Crowwing County Criminal Records
What Is Crowwing County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies and encompass a broad range of documentation types that serve distinct legal and administrative purposes.
Arrest records document the act of taking an individual into custody and do not imply guilt or conviction. Conviction records, by contrast, reflect a formal finding of guilt following a plea or trial. Under Minnesota law, both categories may appear in a criminal history, though they carry different legal weight. Offenses are further classified as felonies (the most serious, carrying potential sentences exceeding one year), gross misdemeanors, and misdemeanors (lesser offenses typically resolved at the district court level).
Adult records are generally accessible to the public, while juvenile records are protected under Minnesota Statutes § 260B.171 and are routinely sealed or expunged upon the subject reaching adulthood, subject to certain exceptions for serious offenses. Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for arrest, whereas historical records document resolved matters including dismissed charges, acquittals, and completed sentences.
Records maintained across Crow Wing County include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and probation or parole conditions. The principal agencies responsible for maintaining these records are:
Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office 304 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401 (218) 829-4749 Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office
Crow Wing County District Court (Sixth Judicial District) 213 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM (218) 824-1310 Crow Wing County District Court
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) 1430 Maryland Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN 55106 (651) 793-2400 Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Are Criminal Records Public In Crowwing County
Criminal records in Crow Wing County are presumptively public under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), Minnesota Statutes § 13.82, which governs law enforcement data and establishes the framework for public access to criminal justice information. Under this statute, data relating to arrests, charges, and court proceedings involving adults are classified as public government data and must be made available upon request.
Specifically, the following categories of information are accessible to members of the public:
- Adult arrest records, including the name of the arrested individual, the date and time of arrest, and the charges filed
- Court case records, including case numbers, hearing dates, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing information
- Conviction records maintained by the Minnesota BCA's criminal history repository
- Jail booking information and inmate rosters maintained by the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office
Certain categories of records are restricted from public disclosure under current law. These include records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, confidential informant identities, juvenile adjudication records sealed pursuant to § 260B.171, expunged records granted by court order, and victim identifying information in cases involving sexual offenses or domestic violence. Records subject to a court-issued protective order are similarly withheld from general public access.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Crowwing County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Crow Wing County may access them through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for obtaining records from the primary maintaining agencies.
To obtain court records from the Crow Wing County District Court:
- Visit the court clerk's office in person at 213 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401, during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM)
- Submit a written records request identifying the subject by full legal name and date of birth
- Pay any applicable copy fees as established by the court's current fee schedule
- Alternatively, search case records online through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal without visiting in person
To obtain criminal history records from the Minnesota BCA:
- Complete the Criminal History Record Request form available on the Minnesota BCA's official website
- Submit the completed form along with the required fee (currently $15 per subject search for non-fingerprint-based requests)
- Provide the subject's full name, date of birth, and any known aliases
- Allow up to ten business days for processing of mail-in requests
To obtain arrest and booking records from the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office:
- Submit a Data Practices Act request in writing to the Sheriff's Office Records Division at 304 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
- Identify the record sought with sufficient specificity, including the subject's name and approximate date of arrest
- The agency is required to respond within ten business days under the MGDPA
How To Find Criminal Records in Crowwing County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Crow Wing County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO): The Minnesota Judicial Branch's case search portal allows members of the public to search district court case records statewide, including those filed in Crow Wing County's Sixth Judicial District. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal contains case filing dates, charge descriptions, hearing schedules, dispositions, and sentencing information. No registration is required for basic public case searches; however, access to certain document images may require a registered account and payment of applicable fees.
Crow Wing County Jail Roster: The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office maintains a current inmate roster on its official website, reflecting individuals currently held at the Crow Wing County Jail. This roster is updated regularly and includes the inmate's name, booking date, and charges. Historical booking records are not available through this portal and must be requested directly from the Sheriff's Office.
Minnesota BCA Public Criminal History Search: The BCA's online Criminal History Search system provides conviction-based records for individuals with a Minnesota criminal history. This portal is accessible at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website and returns results based on name and date of birth. The system does not include arrest records that did not result in conviction or records that have been expunged by court order.
Can You Search Crowwing County Criminal Records for Free?
Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, § 13.03, government entities are required to permit members of the public to inspect public data at no charge. The right to inspect records in person is free; fees may only be assessed for copies of records and must not exceed the actual cost of reproduction.
The following resources currently provide free access to Crow Wing County criminal records:
- Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO): Basic case searches are available at no cost. Fees apply only when requesting certified copies or document images
- Crow Wing County Jail Roster: The current inmate list is publicly accessible on the Sheriff's Office website at no charge
- In-person inspection at the District Court Clerk's Office: Members of the public may inspect court case files without charge during regular business hours at 213 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
- In-person inspection at the Sheriff's Office Records Division: Public arrest data may be inspected at no cost at 304 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
Fees are assessed for printed copies, certified records, and BCA criminal history reports. The BCA currently charges $15 per name-based criminal history search submitted by mail or in person.
What's Included in a Crowwing County Criminal Record?
A complete criminal record maintained by Crow Wing County agencies and the Minnesota BCA may contain the following categories of information:
Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) and FBI Number (where applicable)
Arrest Information:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Booking number and jail facility
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
Court Case Information:
- Case number and court jurisdiction (Crow Wing County District Court, Sixth Judicial District)
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Attorney of record for prosecution and defense
Disposition Information:
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed)
- Conviction date and sentencing details
- Type and length of sentence (incarceration, probation, supervised release)
- Fines, restitution orders, and conditions of probation
- Appeals filed and outcomes
Additional Record Elements:
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status under Minnesota's predatory offender registration requirements
- DUI/DWI convictions and related license actions
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does Crowwing County Keep Criminal Records?
Crow Wing County and the State of Minnesota maintain criminal records according to retention schedules established under state law and administrative rule. The Minnesota State Archives and the Minnesota Department of Administration publish official records retention schedules applicable to county government agencies.
Current retention periods for principal record categories are as follows:
- Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Minnesota BCA and the District Court
- Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition
- Arrest records not resulting in conviction: Retained for a minimum of two years; subject to expungement petition under Minnesota Statutes § 609A.02
- Juvenile adjudication records: Retained until the subject reaches age 28, unless sealed earlier by court order pursuant to § 260B.171
- Jail booking records: Retained for a minimum of seven years by the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office
- Court case files (felony): Retained permanently by the District Court Clerk
- Court case files (misdemeanor): Retained for a minimum of ten years following case closure
Expungement under Minnesota law seals records from public view but does not result in physical destruction of the underlying documents, which remain accessible to criminal justice agencies for authorized purposes.