Duluth Criminal Record Search
Duluth is the county seat of St. Louis County and the largest city in northeastern Minnesota. Background checks in Duluth use a combination of the BCA statewide criminal history database, St. Louis County District Court records, and police records from both the Duluth Police Department and the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office. This page walks through each source, covering what data is available, how to access it, and what limits apply under Minnesota law.
Duluth Overview
BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension operates the state's primary criminal history database. The free public search is at chs.state.mn.us. It covers felony and gross misdemeanor convictions from all Minnesota counties, including St. Louis County. You enter a first name, last name, and date of birth. No account is required and the search is free.
Under Minnesota Statute 13.87, conviction records are public for 15 years from the conviction date. Cases that were dismissed or ended in acquittal do not appear. The BCA receives data from court systems statewide, so St. Louis County convictions are included once the court transmits them. For charges that are still pending in court, use MCRO to see those filings before they reach the BCA database.
The BCA also processes fingerprint-based checks for regulated roles and licensed positions. These go through both state and national FBI databases and are more thorough than the online name search. The formal fingerprint process is separate from the free public search. For most general background check needs, start with the online BCA tool.
The Duluth Police Department website provides access to public records requests, arrest data, and other information available under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
Duluth Police Department Records
The Duluth Police Department is at 2030 Arlington Avenue, Duluth, MN 55811. Their main phone number is 218-730-5400. Their website is at duluthmn.gov/police. The DPD handles law enforcement within Duluth city limits and keeps records for incidents that occurred in the city. To request police reports or arrest records, contact the department directly. Records requests are processed under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
Arrest data from the Duluth Police Department is public under Minnesota Statute 13.82. Public arrest records include the name of the person arrested, the date and location of arrest, the charges filed, and the arresting officer. Police reports are also available as public data, though certain portions may be withheld. Information about victims, ongoing investigations, and other protected data categories can be redacted before release. For each request, the department applies the Data Practices Act to determine what is releasable.
St. Louis County Sheriff
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office is at 1001 E Highway 2, Duluth, MN 55805. Their phone number is 218-726-2222. The sheriff handles law enforcement in areas outside Duluth city limits within St. Louis County, which is the largest county by area in the contiguous United States. The sheriff's records office can assist with records requests for incidents that occurred in unincorporated areas or smaller communities in the county. For incidents within Duluth proper, contact the city police department.
St. Louis County District Court
All district court cases in Duluth go through St. Louis County District Court at 1001 E Highway 2, Duluth, MN 55805. The court phone number is 218-726-2460. Their Minnesota courts page is at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/StLouis.aspx. The court handles criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Felony and gross misdemeanor cases filed in Duluth or anywhere in St. Louis County run through this court. Convictions become part of the BCA criminal history database once the court reports them.
Court records are public for most case types. Exceptions include juvenile records, which are sealed, and expunged records, which are removed from public access by court order. To get certified copies of court documents, contact the clerk's office. The fee is $14 per certified document. Requests can be made in person at the courthouse or by mail. For a general case search without needing certified copies, use MCRO online for free.
The BCA public criminal history search covers statewide conviction records and is the primary online tool for Duluth background checks alongside local police and court records.
Minnesota Court Records Online
MCRO is the free public court records portal at mncourts.gov/access-case-records/mcro. Search by name across all 87 Minnesota counties, including St. Louis. MCRO shows case index data, charges, hearing dates, and case status. Most searches are free. Some document views cost a small fee. MCRO is useful for finding active or pending cases in Duluth that have not yet resulted in a conviction reflected in the BCA database.
MPA Remote Access
Minnesota Public Access Remote provides detailed court record access for paid subscribers at pa.courts.state.mn.us. MPA Remote includes document images and full charge histories for all Minnesota counties. There is a subscription fee. Legal professionals and frequent users tend to use it more than the free MCRO portal. For a single search, start with MCRO first.
DOC Offender Locator
The Minnesota Department of Corrections offers a free Offender Locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer. This tool shows people currently in a Minnesota state prison or under DOC supervision such as probation or supervised release. It does not include people who have served their sentence and are no longer under state supervision. If you need to confirm whether someone is currently in DOC custody or under active state supervision, this is the right tool to use.
Minnesota Data Practices Act
Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act applies to all public agencies in Duluth, including the police department, county sheriff, and district court. Statute 13.82 makes arrest data public from the moment of booking. Statute 13.87 makes conviction data public for 15 years. These two statutes are the backbone of most public background check searches in Duluth. When you request records from any of these agencies, they apply the Data Practices Act to decide what gets released.
Some records are protected by law. Victim information, active investigation materials, certain juvenile records, and court-ordered sealed records are not available to the public. Expungement under Statute 609A allows a person to petition the court to seal their criminal records from all participating agencies. If expungement is granted, the record is removed from public access, including the BCA database. Background checks will not return those sealed records. This is a legal protection, not a system error.
Mail Requests to the BCA
To request a background check by mail, write to the BCA at 1430 Maryland Avenue E, St. Paul, MN 55106. The fee is $15 per name. Include the full name, date of birth, and a check or money order payable to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Processing takes about two weeks. Call 651-793-2400 with questions. Mail requests produce a printed result that works as a formal record.
DHS Background Studies
Minnesota Statute 245C governs Department of Human Services background studies for licensed care programs. These are required for people who work directly with children or vulnerable adults in licensed settings. DHS studies use a separate submission process and cover a broader set of disqualifying offenses than a standard BCA search. If a DHS background study is required for a specific role or setting, it must go through the DHS process rather than the public online search.
Nearby Cities
Duluth is the only qualifying city in St. Louis County. There are no other cities over the population threshold in the immediate area. The nearest qualifying cities are in the Twin Cities metro region, roughly 150 miles to the southwest.