Duluth Criminal Court Records
Duluth criminal court records are filed and maintained at the St. Louis County District Court. Duluth is the county seat of St. Louis County, and all criminal cases arising from arrests in the city go through that county court as part of Minnesota's 6th Judicial District. The city itself does not maintain criminal court records. The Duluth Police Department handles local arrests and can provide police reports. The City Attorney prosecutes some misdemeanor matters. For official court records on charges, hearings, and dispositions, the St. Louis County District Court is where you look. You can search cases for free online through the Minnesota Court Records Online system, or visit the Duluth courthouse in person.
Duluth Overview
St. Louis County District Court
All criminal court records for Duluth cases are at the St. Louis County District Court. St. Louis is one of the largest counties in Minnesota by area and operates three courthouse locations. The main Duluth location handles criminal matters arising within the city. This court is part of the 6th Judicial District. The Court Administrator maintains official case files and processes copy requests.
| Address | 1001 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (218) 626-2570 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| District | 6th Judicial District |
| Court Info | mncourts.gov/find-courts/stlouis |
Public access terminals at the Duluth courthouse connect to MCRO. Walk-in service is available at the Court Administrator's counter without an appointment. St. Louis County also has courthouse locations in Virginia and Hibbing, but Duluth criminal cases are handled at the East Superior Street location.
Searching Records Through MCRO
The free public way to find Duluth criminal court records is through the Minnesota Court Records Online system. Go to publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us, select St. Louis County, and enter a defendant's name or case number. Results show charges, case status, hearing dates, and dispositions. Documents from cases filed on or after July 1, 2015, can be downloaded in PDF format at no cost.
The court calendar posts at 7:00 AM each weekday and updates hourly. Duluth has a moderately active criminal docket, covering drug offenses, property crimes, violent offenses, and traffic matters. If you are searching a common name, include the case number when you have it to narrow results. Hearing eReminders through MCRO can notify you of upcoming court dates for cases you want to track.
Note: Juvenile records and cases sealed by court order do not appear in the public MCRO search. Minnesota law restricts access to those records.
Duluth Police Department
The Duluth Police Department handles arrests in the city. For police report copies, you contact the police department, not the court. The DPD is at 2030 Arlington Ave, Duluth, MN 55811. The non-emergency line is (218) 730-5400. Police records request information is at duluthmn.gov/police/records/. Accident reports are also available through that process.
Crime statistics for Duluth are published at duluthmn.gov/police/crime-statistics/. Annual reports are published regularly. The main DPD page is at duluthmn.gov/police/. The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, which covers law enforcement in unincorporated parts of the county, is at stlouiscountymn.gov/departments-a-z/sheriff-s-office.
Screenshot: Duluth Police Department
The Duluth Police Department website has information on police report requests, crime statistics, and other law enforcement services for Duluth residents.
For arrest-related information and police report copies, the DPD is your starting point. Once criminal charges are filed, the official court record moves to St. Louis County District Court. That is where you go for charging documents, hearing records, and dispositions.
City Attorney and Public Records
The Duluth City Attorney prosecutes misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor cases filed in the city. The city attorney's office is at 411 W 1st St, Duluth, MN 55802, reachable at (218) 730-5360. More information is at duluthmn.gov/city-attorney/. City Hall is at the same address, (218) 730-5300.
For city-level public records requests, the City Clerk handles the process under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act at Minn. Stat. Chapter 13. The public records page is at duluthmn.gov/city-clerk/public-records/. City records are different from criminal court records. For criminal court records on charges, hearings, and case outcomes, you go to St. Louis County District Court, not to City Hall.
BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension offers a statewide criminal history search covering all Minnesota counties, including St. Louis. A BCA search costs $8 and requires the person's full legal name and date of birth. Results show conviction records up to 15 years back. Access it at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/Pages/criminal-history-search.aspx.
BCA results show convictions only. Dismissed charges and acquittals do not appear. For a full Duluth case history including all charges filed, use MCRO or request records from St. Louis County District Court. The BCA is good for a quick statewide conviction check, but it is not a substitute for a thorough court records search when you need the complete picture of a case.
Expungement of Duluth Criminal Records
Criminal cases arising in Duluth are subject to Minnesota expungement law. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 applies to petty misdemeanors and certain cases closed without conviction. For other offenses, you must file a petition under Chapter 609A and attend a hearing at St. Louis County District Court in Duluth.
The full guide with forms and eligibility rules is at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement. Legal aid organizations in northeastern Minnesota can assist if you cannot afford a private attorney. The Duluth courthouse also has self-help materials at the public counter for people handling the petition process on their own.
Requesting Copies
To get copies of Duluth criminal court records, use MCRO for documents from cases filed after July 1, 2015, at no cost. For certified copies or older records, contact St. Louis County District Court in Duluth. Certified copies cost $14 per document. Uncertified copies are free. Submit requests in person, by mail, or online at mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request. Court fee schedules are at mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-fees. For city-level records, use the city clerk page at duluthmn.gov/city-hall.
St. Louis County District Court
All criminal court records for Duluth are filed and maintained at St. Louis County District Court. Visit the county page for full court details and search options.