St. Cloud Criminal Court Records Search

Criminal court records for St. Cloud are filed and maintained at Stearns County District Court, which sits right in St. Cloud. The city does not keep its own criminal court records. All felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor cases charged in St. Cloud go through Stearns County court. The St. Cloud Police Department makes arrests and generates incident reports, but those police records are separate from criminal court records. Use the Minnesota Court Records Online system or visit the courthouse directly to search for case records.

Stearns County District Court

Stearns County District Court is the court of record for all St. Cloud criminal cases. The courthouse sits in central St. Cloud, making it easy to access in person. It handles felonies, gross misdemeanors, and misdemeanors from across the county. It is part of Minnesota's 7th Judicial District. St. Cloud is the county seat for Stearns County, so the courthouse and city are in the same location.

Since the courthouse is located in the city, it is more accessible for St. Cloud residents than for those in many other parts of the county. Public access terminals are on site for MCRO searches. The court administrator's counter handles walk-in copy requests during regular business hours.

Searching MCRO for St. Cloud Cases

Minnesota Court Records Online is the best free tool for St. Cloud criminal court records. Visit publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us and select Stearns County. You can also start at mncourts.gov/access-case-records/mcro. Search by full name or case number. Results include charges, hearing dates, dispositions, and current case status.

Documents from cases filed on or after July 1, 2015 are available free as PDFs. Older records need a written request. St. Cloud is a regional center and generates a sizeable criminal docket for Stearns County. If searching by name, use a date of birth to narrow results. The court calendar posts each morning with that day's scheduled hearings.

St. Cloud Police Department

The St. Cloud Police Department handles law enforcement within the city. Officers respond to crimes, make arrests, and write incident reports. Those reports are police records, not criminal court records. To get a police incident report, contact the police department directly. The court does not hold police reports, and the police department does not hold court case files.

The city attorney handles St. Cloud's local prosecutions. Contact the city attorney at stcloudmn.gov/departments/city-attorney. Public records requests for city-held data go through the city clerk at stcloudmn.gov/city-clerk/public-records. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office is at stearnscountymn.gov/government/sheriff-s-office.

St. Cloud Police Department Screenshot

The St. Cloud Police Department handles arrests and incident reports within the city. The screenshot below shows the police department's website, a useful starting point for police record requests separate from court filings.

For court records related to St. Cloud criminal cases, go to Stearns County District Court or use the MCRO online search system. Police records and court records are maintained by separate agencies.

St. Cloud City Attorney Screenshot

The St. Cloud City Attorney's Office prosecutes certain misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor cases brought by the city. The screenshot below shows the city attorney's page, which is a helpful resource for understanding local prosecution in St. Cloud.

Court filings from city attorney prosecutions are also stored at Stearns County District Court, just like cases filed by the county attorney. All court records for St. Cloud cases, regardless of who filed them, live at the county courthouse.

Getting Copies of Court Records

For St. Cloud criminal court records, start with MCRO for cases filed after July 1, 2015. Documents are free to download. Certified copies from the court cost $14 per document. Uncertified copies are free since July 1, 2023. Submit your request online at mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request, or in person or by mail at the Stearns County courthouse in St. Cloud.

Since the courthouse is in St. Cloud, in-person requests are convenient for local residents. Bring the case number and party name. Processing time for standard requests is usually a few business days. For older records not on MCRO, allow extra time for retrieval.

BCA Criminal History Search

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains a statewide conviction database covering all Minnesota counties, including Stearns County cases from St. Cloud. Each search costs $8 and requires the full legal name and date of birth. Conviction data goes back 15 years. Run the search at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/Pages/criminal-history-search.aspx.

BCA results include convictions only. Dismissed charges, charges still pending, and acquittals do not show in BCA data. For full case records including all charges filed, use MCRO or request from Stearns County District Court. The BCA search is useful for a statewide conviction summary but does not replace case-level detail from the court system.

Expungement in St. Cloud

Expungement petitions for St. Cloud criminal cases are filed at Stearns County District Court. Because the courthouse is in St. Cloud, filing is straightforward for residents. Minnesota law has two paths for expungement. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 covers petty misdemeanors and certain cases that closed without a conviction. Other offenses need a formal petition under Chapter 609A and a hearing.

Find forms and instructions at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement. Legal aid resources in the St. Cloud area can help with the petition process for those who qualify. The self-help center at the Stearns County courthouse is also available at no cost.

Data Practices in St. Cloud

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, the Government Data Practices Act, governs public access to records held by Minnesota government agencies. Most criminal court records are public. Some data is private, including victim contact information in certain case types, juvenile records, and records sealed by order of a judge. The statute is at revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/13.

City of St. Cloud departments also operate under Chapter 13. For city-held records, contact the city clerk at stcloudmn.gov/city-clerk/public-records. Court records require a separate request to Stearns County District Court. The two systems are distinct, and each agency only holds its own records.