Access Sherburne County Criminal Court Records
Sherburne County criminal court records are kept at the District Court in Elk River, the county seat. The court is part of the 10th Judicial District and processes all felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor cases filed in the county. You can search criminal cases online for free through Minnesota Court Records Online, visit the courthouse directly, or submit a written copy request. The Sherburne County Sheriff operates the county jail at the same Government Center complex, and the county attorney prosecutes cases filed throughout the county.
Sherburne County Overview
Sherburne County District Court
The Sherburne County District Court is at the Government Center in Elk River. Court Administrator Katrese Ringham oversees records operations. The court processes all criminal cases filed in the county, including arraignments, pretrial hearings, trials, and sentencing. The public counter is open weekdays during business hours. Walk-in service is available without an appointment. The court calendar posts at 7:00 AM each weekday and updates every hour throughout the day.
| Court | Sherburne County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 13880 Business Center Dr, Elk River, MN 55330 |
| Phone | (763) 284-7140 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 10th Judicial District |
The Sherburne County Sheriff is also based at 13880 Business Center Dr, Elk River, MN 55330. You can reach the Sheriff's Office at (763) 765-3500. The County Attorney's Office, which handles criminal prosecution, is at (763) 765-4900. Both offices are at the same Government Center complex as the court.
Online Case Search Through MCRO
Minnesota Court Records Online provides free access to Sherburne County criminal case records. No registration is needed. Go to publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us and select Sherburne County. Search by defendant name, case number, or browse the court calendar by date. You can also start at mncourts.gov/access-case-records/mcro for help using the system.
Results show charges filed, case status, hearing dates, and final dispositions. For cases filed on or after July 1, 2015, you can also view and download court documents in PDF format for free. The court calendar posts at 7:00 AM and updates hourly. Sherburne is a growing county northwest of the Twin Cities metro, with a moderately active criminal docket covering traffic, drug, property, and violent offenses. Searches typically run fast, and you can check case status at any point during the court day.
Note: Juvenile records and cases sealed by court order are not visible in the MCRO public search. These records are protected under Minnesota law.
Sherburne County District Court Online
The Sherburne County District Court page on mncourts.gov provides courthouse contact details, links to the case search, and the court calendar.
From that page you can also reach the 10th Judicial District directory, which covers all counties in the district including Sherburne, Anoka, Isanti, Wright, Chisago, Pine, Kanabec, and Washington.
Sherburne County Sheriff and Jail Records
The Sherburne County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement across the county and operates the county jail at the Government Center. For questions about current inmates or recent bookings, contact the Sheriff's Office at (763) 765-3500 or visit the jail information page at co.sherburne.mn.us/departments/sheriff/jail. The main Sheriff's page is at co.sherburne.mn.us/departments/sheriff.
The County Attorney at (763) 765-4900 prosecutes criminal cases filed by the sheriff and city police departments throughout the county. The county's main website at co.sherburne.mn.us has all department contacts and public data request procedures. Sherburne County is home to a correctional facility, which can affect the volume and type of records generated in the area. Keep in mind that incarceration records from state or federal correctional facilities are separate from local criminal court records.
Requesting Copies of Court Records
To get copies of Sherburne County criminal court records, start with MCRO for documents from cases filed after July 1, 2015. Those are available to download at no cost. For certified copies or older records, contact the Court Administrator's office at the Elk River Government Center.
Certified copies cost $14 per document as of July 1, 2023. Uncertified copies provided directly by the court are free. Requests can be submitted in person at the courthouse counter, by mail, or online through mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request. Include the case number, defendant's full name, and a description of the documents you need. If requesting by mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return delivery. Court fee schedules are posted at mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-fees.
BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains a statewide criminal history database. A BCA search covers all Minnesota counties, not just Sherburne. It costs $8 per search. You need the person's full legal name and date of birth. Results show conviction data up to 15 years back. Access the BCA search at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/Pages/criminal-history-search.aspx.
The BCA database includes convictions only. It does not show arrests that did not result in conviction, dismissed charges, or not-guilty verdicts. For a full case history in Sherburne County, use MCRO or contact the court directly. Because Sherburne County has correctional facilities nearby, some individuals in BCA records may have served time locally even if their original conviction came from another county or state. That distinction matters if you are trying to trace a specific case through the court system.
Expungement in Sherburne County
Minnesota provides two expungement paths. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 applies to petty misdemeanors and certain cases resolved without conviction. This process happens without a court petition for qualifying cases. For other offenses, you must file a petition under Chapter 609A and attend a hearing before a district court judge. Waiting periods before petitioning range from one to five years depending on the offense.
To pursue expungement of a Sherburne County criminal record, file your petition at the Sherburne County District Court in Elk River. The Minnesota Courts guide at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement explains eligibility, forms, and the hearing process. Legal aid resources in the region can help if you cannot afford a private attorney. The court clerk can also direct you to self-help materials available at the Government Center courthouse.
Data Practices and Public Access
Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act at Minn. Stat. Chapter 13, available at revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/13/, sets rules for public access to government records. Most criminal court records in Sherburne County are public data and available to anyone who asks. Courts must cite specific statutory authority before withholding any public record. Public access terminals at the courthouse are free to use and connect to the MCRO system.
If you plan to search records in person, arrive during business hours and bring the case number or defendant's name. Staff at the Court Administrator's office can help you use the terminals or point you to the right resources. The 10th Judicial District directory at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/District/10.aspx covers all district counties and is a useful reference for court contacts and general district information.
Nearby Counties
Sherburne County borders several counties in the central and metro regions of Minnesota. Each has its own district court and criminal case search options through MCRO.