Criminal Court Records in Fillmore County

Fillmore County criminal court records are held at the District Court in Preston, the county seat in the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota. The court is part of the 3rd Judicial District and handles all felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor criminal cases filed in the county. Most records are searchable online at no charge through the Minnesota Court Records Online system, and this page explains how to find what you need.

Fillmore County District Court

The Fillmore County District Court is located at 101 Fillmore St, Preston, MN 55965. The Court Administrator's office can be reached at (507) 765-6021. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff handle case filings, copies, and general questions about court records and schedules.

Fillmore County is a rural county with a relatively small population, but the court processes a full range of criminal matters. Felony charges, misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations that carry criminal penalties, and related hearings all go through the Preston courthouse. The court calendar is posted online and updates throughout the day.

Online Record Search via MCRO

Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO, is free to use and gives the public access to Fillmore County criminal case information. You can search at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us by name, case number, or citation. No login is needed for basic public searches.

Results include party names, charges, case status, and scheduled hearing dates. For cases filed from July 1, 2015 onward, many court documents are also available to view online without visiting the courthouse. The court calendar updates at 7:00 AM daily and refreshes every hour, making it a reliable tool for checking scheduled appearances.

If you can't find a case online, it may be sealed, expunged, or predated the online records. A public access terminal inside the courthouse offers the same search tools for those who prefer to search on site.

Requesting Copies of Records

Uncertified copies of Fillmore County criminal court records are available at no cost as of July 1, 2023. You can download many documents for free directly from MCRO for recent cases. For older files or physical copies, contact the Preston courthouse directly.

Certified copies carry a $14 fee per document. These are stamped by the court and may be required for legal matters, license applications, or other formal uses. To request certified copies, visit the court in person, mail a written request, or use the online copy request process at mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request.

Include the defendant's full name, the case number if known, the year filed, and a clear description of which documents you want. Payment for certified copies should accompany mail requests. The court fee schedule is listed at mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-fees.

Fillmore County Sheriff's Office

The Fillmore County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services across the county. Their website at co.fillmore.mn.us/departments/sheriff may have information on local services and contacts. The sheriff's office handles arrests and may maintain jail and booking records separate from the court system.

When someone is arrested in Fillmore County, the case moves from the sheriff or police to the District Court in Preston. At that point, records become part of the court file and are publicly accessible through MCRO unless restricted. The sheriff's records and the court's records are maintained separately by different offices.

For county government information, visit co.fillmore.mn.us.

BCA Statewide Criminal History

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension keeps a statewide criminal history database that covers convictions from courts across Minnesota, not just Fillmore County. A BCA search costs $8 and covers felony and gross misdemeanor convictions going back 15 years. Access the request form at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca.

BCA searches are useful if you want to check someone's full Minnesota criminal history rather than just Fillmore County cases. The two systems work together to give a more complete picture. Use MCRO for county-specific case details and the BCA for a broader statewide view of conviction history.

Expungement in Fillmore County

Minnesota law allows people with qualifying criminal records to petition for expungement, which seals records from public view. There are two main options. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 applies to certain offenses without requiring a petition. Petition-based expungement under Chapter 609A requires filing with the Fillmore County District Court and appearing at a hearing.

If a judge grants expungement, the case no longer appears in public MCRO searches and most agencies cannot access it. The process and eligibility requirements are explained at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement. Local legal aid may be able to help with the petition process at reduced or no cost.

Minnesota Data Practices Act

Under Minn. Stat. Chapter 13, the Government Data Practices Act, most criminal court records in Minnesota are public data. This means any person can request access to Fillmore County criminal case files without stating a reason. The court must respond and provide the records or explain why access is restricted.

Exceptions apply to juvenile cases, victim contact information, active investigations, and expunged records. If a record is restricted, the court will tell you the legal basis for the restriction. You do not need an attorney to make a data request, though complex requests can sometimes benefit from legal guidance.

3rd Judicial District

Fillmore County is part of Minnesota's 3rd Judicial District. The district covers nine counties in southeastern Minnesota. District-level administration is handled out of Rochester, and each county courthouse operates its own local staff. Learn more about the district, its judges, and court locations at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/District/3.aspx.

The Fillmore County court page on mncourts.gov provides current contact information, local court rules, and links for online record searches.

The court directory page lists hours, address, phone numbers, and direct links to court tools for Fillmore County.

Nearby Counties

Counties bordering Fillmore are also in the 3rd Judicial District or nearby. Each maintains its own court and public records.