Access Brown County Background Check Records
A Brown County background check starts with state tools like the BCA Criminal History Search and the Minnesota Court Records Online portal. The county seat is New Ulm, where the District Court and Sheriff's Office handle local records and requests. This guide walks through each source for criminal history and public records in Brown County so you know exactly where to look and what to expect from each search.
Brown County Overview
BCA Criminal History Search
Start any Brown County background check with the free BCA Criminal History Search. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension operates this public tool. Enter a name and date of birth to search for conviction records from courts across Minnesota. The system shows data for 15 years after sentence discharge. It covers Minnesota cases only, so records from other states won't appear.
Only convictions appear in the BCA results. Minnesota Statute 13.87 makes this clear: conviction data is public for 15 years. Arrests without a conviction are not on the public system. A search that returns nothing could mean no Minnesota convictions on record, not necessarily no police contact. Pair the BCA search with an MCRO court records search to get a more complete view.
If you need a certified paper result, mail $15 and a notarized consent form to the BCA at 1430 Maryland Avenue E, St. Paul, MN 55106. Allow about two weeks. Phone: 651-793-2400.
Brown County District Court
The Brown County District Court is in New Ulm, part of Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District. The court handles all criminal cases in the county. Case records include criminal filings, plea documents, sentencing orders, and dispositions. The courthouse is on S State Street, close to the sheriff's office.
| Address | 14 S State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 507-233-6600 |
| Website | mncourts.gov - Brown |
Walk-in visits allow you to search records by name or case number with a clerk's help. Certified copies require a fee and photo ID. Older records may be in paper form and need extra retrieval time. Call the clerk before visiting if your search covers cases from more than ten years ago. The clerk at 507-233-6600 can tell you what's available in advance.
MCRO is the best online option for records filed after July 2015. The older MPA Remote system covers earlier docket information. Together they let you search most Brown County cases without leaving your desk.
The Brown County court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch site shows current hours and contact details.
The screenshot above shows the Brown County court page with contact information, hours, and links to case search tools on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.
Brown County Sheriff's Office
The Brown County Sheriff's Office is on S State Street in New Ulm, next to the courthouse. The sheriff provides countywide law enforcement 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, and final case disposition.
| Address | 15 S State Street, New Ulm, MN 56073 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 507-233-6700 |
Under Statute 299C.10, the sheriff fingerprints people arrested for felonies, gross misdemeanors, and certain misdemeanors. Those prints go to the BCA. This fingerprinting process is how local Brown County arrests link up with the statewide criminal history database. Anyone arrested and convicted here should show up in the BCA within the 15-year window.
For incident reports or other records not accessible online, call the sheriff's office directly. They can tell you what's public and how to make a formal written request.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
The Minnesota Court Records Online tool covers court documents from all Minnesota counties, including Brown. It's free and doesn't require an account. Search by party name, case number, attorney, or judge. Documents from July 2015 forward are available. Criminal complaints, pleas, and sentencing records often appear here for newer cases.
To narrow results to Brown County, filter by county after running your name search. For older cases, the MPA Remote system shows docket data without full documents. It covers a longer time range than MCRO. Use MPA Remote to confirm a case exists, then request the actual documents from the courthouse clerk.
Minnesota Court Records Online is often the quickest way to find actual case documents for Brown County cases filed after 2015.
The screenshot above shows the Minnesota Court Records Online portal, which covers Brown County along with all other Minnesota counties in a single searchable system.
DOC Offender Locator
The Minnesota DOC Offender Locator shows DOC supervision status for people under Department of Corrections oversight. Search by name, date of birth, or offender ID. You'll see whether someone is in state custody, on supervised release, or on DOC probation. Brown County residents under state supervision appear in this database. For county jail status, contact the Brown County Sheriff's Office directly, as the DOC tool doesn't cover local facilities.
Minnesota Data Practices and Criminal Record Rules
Minnesota's Data Practices Act at Statute Chapter 13 creates a presumption that all government data is public. Agencies can't withhold records without citing a specific legal basis for the restriction. In practice, this means you can request public records in Brown County without explaining your reason. The county clerk and sheriff's office are bound by these same rules.
For criminal records, the specifics matter. Conviction data is public for 15 years after discharge under Statute 13.87. Arrest data is public under Statute 13.82 if it includes time, place, charges, officer, and disposition. Arrests that didn't lead to conviction are not in the BCA public system but may still appear in some court records. Juvenile records are closed. Records expunged under Statute 609A are sealed from public view but not destroyed. Courts and law enforcement retain access to sealed records.
The predatory offender registry under Statute 243.166 covers offenders who must register for at least ten years or for life depending on the offense. Minnesota maintains over 18,000 registered predatory offenders statewide. Only those who are non-compliant show up on the public-facing website. Check the DPS or DHS site to search the current registry.
Other Resources
The DPS background check page explains how Minnesota's criminal history system works and what you'll find when you run a search. It covers the BCA system, what's public, and how to request records. A good read before you begin if you're not familiar with the process.
For a full directory of court contacts statewide, visit the Minnesota Court Directory. Brown County is listed there with all other counties. If you're searching across multiple counties in southern Minnesota, that directory simplifies the process.
Communities in Brown County
Communities in Brown County file criminal cases at the Brown County District Court in New Ulm. There are no cities in this county with dedicated background check pages.
Nearby Counties
These counties are adjacent to Brown County, each with its own district court for record searches.