Swift County Criminal Court Records

Swift County criminal court records are maintained by the 8th Judicial District Court Administration office in Benson. All felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor cases filed in the county are part of that official record. You can search records at no cost through the Minnesota Court Records Online system, and the courthouse at 301 14th St N in Benson is open weekdays for in-person and mail requests.

Swift County District Court

The Swift County District Court is located in Benson, the county seat. It is part of the 8th Judicial District, which covers a broad section of west-central Minnesota. Court Administration handles case filings, hearing schedules, and all public record requests. The office is open Monday through Friday. Call (320) 843-2744 before visiting if you want to confirm that staff can handle your specific request on that day.

The Swift County court page on mncourts.gov has current contact information, holiday schedules, and a link to the court calendar. Check it before driving to Benson to confirm the court is open and that your type of request can be handled in person. The Swift County government website lists contacts for all county offices if you need to reach a different department.

MCRO Online Records Search

The main resource for searching Swift County criminal records online is Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). The system is free, requires no registration, and runs 24 hours a day. All 87 Minnesota counties are searchable from one interface. Enter a party name, case number, or attorney name and pull up results that show case type, charges, hearing dates, and final dispositions. Documents filed from July 1, 2015 onward can be viewed and downloaded without a fee.

The system is also accessible at mncourts.gov/access-case-records/mcro, which includes a user guide for those who are new to the tool. The daily court calendar posts at 7:00 AM and is updated every hour, so checking whether a case is on the schedule does not require a phone call. Public access terminals in the Benson courthouse let you use MCRO during business hours at no charge.

How to Get Copies

Swift County criminal court records are available to the public unless sealed or restricted by court order. Uncertified copies have been free since July 1, 2023. Certified copies are $14 per document. Requests can be submitted through the Minnesota Courts copy request portal, in person at 301 14th St N in Benson, or by mail to Court Administration.

Include the defendant's full legal name and case number when making a request. In-person requests are usually handled the same day. Mail requests may take a week or more, particularly for older records that require retrieval from storage. If you are unsure which documents you need, the clerk can describe the file contents and help you make a more targeted request before you submit anything formal.

Swift County Sheriff

The Swift County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas of the county and runs the county jail. The arrest record begins with the Sheriff's Office. That record goes to the county attorney for a charging decision. If charges are filed with the District Court, the case enters MCRO and becomes searchable.

Very recent arrests may not yet appear in MCRO. The gap between arrest and formal charging can span several days. If you are trying to confirm the status of a recent arrest, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. For county-wide department contacts, the Swift County government website is the best starting point. It lists the Sheriff, County Attorney, and Court Administration with their respective phone numbers and office locations.

BCA Criminal History Search

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains a statewide database that covers Swift County alongside all other Minnesota counties. A BCA search returns felony and gross misdemeanor convictions reported by law enforcement over the past 15 years. Each search costs $8 and runs through the BCA criminal history search portal. You need the subject's full legal name and date of birth for accurate results.

The BCA record is not the same as the MCRO record. BCA only shows convictions reported to the state by law enforcement agencies. MCRO shows all activity in the court system, including dismissed charges and reduced pleas. Use both for a complete picture. Individuals can use the BCA self-check option to review their own criminal history at any time.

Expungement in Swift County

Minnesota law allows qualifying individuals to seal their criminal records through expungement under Minn. Stat. Chapter 609A. The 2023 Clean Slate provisions at Minn. Stat. Section 609A.015 automatically seal certain low-level convictions without requiring a petition. People with those offenses do not need to take any action.

For offenses not covered by automatic sealing, you must file a petition with the Swift County District Court in Benson. Waiting periods are one to five years depending on the offense type and outcome of the case. Cases that ended without a conviction may qualify sooner. Filing fees apply, though fee waivers are available based on income. The Minnesota Courts self-help resources include all the forms and instructions you need to file on your own without a lawyer.

After expungement, the court record is sealed from public access. Some law enforcement agencies may retain access under specific legal provisions. Private background check databases may still carry the old information until they update their records, so you may need to contact those companies directly to request removal.

Data Practices and Fees

Public access to Swift County criminal court records is governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act at Minn. Stat. Chapter 13. Most criminal court records are public data. Exceptions include sealed files, victim-identifying information, and some juvenile records. Court staff apply these classifications to every request regardless of how it is submitted.

The image below shows the Swift County court listing in the Minnesota Courts directory, connecting to the public case search portal and courthouse details.

Click the image to open the Swift County court page, or go directly to MCRO to start your free search of criminal case records.

Nearby Counties

Swift County is in west-central Minnesota and borders several counties, each with its own District Court and records office.