Todd County Criminal Court Records Search

Todd County criminal court records are kept at the District Court in Long Prairie, the county seat located in central Minnesota between St. Cloud and Brainerd. The 7th Judicial District serves Todd County, and the Long Prairie courthouse is where all criminal filings for the county are handled. You can search records for free using the statewide Minnesota Court Records Online tool, or visit the courthouse in person during business hours to access case files and request copies.

Todd County District Court

The District Court in Long Prairie serves all of Todd County for criminal matters. Long Prairie is a small city that functions as the county's administrative center. The courthouse at 221 1st Ave S holds all criminal court filings for the county, from low-level offenses through felony cases. Court staff are available Monday through Friday to handle records requests and answer general case questions.

Public access terminals at the courthouse let you run free MCRO searches on-site during office hours. Staff can help with copy requests and explain what documents are available, but they cannot give legal advice. Call (320) 732-7800 before visiting if you want to confirm hours or discuss a specific records request.

Searching Todd County Records Online

Minnesota Court Records Online is the free statewide case search system. Access it at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us or through the link at mncourts.gov. Todd County cases are in the same database as all 86 other Minnesota counties. Search by name or case number.

Results include the charges brought, all scheduled and completed court dates, and the final outcome of the case. MCRO updates regularly. Public records in the system are generally current. Records that are sealed, expunged, or classified as confidential under Minnesota law will not appear. Juvenile records are always private and will not show in MCRO results.

Todd County has a mix of rural farmland and forested areas. Cases can come from across the county's many townships. All state district court cases, no matter where in the county the incident occurred, are filed in Long Prairie and appear in MCRO if they are public.

About the Todd County District Court Page

The Todd County District Court page on mncourts.gov lists contact information, service hours, and directions for the Long Prairie courthouse.

Check that page before visiting the courthouse to confirm current hours and review any service notices for the Long Prairie location.

Getting Copies of Todd County Court Records

Uncertified copies of criminal court records are free as of July 1, 2023. Certified copies cost $14 per document. You can request copies in person at the Long Prairie courthouse or by mail. Bring the case number or a full name for in-person visits. Mail requests should include the case number, the party name, and the document you need.

Send mail requests to Todd County District Court, 221 1st Ave S, Long Prairie, MN 56347. For certified copies, include a check for $14 payable to the court. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope to have documents returned by mail. Processing times vary. Full instructions are available at mncourts.gov. Call (320) 732-7800 if you need to follow up on a pending mail request.

Todd County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Todd County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in the county's rural areas and smaller communities. Arrest records are kept by the sheriff's office and are separate from the district court records system. The sheriff's website is at toddcountysheriff.org. The county government site is at co.todd.mn.us.

Arrest records and court records are two different things. An arrest may or may not lead to charges in district court. Check MCRO after reviewing an arrest record to see if a court case was filed. Both systems are worth checking if you are trying to get a full picture of a person's contact with the criminal justice system in Todd County.

BCA Criminal History Search

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs a statewide criminal conviction database at dps.mn.gov. Each search costs $8 and covers 15 years of conviction data from all Minnesota counties including Todd. BCA results show convictions only. Pending charges, dismissed cases, and arrests without convictions are not included. Use BCA for a statewide conviction check. Use MCRO for full case details on specific Todd County court filings.

Expungement in Todd County

Minn. Stat. Chapter 609A governs expungement of criminal records in Minnesota. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. Section 609A.015 applies to certain low-level cases where no conviction resulted. For cases that do not qualify for automatic expungement, you must file a petition at the Todd County District Court in Long Prairie.

Whether a case qualifies depends on the charge type, the outcome, and how much time has passed since the case closed. Full information on eligibility, the petition process, and forms is at mncourts.gov. For procedural questions, the statewide Self-Help Center at (651) 435-6535 is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

Government Data Practices in Minnesota

Minn. Stat. Chapter 13, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, governs public access to court records and other government data. The text is posted at revisor.mn.gov. Most adult criminal court records in Todd County are public. Juvenile records, records sealed by court order, and certain categories of victim data are not public under the law.

If you are told a record is not available, ask the court staff for the specific law that restricts it. They must give you the legal basis for any denial. Understanding the restriction helps you figure out what options, if any, exist for accessing the information you need.

Nearby Counties

Todd County sits in the middle of central Minnesota and borders several counties in the 7th Judicial District.