesota state prison?
Use the Minnesota Department of Corrections Visiting Information page, submit the visitor application, wait for approval and schedule through the specific facility. County-jail visitation rules are separate.
How can I seal or correct a Minnesota criminal record?
First identify whether the incorrect information came from BCA, a court or a local agency. For sealing, review the Minnesota Judicial Branch Criminal Expungement guidance and current forms, including information about automatic expungement.
Official resources reviewed August 3, 2026
Arrests-Org.us is an independent information and navigation website. It is not affiliated with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Minnesota Judicial Branch, Minnesota Department of Corrections, any sheriff’s office, VINE or another government agency.
Public portals, roster update schedules, fees, visiting rules, provider systems, office hours and contact details can change. Confirm time-sensitive information on the linked official page or by calling the responsible agency.
Responsible-use notice: An arrest is not a conviction. Do not use this guide or a third-party arrest listing for employment, housing, credit, insurance or another decision requiring a legally compliant consumer report.