St. Paul Criminal Court Records
St. Paul criminal court records are filed and maintained at the Ramsey County District Court, located at the Ramsey County Courthouse on West Kellogg Boulevard. The city of St. Paul does not maintain criminal court records on its own. All felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor cases arising from arrests in St. Paul go through the Ramsey County District Court as part of Minnesota's 2nd Judicial District. The St. Paul Police Department handles arrests and maintains a dedicated Police Records Unit for report requests. For official court records, the Ramsey County courthouse is your source. You can also search case information at no cost online through the Minnesota Court Records Online system.
St. Paul Overview
Ramsey County District Court
All criminal court records for St. Paul cases are on file at the Ramsey County District Court. This court is part of Minnesota's 2nd Judicial District and handles all stages of criminal proceedings, from arraignment through sentencing and post-conviction matters. The Court Administrator's office maintains official case files and processes copy requests from the public and attorneys.
| Address | 15 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (651) 266-8237 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| District | 2nd Judicial District |
| Court Info | mncourts.gov/find-courts/ramsey |
Public access terminals at the courthouse connect to the MCRO system. Walk-in service is available at the Court Administrator's counter without an appointment. Bring the case number or defendant's full name to make your search faster.
How to Search St. Paul Criminal Cases
The Minnesota Court Records Online system is the free, public tool for searching St. Paul criminal cases. No account is needed. Go to publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us and select Ramsey County. Enter the defendant's name or a case number. Results show charges, case status, hearing dates, and dispositions.
For cases filed on or after July 1, 2015, you can view and download court documents in PDF format at no cost. The court calendar posts at 7:00 AM each day and is updated every hour. Ramsey County has a large and active criminal docket, so searches for common names may return multiple results. Using a case number when you have one produces a more precise result. Hearing eReminders through MCRO let you receive notifications about 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. These records are protected under Minnesota law.
St. Paul Police Department Records
The St. Paul Police Department handles arrests in the city. For copies of police reports, accident reports, or other law enforcement records, you work with the SPPD, not the court. The department has a dedicated Police Records Unit that processes public requests.
The SPPD is at 367 Grove St, St Paul, MN 55101. The non-emergency line is (651) 291-1111. For 311 services, call (651) 266-8989. The Police Records Unit information is at stpaul.gov/departments/police/police-records-unit. Crime data for St. Paul is published at stpaul.gov/departments/police/crime-data-information. If you need police department general information, visit stpaul.gov/departments/police.
St. Paul City Attorney
The St. Paul City Attorney's Office prosecutes misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor cases arising within city limits. For felony cases, the Ramsey County Attorney handles prosecution. The city attorney is at 15 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102. Reach them at (651) 266-8600. Victim services are available through the city attorney as well, at stpaul.gov/departments/city-attorney/victim-services. The city attorney's main page is at stpaul.gov/departments/city-attorney.
Cases prosecuted by the city attorney are still filed in Ramsey County District Court. So if you need the official court record for a St. Paul misdemeanor, the Ramsey County courthouse is still where you go. The city attorney determines the charges, but the court holds the file.
Screenshot: St. Paul Police Department
The St. Paul Police Department website provides access to crime data, the police records request process, and general law enforcement information for the city.
For arrest information or police report copies, start with the SPPD website before contacting the court. The police hold arrest records; the court holds the official case files after charges are filed.
The City Attorney's Office page provides information about criminal prosecution, diversion programs, and victim services. The screenshot below shows the city attorney's public-facing page.
If you have questions about a case the city attorney is prosecuting, this is a useful resource to review before contacting the office directly.
BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension offers a statewide criminal history search covering all Minnesota counties. A BCA search costs $8 and requires the person's full legal name and date of birth. Results show conviction data up to 15 years back and are returned online. Access it at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/Pages/criminal-history-search.aspx.
BCA results do not include arrests without conviction, dismissed charges, or acquittals. For a full case history in St. Paul, including all charges and outcomes, use MCRO or request records from Ramsey County District Court. City records requests for St. Paul are handled at stpaul.gov/departments/records.
Expungement of St. Paul Criminal Records
Criminal cases arising in St. Paul 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 Ramsey County District Court.
The Minnesota Courts expungement guide is at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement. It explains eligibility, forms to use, and what happens at the hearing. Legal aid organizations serving Ramsey County can help if you need assistance. The courthouse also has self-help materials at the public counter for people who want to handle the petition on their own.
Requesting Copies and Data Practices
To get copies of St. Paul criminal court records, use MCRO for documents from cases filed after July 1, 2015 at no cost. For certified copies or older records, contact Ramsey County District Court. 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. Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act at Minn. Stat. Chapter 13 governs access to public records in St. Paul and across the state.
Ramsey County District Court
All criminal court records for St. Paul are filed and maintained at Ramsey County District Court. Visit the county page for full court details and search options.