Cottonwood County Criminal Court Records
Cottonwood County criminal court records are kept by the 5th Judicial District Court Administration office in Windom, and include all criminal case filings from petty misdemeanors to felonies. The free Minnesota Court Records Online system covers most cases, and in-person access is available at the courthouse at 900 3rd Ave during regular business hours.
Cottonwood County Overview
Cottonwood County District Court
The Cottonwood County District Court sits in Windom and handles all criminal matters filed in the county. It is part of the 5th Judicial District, which covers a wide swath of southwest Minnesota. Court Administration manages case filings, hearing schedules, and all record requests. Call (507) 831-6380 to reach the office during business hours.
| Court | Cottonwood County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 900 3rd Ave, Windom, MN 56101 |
| Phone | (507) 831-6380 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 5th Judicial District |
The Cottonwood County court page on mncourts.gov has current hours, judge assignments, and contact information for the courthouse. Review it before you visit to confirm nothing has changed.
The Cottonwood County website also links to key departments including the sheriff, auditor, and other county offices relevant to records requests.
This court page is the authoritative source for local court contact details and any updates to office hours or procedures in Windom.
Searching Criminal Records Online
The best free tool for Cottonwood County criminal court records is Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). MCRO covers all 87 Minnesota counties and allows searches by party name, case number, or attorney. You will see case type, charges, court dates, and outcome. Case documents filed from July 1, 2015 onward are available to view and download for free.
Note: If a case did not end in conviction, you can only search it by case number. Name searches will not return those records. Contact Court Administration at (507) 831-6380 if you need help finding a case number.
MCRO does not require an account. It is available 24 hours a day. The court calendar posts at 7:00 AM each morning and updates every hour, so you can check hearing schedules at any time.
For records predating the digital era, or documents not yet scanned into the system, a written or in-person request to Court Administration is needed. Staff in Windom can tell you what is available and the best way to request it.
Requesting Copies
Uncertified court document copies are free as of July 1, 2023. Certified copies cost $14 each. Three ways to request copies: in person at the courthouse, by mail to Court Administration, or online at mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request.
In-person requests are usually fastest. Bring the case number if you have it. If not, staff can search by name. Mail requests take additional processing time. The online system is convenient for people who cannot make the trip to Windom in person.
A complete list of court fees is available at mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-fees. These rates are set by the state and apply at every district court in Minnesota.
Cottonwood County Sheriff Records
The Cottonwood County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, booking reports, and incident reports separate from the district court. Sheriff records cover what happens at the time of arrest and booking. Court records reflect what happens after charges are filed in court.
To get a full picture of a criminal case, it often helps to look at both. The sheriff's office can tell you what records are available and how to request them. Contact the office directly through the county website for current request procedures and any associated fees.
Arrest records from the sheriff are not always reflected immediately in MCRO. If a very recent arrest has occurred, the sheriff's office may be your best source until the case is formally filed in court and appears in the MCRO system.
BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension offers a statewide criminal history search through the Department of Public Safety website. It costs $8 per search and returns conviction records from the past 15 years across all Minnesota counties. You need the full legal name and date of birth of the person you are searching.
The BCA database covers only convictions. Dismissed cases, acquittals, and pending cases do not appear. For those, MCRO is more complete. The BCA is useful when you want a broad statewide conviction check rather than a county-specific search.
Federal cases are not included in either MCRO or the BCA. Those are on the federal PACER system.
Expungement of Records
Minnesota provides two paths to expunge a criminal record. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 applies to certain favorable case outcomes without needing a petition. Petition-based expungement under Chapter 609A requires filing a motion with the court and attending a hearing.
Expungement seals a record from public view. MCRO name searches will no longer return the case. Most background checks will not show it. Law enforcement agencies and some licensing boards retain access even after expungement is granted.
To start the process in Cottonwood County, file a petition with Court Administration in Windom. The Minnesota Courts website at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement has the forms and a step-by-step guide. Public access terminals at the courthouse can help you review your own records before filing.
Access Rules and Data Privacy
Criminal court records in Cottonwood County are governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat. Chapter 13. Most criminal case records are public after a case is filed. Juvenile records, sealed records, and cases involving protected persons are not publicly accessible.
Public access terminals are located at the Windom courthouse. They let you search MCRO and view court records on-site for free. No appointment is needed during regular business hours.
If a record is restricted, Court Administration can confirm that a restriction exists without sharing the underlying content. That way you know a record is there but not available to the public, rather than assuming no record was ever created.
For any questions about what records are public and how to access them, the court staff in Windom are the best first contact. They can guide you to the right source depending on what you are looking for.
Nearby Counties
Cottonwood County is surrounded by other southwest Minnesota counties, all part of the 5th Judicial District.