Redwood County Criminal Court Records
Redwood County criminal court records are maintained by the 5th Judicial District Court Administration office in Redwood Falls, covering all criminal case filings in the county from traffic offenses and misdemeanors through felony charges. Free online access is available through Minnesota Court Records Online, and in-person requests are accepted at 250 S Jefferson St during regular weekday hours.
Redwood County Overview
Redwood County District Court
The Redwood County District Court is in Redwood Falls and handles all criminal matters filed in the county. It is part of the 5th Judicial District. Court Administration manages case filings, hearing schedules, and public records requests. Call (507) 637-4020 to reach the office. The court is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Court | Redwood County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 250 S Jefferson St, Redwood Falls, MN 56283 |
| Phone | (507) 637-4020 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 5th Judicial District |
The Redwood County court page on mncourts.gov provides current hours, judge assignments, and contact information for the Redwood Falls courthouse. Always check it before visiting to confirm any schedule changes.
The Redwood County website and the Redwood County Sheriff's Office website provide additional resources for arrest records and county criminal justice information.
The mncourts.gov directory entry for Redwood County is the verified source for courthouse contact details and current office information.
Searching Criminal Records Online
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is the free tool for Redwood County criminal court records. No account required. Search by name, case number, or attorney. Results include case type, charges, court dates, and final disposition. Case documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are available to view and download for free.
Note: Cases that did not result in a conviction cannot be found by name. Those cases require a case number search. Call Court Administration at (507) 637-4020 if you need help finding a case number.
The MCRO court calendar posts at 7:00 AM daily and updates every hour. This is useful for checking when a Redwood County case is scheduled for hearing. The tool is free and available at any time of day.
Pre-digital records or documents not yet in the system require a written or in-person request to Court Administration. Staff can advise you on what is available and how to request older files.
Copy Requests
Since July 1, 2023, uncertified copies of court records are free. Certified copies cost $14. Request them in person at 250 S Jefferson St, by mail to Court Administration, or online at mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request.
In-person requests are typically processed the same day. Bring the case number if you have it. Mail requests can take several days to a week depending on workload. The online portal is convenient for those who cannot travel to Redwood Falls.
Court fee schedules are at mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-fees. Copy fees are the same at every Minnesota district court.
Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Redwood County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, jail booking logs, and incident reports. These are separate from district court records. Sheriff records document what happens at the time of arrest. Court records begin when formal charges are filed in district court.
If you need information about a recent arrest that has not yet appeared in MCRO, the sheriff's office is the right starting point. There can be a lag of several days between arrest and when a case enters the court system.
Contact the Redwood County Sheriff's Office for current records request procedures and any fees. Photo identification is typically required. The sheriff's website may also list any current jail custody information.
BCA Criminal History
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension offers a statewide conviction search for $8 through the Department of Public Safety website. The database covers all 87 counties for the past 15 years. You need the full legal name and date of birth to run a search.
BCA results include only convictions. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and pending cases are not shown. For those records, MCRO provides a more complete picture. Use the BCA for a statewide conviction check and MCRO for county-level detail.
Federal criminal records are not in the BCA or MCRO. Those require the federal PACER system.
Expungement in Redwood County
Minnesota provides two paths to seal a criminal record. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 applies when certain favorable case outcomes are reached. Petition-based expungement under Chapter 609A requires filing a formal motion with the court and attending a hearing.
Expungement seals the record from public MCRO searches and most background check databases. Law enforcement retains access. Some licensing boards may also keep access depending on the offense and license type.
To file for expungement in Redwood County, submit a petition with Court Administration at 250 S Jefferson St in Redwood Falls. Guides and forms are at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement. Public access terminals at the courthouse can help you review your own case records before filing. Timeline from petition to ruling typically spans several months.
Public Access Rules
Access to Redwood County criminal court records is governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat. Chapter 13. Most criminal case records are public once filed. Juvenile records, records sealed by court order, and records involving protected parties are exceptions to public access.
A public access terminal at the Redwood Falls courthouse lets anyone search MCRO and review digital court records on-site for free. No appointment is required during regular hours. Court staff are available during business hours to help with questions.
If a record is restricted, Court Administration will confirm that the record exists without sharing its contents. That confirmation is itself public data under Minnesota law.
Redwood County's courthouse serves a rural area that spans a mix of small towns and agricultural communities. If you are researching records for someone who may have had cases in multiple nearby counties, the 5th Judicial District covers most of southwest Minnesota and MCRO searches all counties at once. That makes it easy to check across county lines without separate visits to each courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Redwood County is in southwest Minnesota and shares borders with several other 5th Judicial District counties.