Minneapolis Felony Records
Minneapolis felony records are held at multiple levels of government, and you can search most of them from home. The Hennepin County District Court handles all felony cases that start in Minneapolis, while the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension keeps a state criminal history file on each person with a felony arrest. If you want to look up a case, check a charge, or pull a court record, this page walks you through the tools and offices that hold that data. The Minneapolis Police Department also takes records requests for arrest reports and incident logs from cases that start in the city.
Minneapolis Overview
Hennepin County Court and Minneapolis Felonies
All felony charges in Minneapolis go through the Hennepin County District Court. The court sits in the 4th Judicial District, which covers the whole county. When Minneapolis police arrest someone on a felony charge, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office takes over prosecution. The city attorney only handles misdemeanors. So every felony case file lives at the county level, not the city.
The main courthouse is at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis. You can visit the Records Center on the ground floor to look up case files, get copies, or use the public access terminals. Staff there can pull records by name or case number. Certified copies cost $14 per document, and uncertified copies are free. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can also call the Records Center at 612-348-3991 to ask about a case before you go in.
| Court | Hennepin County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487 |
| Phone | (612) 348-6000 |
| Records Center | (612) 348-3991 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
The Hennepin County Attorney felony case search lets you look up adult felony cases by name or case number. This tool shows charges, case status, and court dates for cases the county attorney is handling. It covers Minneapolis and all other cities in Hennepin County.
Minneapolis Police Felony Records
The Minneapolis Police Department keeps its own records on arrests, incidents, and reports. These are separate from what the court holds. If you need an arrest report or incident log from a Minneapolis case, you go through MPD, not the courthouse. The department sits at 911 Plymouth Avenue North.
You can get police reports and data through the Minneapolis Police records and data requests page. The city handles these under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, which is found at Minnesota Statute 13.82. Arrest data is public. That means you can ask for it by name or case number. Active investigation files stay private until the case wraps up.
The Minneapolis Police Department main page has links to data requests, crime stats, and contact info for specific units. Body camera data requests are also handled through the same portal. Processing times vary based on the size of the request.
The police department page shows how to reach each division and file a records request.
How to Search Minneapolis Felony Records
There are three main ways to look up felony records tied to Minneapolis. Each source holds different data, so the one you pick depends on what you need.
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system is free. It covers all 87 counties, including Hennepin. You search by name, case number, or attorney. MCRO shows case type, charges, hearing dates, and docket entries. For criminal cases, it only returns results where a conviction has been entered. Pre-conviction data is not shown online. If you need more detail, visit the courthouse public access terminals, which show the full electronic file. Documents filed after July 1, 2015 are viewable online through MCRO. Older documents need an in-person request.
The BCA Criminal History Search is the state repository. This free tool shows public conviction data for the past 15 years. It includes the offense, date, court of conviction, sentence, and whether the person went to prison or got probation. Under Minnesota Statute 13.87, conviction data older than 15 years from sentence completion becomes private. The BCA search is not the same as a court search. It pulls from a different database.
The third tool is the Minnesota DOC Offender Locator. This covers people who served time under the Department of Corrections. It goes back to 1979. It shows current status, facility, and release dates for people who were incarcerated.
The records and data requests page explains how to file a request with MPD for arrest and incident reports.
Minneapolis Felony Record Expungement
Minnesota passed the Clean Slate Act, which took effect January 1, 2025. Under Minnesota Statute 609A.015, certain felony convictions now qualify for automatic expungement. The BCA reviews records and seals those that meet the criteria. You do not have to file a petition for automatic cases. The waiting period for felonies is five years after discharge from the sentence.
Not all felonies qualify. Violent crimes, sex offenses that require registration, and crimes against persons are excluded from the automatic process. If your felony does not qualify for automatic sealing, you can still petition the court under Minnesota Statute 609A.02. Petition-based expungement requires filing in the county where the case was heard, which for Minneapolis cases means Hennepin County District Court. The website helpsealmyrecord.org has free tools to help you check if your record qualifies.
Expungement forms are available at mncourts.gov. The Hennepin County Self-Help Center at the Government Center can also help you fill them out.
Minneapolis Felony Record Resources
Several organizations in Minneapolis help people with felony records. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid handles criminal record cases for people who qualify based on income. Call them at (612) 334-5970. The Volunteer Lawyers Network runs free legal clinics in Minneapolis for criminal record issues. You can reach them at (612) 752-6677.
The LawHelpMN website has guides on expungement, understanding your record, and finding legal aid across the state. The Minnesota VINE system lets crime victims track an offender's custody status and get alerts when someone is released or transferred. Under Minnesota Statute 138.17, felony records in Minnesota are kept for 50 years after case closure. Murder case files are permanent. That means even very old Minneapolis felony cases may still be on file at the courthouse or with the BCA.
The Hennepin County jail roster at jailroster.hennepin.us shows current inmates, charges, bail amounts, and court dates. It updates every hour. It also shows people released in the last seven days.
Note: Sheriff records for jail bookings are required under Minnesota Statute 641.08.
Hennepin County Felony Records
Minneapolis is the county seat of Hennepin County. All felony cases from Minneapolis go through the Hennepin County District Court in the 4th Judicial District. The county page has more on the sheriff's office, jail roster, warrant checks, and how to get court records from anywhere in the county.
Nearby Cities With Felony Records
Several cities near Minneapolis also have felony records pages. Most of these are in Hennepin County and share the same court system.