Wright County Criminal Court Records Search
Wright County criminal court records are filed and maintained at the District Court in Buffalo, the county seat west of the Twin Cities metro. The court is part of Minnesota's 10th Judicial District and handles all felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor cases filed in the county. You can search case records online at no cost through Minnesota Court Records Online, visit the Buffalo courthouse in person during regular business hours, or submit a written copy request. Court Administrator Monica Tschumper oversees records operations, and a weekly public court calendar in searchable PDF format is available through the court.
Wright County Overview
Wright County District Court
The Wright County District Court sits in Buffalo. Court Administrator Monica Tschumper manages court records and oversees the administrator's office. The court handles all criminal proceedings in the county, from arraignment and bail review through final disposition and any post-conviction matters. The public counter is open weekdays. Walk-in service is available during business hours without an appointment. The court calendar posts at 7:00 AM and updates hourly throughout the day.
| Court | Wright County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 3700 Braddock Ave NE, Buffalo, MN 55313 |
| Phone | (763) 760-6300 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 10th Judicial District |
Public access terminals at the Buffalo courthouse connect to the MCRO system. Staff can help you navigate the case search if you need guidance. Hearing eReminders through MCRO let you get notifications about upcoming court dates for cases you want to follow.
Searching Cases Online with MCRO
The Minnesota Court Records Online system is the main free tool for searching Wright County criminal case records. No account is required. Go to publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us, select Wright County, and enter a name or case number. You can also start from mncourts.gov/access-case-records/mcro. Results show charges, case status, hearing dates, and final dispositions. Documents from cases filed on or after July 1, 2015, can be downloaded in PDF format at no cost.
The weekly public court calendar for Wright County is also available as a searchable PDF. This format makes it easy to scan scheduled matters and check specific dates. The daily calendar updates hourly, so it stays current as hearings are added or rescheduled. Hearing eReminders through MCRO let you get notifications about upcoming court dates for cases you want to follow. Wright County is a growing county west of the metro, with a moderately active criminal docket covering traffic offenses, drug charges, property crimes, and violent matters.
Note: Juvenile records and cases sealed by court order do not appear in the public MCRO search. These are restricted under Minnesota law.
Wright County District Court Online
The Wright County District Court page on mncourts.gov provides courthouse contact details, links to the MCRO case search, and the court calendar.
From that page you can access the case search tools and the 10th Judicial District directory covering all counties in the district.
Wright County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Wright County Sheriff's Office posts arrest records and a jail roster for public access. The Sheriff's main website is at wrightcountymn.gov/government/sheriff-s-office. For information about inmates currently held at the county jail, check the jail page at wrightcountymn.gov/government/sheriff-s-office/jail. The county's main site at wrightcountymn.gov has all department contacts.
Arrest records and booking information are separate from the court records maintained by the District Court. An arrest does not mean charges were filed, and a booking does not mean a case went to trial. To find out what happened in court after an arrest, search MCRO or contact the Court Administrator in Buffalo. The court system and the sheriff's office each keep their own records, and both may be needed for a full picture of a person's case history in Wright County.
Requesting Copies of Court Records
To get copies of Wright County criminal court records, start with MCRO for cases filed after July 1, 2015. Those documents are free to download as PDFs. For certified copies or older case files, contact the Court Administrator's office in Buffalo.
Certified copies cost $14 per document as of July 1, 2023. Uncertified copies from the court are free. You can request copies in person, by mail, or through the online copy request form at mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request. Mail requests should include the case number, defendant's full name, a description of the records needed, and a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want copies returned by mail. The court processes requests in order of receipt. Current fee schedules are at mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-fees.
BCA Statewide Criminal History
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension provides a statewide criminal history database covering all Minnesota counties. A BCA search costs $8 and requires a full legal name and date of birth. Results show convictions from the past 15 years. They do not include arrests without conviction, dismissed charges, or not-guilty verdicts. Access the BCA search at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/Pages/criminal-history-search.aspx.
For a complete case history in Wright County, including all charges and their outcomes, use MCRO or request records from the court directly. The BCA is good for a quick statewide overview but does not replace a detailed court records search for any given county case. Results are returned online and the $8 fee applies per search. Both tools serve different purposes, and using both gives you the most thorough view of someone's criminal history in Minnesota.
Expungement in Wright County
Minnesota law provides two routes to expungement of criminal records. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 covers petty misdemeanor convictions and certain cases resolved without a conviction. No petition is needed for automatic cases. For other offenses, you must file a petition under Chapter 609A and attend a hearing before a district court judge in the county where the case was filed. Waiting periods depend on the offense and range from one to five years.
If you want to seek expungement of a Wright County criminal record, file your petition at the Wright County District Court in Buffalo. The full guide with forms, eligibility rules, and the hearing process is at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement. Legal aid organizations in central and west metro Minnesota can advise you if you need help with the petition. The court clerk can also point you to self-help resources available at the Buffalo 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/, governs access to public government data, including court records. Criminal case records in Wright County are generally public data. The court must cite specific statutory authority before withholding any public record. Public access terminals at the Buffalo courthouse are free to use and provide access to the MCRO statewide case search system.
The 10th Judicial District directory at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/District/10.aspx covers all eight counties in the district and is a useful reference for court contacts and general district information. Wright County falls under this district along with Sherburne, Anoka, Isanti, Chisago, Pine, Kanabec, and Washington counties. Review the court fee schedule page before submitting any records request or filing to know what costs to expect.
Nearby Counties
Wright County borders several counties in central and metro Minnesota. Each has its own district court and criminal case search tools through MCRO.