Search Mower County Criminal Court Records

Mower County criminal court records are filed and maintained at the District Court in Austin, the county seat in the southern tier of Minnesota near the Iowa state line. The court is part of the 3rd Judicial District and processes all felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor criminal cases for the county. Records can be searched at no charge through the state's online system, and this page covers every public access option available for Mower County.

Mower County District Court

The Mower County District Court sits at 201 S 1st St, Austin, MN 55912. Call (507) 437-9515 to reach the Court Administrator's office. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff can assist with case searches, copy requests, and questions about court procedures and schedules.

Austin is the only court location in Mower County. All criminal case filings, arraignments, hearings, plea proceedings, trials, and sentencing happen here. The court serves a mid-size county by Minnesota standards, and it sees a steady caseload of DWI cases, drug charges, property crimes, and violent offense matters. All of these become public court records once charges are filed.

MCRO Online Case Search

Minnesota Court Records Online, or MCRO, is the state's free public search tool for court records. Visit publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us to search Mower County cases. No login is required. You can search by a person's name, case number, or citation number.

Each search result shows the parties in the case, the charges filed, current case status, and any scheduled court dates. Documents for cases filed from July 1, 2015 forward are often available to read and download for free through MCRO. For older cases, basic information is still listed, but documents may need to be requested from the court directly.

The court calendar loads fresh at 7:00 AM daily and refreshes every hour. If you need to verify a hearing time, check MCRO the same morning for the most current schedule. Public access terminals are available inside the Austin courthouse for in-person searches. Court staff are available to help if you're having trouble navigating the system or locating a specific case.

How to Get Copies of Records

Uncertified copies of Mower County court records have been free since July 1, 2023. For cases in MCRO filed after July 2015, download documents directly from the system at no charge. For older records or physical copies, contact the Austin courthouse directly or mail in a request.

Certified copies cost $14 each. They carry the court's official stamp and are commonly needed for legal proceedings, licensing applications, or other official uses. Requests for certified copies can be made in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through the online copy request portal at mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request.

Mail requests should include the defendant's name, case number, the year filed, and a list of the specific documents needed. Attach payment for certified copies if you are requesting them. The court fee schedule is available at mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-fees.

Mower County Sheriff's Office

The Mower County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated parts of the county and coordinates with local police in Austin and other cities. Their website at co.mower.mn.us/departments/sheriff-s-office provides department contact information and may offer access to jail or inmate information.

Criminal cases in Mower County generally start with an arrest by the sheriff's office or Austin Police Department. After charges are filed with the District Court, the case becomes a public court record in MCRO. Arrest records and jail information at the sheriff's office are separate from what the court maintains. Both are public but must be requested from different offices.

General county services and contacts are at co.mower.mn.us.

BCA Statewide Criminal History

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains a statewide conviction database separate from the court system. A BCA search costs $8 per person and covers felony and gross misdemeanor convictions across all Minnesota counties going back 15 years. Access it at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca.

If you need to know whether someone has criminal convictions beyond Mower County, a BCA search gives you that wider view. MCRO is better for looking up specific case details within the county. Using both gives the most complete picture of a person's Minnesota criminal history.

Expungement of Records in Mower County

Minnesota offers two ways to expunge criminal records. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 happens without filing anything, for qualifying low-level offenses after the required waiting period. Petition-based expungement under Chapter 609A requires filing a petition with the Mower County District Court in Austin, notifying affected agencies, and attending a hearing before a judge.

A granted expungement seals the record from public access. It will no longer appear in MCRO searches, and most government agencies will no longer have access to it. The Minnesota court system's expungement information page at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement covers eligibility and the full process. Legal aid may be available to help in the Austin area.

Minnesota Government Data Practices Act

Minn. Stat. Chapter 13 is the Government Data Practices Act. It classifies most criminal court records as public data in Minnesota. That means any person can go to the Mower County courthouse, ask to see a criminal case file, and the court must provide it or give a legal reason for refusing. No special status or relationship to the case is required.

Restrictions exist for specific categories: juvenile proceedings, victim addresses and contact information, certain active investigation records, and expunged cases are not public. Outside of those exceptions, Mower County criminal court records are open to anyone who wants to see them. This applies whether you are searching online through MCRO or making a request at the courthouse window.

3rd Judicial District Information

Mower County is part of the 3rd Judicial District, one of ten judicial districts in Minnesota. The district spans nine counties in southeastern Minnesota and is headquartered in Rochester. All 3rd District courts, including Mower County, operate under the same statewide rules, fee schedules, and procedures. District information is at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/District/3.aspx.

The Mower County court page on mncourts.gov provides current hours, contact details, local court rules, and links to the public case search tools.

The Minnesota courts directory page for Mower County is the best starting point for finding court contact information and case search links.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Mower County and are also in southeastern Minnesota. Each has its own court and records office.