Brooklyn Park Background Check Lookup
Brooklyn Park is one of the largest cities in Hennepin County and in the state. Background check searches here draw on the BCA statewide criminal history database, Hennepin County District Court records, and local police records maintained by the Brooklyn Park Police Department. This page covers all the key sources for background checks in Brooklyn Park, including how to access each one, what data each contains, and what steps are needed to get records.
Brooklyn Park Overview
BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains the state's main criminal history database. The free public search tool is at chs.state.mn.us. It covers felony and gross misdemeanor convictions from courts across all 87 Minnesota counties, including Hennepin County where Brooklyn Park is located. You search by first name, last name, and date of birth. No account or fee is needed for the online search.
Under Minnesota Statute 13.87, conviction records are public for 15 years from the conviction date. Cases that ended in acquittal or were dismissed are not in the database. The BCA gets its data from court systems statewide, so Hennepin County convictions appear once the court reports them. For pending cases or recent filings that have not led to a conviction yet, use MCRO to find those in the court records system.
Fingerprint-based checks are also available through the BCA for regulated positions that require more thorough vetting. These run through both state files and FBI databases. They require a formal submission process and are not the same as the free online name search. For most general public searches, the online tool is the appropriate starting point.
The BCA public criminal history tool is the primary statewide resource for Brooklyn Park background checks, covering felony and gross misdemeanor convictions from Hennepin County courts.
Brooklyn Park Police Department Records
The Brooklyn Park Police Department is at 5400 85th Avenue N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443. The non-emergency line is 763-493-8222. Their website is at brooklynpark.org/police-department. The BPPD handles law enforcement within city limits and keeps records for incidents that occurred in Brooklyn Park. To request police reports or arrest records, contact the department directly through their records unit.
Arrest records from the Brooklyn Park Police Department are public under Minnesota Statute 13.82. Public arrest data includes the name of the person arrested, the date and location, the charges filed, and the arresting agency. Police reports are available under the Government Data Practices Act, though portions covering active investigations, victim data, or other protected categories may be withheld. The department reviews each request and releases what the law permits. Have the subject's full name and date of birth ready when you contact the records unit.
Hennepin County District Court
Brooklyn Park is in Hennepin County, so all district court cases for the city go through Hennepin County District Court at 300 S 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487. The court phone number is 612-348-6000. Their page is at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/Hennepin.aspx. The court handles criminal, civil, family, and probate cases. Felony and gross misdemeanor charges that originate in Brooklyn Park are prosecuted here, and upon conviction they are reported to the BCA.
Court records are public for most case types. Juvenile records are sealed by law. Records expunged under Statute 609A are removed from public access by court order. For cases that are public, you can search the case index through MCRO at no charge, or request certified copies from the clerk's office for $14 per document. Requests for certified copies can be made in person at the courthouse or by mail. If you are not sure whether a record exists, start with the free MCRO search before requesting a certified copy.
Minnesota Court Records Online
MCRO is the free public portal for Minnesota court records at mncourts.gov/access-case-records/mcro. Search by name across all Minnesota counties, including Hennepin. Results show case index information, charge types, hearing dates, and case status. Most searches are free. MCRO is especially useful for finding pending cases or recent filings not yet reflected in the BCA conviction database.
Minnesota Court Records Online allows free public searches for Brooklyn Park cases filed in Hennepin County District Court, covering pending and concluded cases.
MPA Remote Access
Minnesota Public Access Remote is a subscription-based service at pa.courts.state.mn.us. It gives deeper access to court records than MCRO, including document images and full charge histories. MPA Remote covers all Minnesota counties. There is a subscription fee. It is primarily used by legal professionals and frequent searchers. For a one-time background check, start with the free MCRO portal.
DOC Offender Locator
The Minnesota Department of Corrections runs a free Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer. This tool shows people currently in a Minnesota state prison or under active DOC supervision such as probation or supervised release. It does not include people who have completed their sentence. If you want to check whether a person is currently incarcerated or under state supervision in Minnesota, this is the right tool. Results are updated regularly but may not reflect the most current changes.
Minnesota Data Practices Act
The Government Data Practices Act governs what Minnesota public agencies must disclose. For background checks, the key statutes are Statute 13.82, which makes arrest data public from booking, and Statute 13.87, which makes conviction data public for 15 years. These apply fully in Brooklyn Park. When you submit a records request to the Brooklyn Park Police Department or any county office, they apply these statutes to determine what to release.
Some data is protected. Active investigation details, victim information, certain juvenile records, and court-ordered sealed records cannot be released. Expungement under Statute 609A seals records from all agencies involved in a case, including police, courts, and corrections. After expungement, the record will not appear in standard background check searches. That is the legal intent. The person's history before expungement is not accessible through public tools once the court seals it.
Mail Requests to the BCA
Send background check requests by mail to the BCA at 1430 Maryland Avenue E, St. Paul, MN 55106. The fee is $15 per name search. Include full name, date of birth, and a check or money order payable to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Processing takes about two weeks. For questions, call 651-793-2400.
DHS Background Studies
Licensed care programs in Minnesota require Department of Human Services background studies under Statute 245C. These studies apply to anyone in direct contact with children or vulnerable adults in a licensed setting. They are separate from public BCA searches and cover a broader range of disqualifying offenses. If you need a DHS background study for a specific role, it must go through the DHS submission process rather than the general public record search.
Nearby Cities
Brooklyn Park is surrounded by several other qualifying cities in the northwest metro. Each has its own local police records and district court access through Hennepin County.