Access Pope County Felony Records

Pope County felony records are available through the District Court in Glenwood. The county belongs to the 8th Judicial District and sits in west-central Minnesota. You can search criminal case files online using the state court records tool or contact the courthouse for copies and case info. The Sheriff's Office processes felony arrests and keeps jail booking data, while the court clerk maintains the official case files. If you need to find a specific felony case or run a general criminal records check, the state provides both online and in-person options to get the data you are looking for.

Pope County Sheriff and Criminal Case Records

The Pope County Sheriff's Office is in Glenwood. Call (320) 634-5411 for questions about arrests, warrants, or jail inmates. The sheriff handles all law enforcement duties across the county and runs the county jail.

When a felony arrest happens in Pope County, the sheriff's office creates booking records and arrest reports. These get reported to the BCA for inclusion in the state criminal history database. Under Minnesota Statute 641.08, the sheriff is required to keep detailed records of every person held in the county jail. This includes names, charges, booking dates, and release info. Once charges are filed by the county attorney, the court takes over the case file and the clerk becomes the main records keeper for the case going forward.

Search Pope County Felony Cases Online

All felony cases in Pope County go through the 8th Judicial District Court in Glenwood. The court's phone number is (320) 634-5222.

The quickest way to look up a Pope County felony case is through Minnesota Court Records Online. It is free to use. You can search by name or case number and see charges, docket entries, hearing dates, and case outcomes. The system covers all district courts in the state. Criminal cases that resulted in convictions are the most complete. Pending cases show less detail and pre-conviction data typically does not appear in the public search results.

If you want to see the full case file, you can visit the Glenwood courthouse during business hours. The clerk can pull up records and make copies for $0.25 per page. You can also send a written request by mail. Under Statute 13.82, felony court records are classified as public data, so you do not need to state a reason for your request.

Pope County Criminal History Through the BCA

The BCA Criminal History System holds felony records from all 87 Minnesota counties. A free search tool is at chs.state.mn.us. It shows public conviction data within 15 years of sentence completion. Pope County felony convictions show up in this statewide database alongside records from every other county.

For a more detailed check, the BCA charges $15 for third-party requests and requires a notarized consent form from the person being searched. Results come by mail in about two weeks. Under Statute 13.87, convictions older than 15 years past sentence completion are private and will not show in the public search. Records of arrests without conviction are also private data.

Pope County Felony Search Resources

Use the BCA's online tool to search for Pope County felony conviction records from the statewide database.

The search is free and takes just a few minutes. Enter a name and date of birth to see what shows up.

Felony Record Sealing in Pope County

Minnesota's Clean Slate Act at Statute 609A.015 allows automatic expungement of some felony convictions. The waiting period is five years from the end of the sentence. The BCA identifies eligible records and sends them to the court system for a 60-day review. Violent crimes and sex offenses are excluded from this process.

People whose felony records do not qualify for automatic sealing can still petition the Pope County court under Statute 609A.02. Free legal resources are available at helpsealmyrecord.org and LawHelpMN. The DOC offender search is another useful tool if you need to check whether someone served time at a state facility for a Pope County felony conviction.

Pope County Felony Data Practices

Minnesota's Data Practices Act controls how Pope County shares felony records with the public. Under Statute 13.03, you can inspect government data for free at the courthouse in Glenwood during regular office hours. If you want copies, the county charges up to $0.25 per page. Requests to view records should be handled right away. Written requests for copies can take up to 10 business days to process.

The court in Glenwood keeps felony case files that include the criminal complaint, motions filed by both sides, plea agreements, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and final judgments. Each of these documents is part of the public record unless a judge has ordered a specific item sealed. These files stay on record for 50 years after the case closes under state retention rules. Murder files are stored permanently and never destroyed. Older Pope County felony cases may still be on file at the courthouse even if they do not appear in the online search tools.

If you have trouble getting records from Pope County, the Minnesota Department of Administration handles data practices complaints. You can also contact the court administrator in Glenwood for help with specific requests. All courts in the state follow the same data rules, so public felony records should be available to anyone who asks for them regardless of their reason.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Pope County. Verify the filing county on your case before searching.