Find Morrison County Criminal Court Records
Morrison County criminal court records are filed and maintained at the District Court in Little Falls, the county seat along the Mississippi River in central Minnesota. The courthouse serves all criminal matters for the county under the 7th Judicial District. You can search these records for free online through Minnesota Court Records Online, or visit the Little Falls courthouse in person during business hours to look up cases and request copies of documents.
Morrison County Overview
Morrison County District Court
The District Court in Little Falls handles every criminal case filed in Morrison County, from petty misdemeanors and traffic matters to gross misdemeanors and felonies. Little Falls is a small city on the Mississippi River and serves as the county's governmental center. The courthouse at 213 SE 1st Ave is the place to go for in-person records requests and case information.
| Court | Morrison County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 213 SE 1st Ave, Little Falls, MN 56345 |
| Phone | (320) 632-2941 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 7th Judicial District |
Court staff can process records requests and copy orders during regular business hours. Public access terminals are available on-site if you want to run a free MCRO search. Staff will not give legal advice but can explain what documents are available and how to request them.
The court calendar posts at 7:00 AM each day and refreshes hourly. Confidential cases do not appear publicly. Hearing times can change on short notice. Always check the online calendar before traveling to Little Falls for any scheduled court appearance.
Searching Morrison County Records Online
Minnesota Court Records Online lets you search criminal case records for free at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. The same system is linked from mncourts.gov. Morrison County cases are in the statewide database alongside records from all 86 other Minnesota counties.
Search by name or case number. Results include the charges filed, court appearance dates, and how the case ended. MCRO pulls from the same system the courts use, so it tends to be current. Records that are juvenile, sealed, or subject to an expungement order will not show up. A search with no results may mean the records are restricted rather than that no case exists.
If you need to confirm whether a case was filed for a specific person and the MCRO search is coming up empty, call the court at (320) 632-2941. Staff can tell you whether a record is restricted or simply not on file.
About the Morrison County District Court Page
The Morrison County District Court page on mncourts.gov lists contact information, service hours, and directions for the Little Falls courthouse.
Use that page to confirm current courthouse hours and check for any service notices before planning a visit to the court in Little Falls.
Requesting Copies of Court Records
Uncertified copies of court records are free as of July 1, 2023. Certified copies cost $14 per document. You can request copies at the courthouse window during business hours or submit a request by mail. For in-person requests, bring the case number or a full name to help staff locate the file quickly.
Mail requests go to the Morrison County District Court at 213 SE 1st Ave, Little Falls, MN 56345. Include the case number, the name of the document you need, and your return address. For certified copies, include a check for $14 payable to the Morrison County District Court. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want documents returned by mail. Full instructions on submitting a copy request are posted at mncourts.gov. Call (320) 632-2941 to check on a mail request that has not arrived.
Morrison County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Morrison County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement outside of Little Falls and the county's smaller municipalities. Arrest records are kept by the sheriff separately from the court system. The sheriff's website is at morrisoncountysheriff.com. The county government site is at co.morrison.mn.us.
An arrest does not always result in a court case. Not every arrest leads to charges being filed in district court. If you find an arrest record and want to know if a case was opened, search MCRO for the person's name. You may need to check both the sheriff's records and the court system to get the full picture of what happened.
BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains a statewide conviction database at dps.mn.gov. Each search costs $8 and covers 15 years of conviction data from all Minnesota counties, including Morrison County. BCA results are conviction summaries. They do not show pending cases, dismissed charges, or arrests that did not lead to convictions.
Use BCA when you need a quick statewide check. Use MCRO when you want the full record of a specific Morrison County case, including all court filings, hearing dates, and the final disposition.
Expungement in Morrison County
Minnesota's expungement law under Minn. Stat. Chapter 609A gives some people the right to have their criminal records sealed. Automatic expungement applies to certain low-level cases under Minn. Stat. Section 609A.015. For other cases, you must file a petition at the Morrison County District Court in Little Falls. Eligibility depends on the charge type, the outcome, and time elapsed since the case closed.
Full details on the expungement process, forms, and eligibility are at mncourts.gov. The statewide Self-Help Center at (651) 435-6535 can answer procedural questions Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Staff do not provide legal advice but can explain the steps and point you to the right forms.
Government Data Practices and Record Access
Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act at Minn. Stat. Chapter 13 controls what government records are public and what is restricted. The full statute is at revisor.mn.gov. Most adult criminal court records in Morrison County are public under this law. Records involving juveniles, sealed cases, and certain protected categories of victim information are not available to the public.
If you are denied access to a record, you can ask the court administrator for the specific statute or court order that restricts it. The court is required to tell you the legal basis for any restriction. You cannot get around a restriction by explaining your reason for wanting the records. The law applies regardless of purpose.
Nearby Counties
Morrison County is in the heart of central Minnesota and borders several other counties in the 7th Judicial District.