Find Background Check Records in Bloomington
Bloomington is one of the largest cities in Hennepin County, and background check searches here use several overlapping sources. The BCA statewide criminal history tool covers convictions from Hennepin County courts. The Bloomington Police Department keeps its own local records and handles police report requests. Hennepin County District Court handles all district-level cases for the city. This page explains how to use each source and what you can expect to find.
Bloomington Overview
BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs the statewide criminal history database, which is the main starting point for background checks in Bloomington. The free search tool is at chs.state.mn.us. It covers felony and gross misdemeanor convictions from all Minnesota courts, including Hennepin County. You search by first name, last name, and date of birth. No fee is required for the online name-based search.
Under Minnesota Statute 13.87, conviction records are public for 15 years from the conviction date. Cases that ended in acquittal or dismissal are not in the database. The BCA pulls records from court systems, so Hennepin County convictions appear there once the court reports them. For pending cases or recent filings that have not yet reached conviction status, the MCRO court portal is a better source. The BCA and MCRO together cover the broadest range of background check needs.
Fingerprint-based background checks are also available through the BCA for situations that call for a more complete search. These use state and FBI databases and go beyond the name-based online search. They require a formal submission process. For general public searches, the online tool is the right place to start.
Bloomington Police Department Records
The Bloomington Police Department is at 1800 W Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431. Their main number is 952-563-4900. The department website is at bloomingtonmn.gov/police-department. You can find information about public records requests at bloomingtonmn.gov/pd/police-records-requests. The Bloomington Police handle records for incidents that occurred within city limits.
The department can provide local record checks on yourself, but for a full criminal background check on another person, you are directed to use the BCA. Arrest data from the Bloomington Police Department is public under Minnesota Statute 13.82. Public arrest records include the name of the person arrested, the date, the charges, and the arresting officer or agency. Police reports are available under the Government Data Practices Act, but certain portions may be withheld if they involve protected data categories, active investigations, or victim information.
The Bloomington Police Department records requests page explains how to submit a public records request, what forms to use, and what types of records are available.
Hennepin County District Court
Bloomington is in Hennepin County, so all district court cases for city residents are filed at Hennepin County District Court, 300 S 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487. The main number is 612-348-6000. Their Minnesota courts page is at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/Hennepin.aspx. The court handles criminal, civil, family, and probate cases. Felony and gross misdemeanor charges filed in Bloomington are prosecuted in Hennepin County and, upon conviction, feed into the BCA criminal history database.
To get certified copies of court documents, you must request them from the clerk's office. The fee is $14 per certified document. Requests can be made in person or by mail. Not all case types are public. Juvenile records are sealed by law. Cases expunged under Statute 609A are removed from public access by court order and cannot be found through standard searches. If you need a certified copy for legal or official purposes, contact the clerk directly for the correct procedure.
Minnesota Court Records Online
MCRO is the free public portal for Minnesota court records, available at mncourts.gov/access-case-records/mcro. You can search by name across all Minnesota counties, including Hennepin. MCRO shows case index information, charge types, hearing dates, and case status. Most searches are free. Document images may carry a small fee. MCRO is especially useful for finding active or recently filed cases that have not yet led to a conviction in the BCA database.
The BCA public criminal history database covers statewide conviction records and is the primary tool for Bloomington background checks alongside local police and court records.
MPA Remote Access
Minnesota Public Access Remote offers more detailed court record access than MCRO for subscribers. Access it at pa.courts.state.mn.us. MPA Remote includes document images and full charge histories for all Minnesota counties. It requires a subscription fee and is primarily used by attorneys and researchers. For a one-time background check, start with the free MCRO portal before considering MPA Remote.
DOC Offender Locator
The Minnesota Department of Corrections runs a free public search at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer. This Offender Locator shows people currently in prison or under active DOC supervision, including probation and supervised release. It does not include people who have completed their sentence and been discharged from DOC supervision. Use this tool if you need to verify whether someone is currently incarcerated in Minnesota or under active state supervision.
Minnesota Data Practices Act
Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act sets clear rules for what law enforcement and court records are available to the public. Statute 13.82 makes arrest data public from the moment of booking. Statute 13.87 makes conviction data public for 15 years. These statutes apply to all agencies in Bloomington, including the police department and the county court. They define what must be shared and what can be withheld.
Some records are protected. Active investigation files, victim information, certain juvenile data, and court-sealed records are all restricted from public access. Expungement under Statute 609A removes records from public view when a court grants a petition. This applies to records held by all agencies involved in the case, not just the court. After expungement, standard background check searches will not return the sealed records. This is intentional under Minnesota law.
Mail Requests to the BCA
You can mail a background check request to the BCA at 1430 Maryland Avenue E, St. Paul, MN 55106. The fee is $15 per name search. Include the full name, date of birth, and a check or money order payable to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Allow about two weeks for processing. For questions, call 651-793-2400. A mailed request produces a printed result that can be used as a formal record.
DHS Background Studies
Licensed care programs in Minnesota require Department of Human Services background studies under Statute 245C. These are separate from public BCA searches. DHS studies apply to people in direct contact with children or vulnerable adults in licensed settings. The list of disqualifying offenses is broader than what triggers restrictions in a standard BCA search. If a DHS study is required for a specific role, it must be completed through the DHS process, not substituted with a general public record search.
Nearby Cities
Bloomington borders several other cities in the south metro. These qualifying cities each have their own local police records and background check resources.