Carlton County Felony Records
Carlton County felony records are stored at the District Court in Carlton and through the Sheriff's Office. The county sits in northeastern Minnesota, just south of Duluth, and is part of the 6th Judicial District. Cloquet is the largest city in the county, though Carlton serves as the county seat. All felony cases from within the county go through the courthouse in Carlton. You can search records online through state databases or contact the local offices for help. This page covers the tools and agencies that manage felony records in Carlton County.
Carlton County Overview
Carlton County Sheriff's Office
The Carlton County Sheriff's Office runs law enforcement across the county. It manages the jail, serves warrants, and books everyone arrested on criminal charges. Felony arrests produce a booking record that includes the person's name, charge details, and date of arrest. Under Minnesota Statute 641.08, the sheriff keeps a log of all persons held in the county jail. These records are public data.
Carlton County includes the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation. Some criminal matters on tribal land fall under federal or tribal jurisdiction. If you cannot find a felony case in the county court system, it may have been handled in a different court. The sheriff's office can help clarify jurisdiction. Call (218) 384-4224 for help.
| Office | Carlton County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Phone | (218) 384-4224 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.carlton.mn.us |
Search Carlton County Felony Records
Use Minnesota Court Records Online to search for felony cases in Carlton County. The system is free and covers all district courts. You can look up cases by name or case number. Results include charges, hearing dates, and case status. Criminal cases appear only after a conviction is entered. For pending cases, go to the courthouse in Carlton.
The BCA Criminal History Search tracks felony convictions statewide. Public data stays available for 15 years after the sentence ends. This free tool lets you search by name and see the offense, court of conviction, and sentence details. It covers all 87 Minnesota counties including Carlton.
You can also call the court clerk at (218) 384-4281 or visit the courthouse in person. Staff can search for cases and provide copies. The public access terminal at the courthouse shows more detail than the online system.
Note: Carlton County is close to Duluth in St. Louis County. If the crime happened in Duluth, the case would be filed in St. Louis County instead.
Carlton County Court Records
The 6th Judicial District Court handles felony cases for Carlton County. Under Minnesota Statute 609.02, a felony is any crime with a possible sentence of one year or more in prison. Drug charges, assault, and property crimes are the most common felony filings. Each case creates a file with the criminal complaint, probable cause statement, bail order, and sentencing documents.
Court records are public under Section 13.82. Exceptions include juvenile records, sealed files, and data from active investigations. Anyone can ask to see a felony case file once it is in the court system. Felony case files are kept for 50 years. Homicide records are permanent, per Section 138.17. Old cases from Carlton County can often still be pulled at the courthouse.
The BCA tracks criminal history data separately under Section 13.87. Public conviction data stays on the BCA site for 15 years after the sentence ends. After that, it becomes private. But court records at the Carlton County courthouse remain available for the full retention period. For older records, the courthouse is the better place to look.
Felony Expungement in Carlton County
Minnesota's Clean Slate Act, effective January 1, 2025, allows automatic sealing of some felony records. Under Section 609A.015, the BCA reviews eligible records and seals them. The waiting period for felonies is five years after the sentence is fully discharged. Violent crimes and sex offenses are excluded from the automatic process.
Felonies not eligible for automatic sealing can still be addressed through petition. You file forms with the Carlton County District Court, serve the county attorney, and attend a hearing. Free expungement forms are available at mncourts.gov. The Help Seal My Record site and LawHelpMN both offer guidance on the process.
Carlton County Records Tools
The BCA Criminal History Search covers all counties in Minnesota, including Carlton County. Use it to look up public felony conviction records.
This tool shows the offense, conviction date, sentencing court, and sentence for each record. It is free and does not need an account.
The DOC Offender Locator covers people currently under state corrections supervision. The VINE system offers custody change alerts for victims and interested parties.
Legal Help in Carlton County
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota covers Carlton County. They can assist with expungement petitions, criminal record questions, and other legal issues. LawHelpMN has self-help guides and forms. The Minnesota Judicial Branch website explains how to access case records. Court staff can help with basic requests but cannot provide legal advice.
The Minnesota Public Access Remote system is also available for people who need more detailed court record searches. This paid service is used mainly by attorneys and researchers. For most people looking up a single felony case, the free MCRO system or a call to the courthouse will be enough.
Cities in Carlton County
Carlton County includes Cloquet, Carlton, Moose Lake, Barnum, and several other communities. All felony cases go through the Carlton County District Court. No cities in this county qualify for a separate page.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Carlton County. Check the location of the arrest to confirm which court has the case.