Big Stone County Criminal History Lookup
A Big Stone County background check covers criminal records and public court data held by the state BCA and the county District Court in Ortonville. Big Stone is a small, rural county in far western Minnesota along the South Dakota border. State tools let you search most records online for free, while the Ortonville courthouse handles in-person requests and certified copies. This guide covers each source and how to use it.
Big Stone County Overview
BCA Criminal History Search
Start with the free BCA Criminal History Search for any Big Stone County background check. This tool from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension lets you search by name and date of birth. Results show conviction data from Minnesota courts going back 15 years from sentence discharge. It's the fastest way to check for a criminal record, and it's free for anyone to use.
The system only shows convictions, not arrests. Under Minnesota Statute 13.87, conviction records are public for 15 years. Arrests without a conviction are not on this public system. A clean BCA result means no convictions in Minnesota within the window, but it doesn't mean no arrests. If you need a fuller picture, search court records through MCRO as a follow-up step.
For a certified paper result by mail, send $15 and a notarized consent form to the BCA at 1430 Maryland Avenue E, St. Paul, MN 55106. Processing takes about two weeks. The BCA phone line is 651-793-2400.
Big Stone County District Court
The Big Stone County District Court in Ortonville is part of Minnesota's Eighth Judicial District. It handles criminal filings and keeps case records for the county. All criminal cases in Big Stone County go through this court, including felonies, misdemeanors, and petty offenses.
| Address | 20 2nd Street SE, Ortonville, MN 56278 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 320-839-2536 |
| Website | mncourts.gov - Big Stone |
In-person visits let you search by name or case number with the help of a clerk. Certified copies cost a fee, and you'll need photo ID. Some older records may be in paper form, so call first if you're looking for something from more than a decade ago. The clerk at 320-839-2536 can tell you what's available and what to bring.
For records filed after July 2015, MCRO is often faster than an in-person visit. For older cases, MPA Remote shows docket information. Neither system requires a trip to Ortonville for most searches.
Visit the Big Stone County court page for current hours and contact details.
The screenshot shows the Big Stone County court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch site, with contact information and links to case search tools.
Big Stone County Sheriff's Office
The Big Stone County Sheriff's Office is on 2nd Street SE in Ortonville, near the courthouse. The sheriff provides law enforcement for the county and maintains local arrest records. Minnesota Statute 13.82 makes arrest data public, including the time and place of an arrest, the arresting officer, charges filed, and final case disposition.
| Address | 11 2nd Street SE, Ortonville, MN 56278 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 320-839-6178 |
Under Minnesota Statute 299C.10, the sheriff fingerprints people arrested for felonies, gross misdemeanors, and targeted misdemeanors. Those prints go to the BCA and get added to the statewide criminal history database. This is how local Big Stone County arrests connect to state-level records. If someone was arrested here and convicted, the BCA should show that record within the 15-year window.
Call the sheriff's office for incident reports or arrest records not available through state tools. They can explain what's public and how to submit a formal records request.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
The Minnesota Court Records Online system covers Big Stone County along with all other Minnesota counties. It's free and requires no account. Search by party name, case number, attorney, or judge. Documents filed from July 2015 forward are available to download. Criminal complaints, pleas, and sentencing records often appear here.
For older docket data, the MPA Remote system goes further back but shows only docket lines, not documents. If you're searching for a Big Stone County case that predates 2015, start with MPA Remote to confirm the case exists, then contact the courthouse clerk for copies of the actual documents.
The BCA Criminal History Search is always a good companion search to run alongside MCRO.
The screenshot above shows the BCA Criminal History Search tool, which is free to use and covers conviction records statewide including Big Stone County.
DOC Offender Locator
The Minnesota DOC Offender Locator lets you check DOC supervision status by name, date of birth, or offender ID. It shows current incarceration, supervised release, and probation under DOC oversight. Big Stone County residents under state supervision appear in this system. County jail and local probation aren't covered here. Call the sheriff's office for county jail inquiries.
Public Records Access in Minnesota
Minnesota's Data Practices Act at Statute Chapter 13 sets the rules for access to government records. All government data is presumptively public. That presumption applies in Big Stone County the same as everywhere else. Agencies must provide public records on request and can't demand a reason for the request.
Criminal record rules narrow what's actually accessible. Conviction data is public for 15 years (Statute 13.87). Arrests without convictions are not public through the BCA. Juvenile records are closed. Expunged records under Statute 609A are sealed from public access, though courts and law enforcement can still see them. These rules hold for Big Stone County just as they do for every county in the state.
Predatory offender registration under Statute 243.166 applies statewide. Non-compliant offenders appear on the public registry. Minnesota has over 18,000 registered predatory offenders in total, but only those who fail to comply with registration rules show up publicly. If you're checking on a specific person's registry status, check the DPS or DHS website for the current list.
Using Multiple Tools Together
The most thorough approach to a Big Stone County background check uses several tools in sequence. Start with the BCA for a quick conviction check. Then run an MCRO search for court documents. If you need older records, add a MPA Remote search. For DOC supervision status, check the Offender Locator. If any of those turn up questions that need follow-up, contact the courthouse clerk or the sheriff's office directly.
All of the state tools are free. The only costs come when you need certified copies of documents, mail requests to the BCA, or in-person records searches at the courthouse. The DPS background check page has more detail on how to use the state system and what to expect from results.
For a full list of court contacts statewide, the Minnesota Court Directory covers every county. If you're searching in multiple counties, that directory makes it easy to find the right contact in each one.
Communities in Big Stone County
Communities in Big Stone County file criminal cases at the Big Stone County District Court in Ortonville. There are no cities in this county with dedicated background check pages.
Nearby Counties
Big Stone County shares borders with several counties in Minnesota. Each has its own district court for criminal history searches.