Find Stearns County Background Check Records
Stearns County background check resources are more robust than most Minnesota counties. The county seat of St. Cloud is a regional center, and Stearns County maintains its own online criminal case search tool through the Sheriff's Office, in addition to the statewide BCA system and the District Court. You can access criminal history, court filings, inmate records, and corrections data through multiple free online tools. This page covers each source, how to use it, and what steps to take when you need certified or in-person records from Stearns County.
Stearns County Overview
BCA Criminal History Search
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension operates Minnesota's central criminal history database at chs.state.mn.us. Stearns County arrests and convictions flow into this system from the Sheriff's Office and District Court. Minnesota Statute 13.87 keeps conviction records public for 15 years after discharge. Arrest data is public under Statute 13.82. The search is free, requires no login, and returns results by name and date of birth. This is the best statewide starting point for criminal history research in Stearns County.
Records sealed by court order under Statute 609A expungement procedures will not appear. For certified results, a mail request to the BCA costs $15 and takes about two weeks.
The BCA criminal history search interface is shown below. It covers all Minnesota counties, including Stearns.
Use this as your first stop before checking county-specific tools.
Stearns County Sheriff's Office
The Stearns County Sheriff's Office at 807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303 provides one of the more detailed public record access points in outstate Minnesota. In addition to standard law enforcement duties, the Sheriff's office offers an online criminal case search at stearnscountymn.gov/250/Criminal-Case-Search. This tool lets you search active and past criminal cases by name. The office also maintains online inmate and warrant searches and a most wanted list. Past inmate records are also accessible through the site. Call 320-259-3700 for direct assistance.
The Stearns County Jail is located at 1021 S 2nd Street, St. Cloud, MN 56301 and can be reached at 320-259-3760. Under Minnesota Statute 299C.10, the Sheriff fingerprints qualifying arrestees and sends that data to the BCA. This keeps the statewide record current with Stearns County activity. The Sheriff's website is worth checking directly when you need more than what the BCA shows.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303 |
| Phone | 320-259-3700 |
| Website | stearnscountymn.gov/342/Sheriffs-Office |
| Criminal Case Search | Criminal Case Search Tool |
| Jail Address | 1021 S 2nd Street, St. Cloud, MN 56301 |
| Jail Phone | 320-259-3760 |
The Stearns County Sheriff's website is shown below. It links directly to the criminal case search, inmate roster, and warrant lookup tools.
The criminal case search tool is one of the more useful county-level resources available in Minnesota outside the metro area.
Search by name to find criminal cases associated with individuals in the Stearns County area.
Stearns County District Court
Stearns County District Court is located at 725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303. The clerk can be reached at 320-656-3600. The court is part of the 7th Judicial District and handles criminal, civil, family, and probate cases. With St. Cloud as a regional hub, this court processes a larger volume of cases than many outstate Minnesota courts. Court records are presumed public. Staff can retrieve case files, confirm dispositions, and pull docket information during business hours. Copy fees apply for printed documents.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303 |
| Phone | 320-656-3600 |
| Website | mncourts.gov/Find-Courts/Stearns.aspx |
| Judicial District | 7th Judicial District |
| Case Types | Criminal, civil, family, probate |
The Minnesota Judicial Branch directory page for Stearns County is shown below.
Confirm court hours before visiting, as schedules can change. In-person access remains the most complete option for reviewing full case files.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
MCRO at mncourts.gov/access-case-records/mcro provides free remote access to Stearns County court case data. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. The system shows case status, charges, and disposition information for criminal and civil cases. Sealed records and juvenile matters are excluded from public search. Given Stearns County's active court docket, MCRO is a practical remote tool for reviewing case history without visiting St. Cloud. Searches are instant and free.
MPA Remote Access
MPA Remote at pa.courts.state.mn.us offers court case and calendar access that supplements MCRO. Both systems are free. For Stearns County, checking both tools increases the chances of finding complete case information. MPA Remote can show scheduled hearing dates and active court calendars that MCRO may not surface as clearly. No login is required for public searches.
DOC Offender Locator
The Minnesota Department of Corrections maintains a free public offender locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer. This shows current custody and supervision status for anyone under DOC oversight statewide, including individuals with Stearns County ties. Predatory offender registration is governed by Minnesota Statute 243.166, which requires covered offenders to register with local law enforcement and keep their address current. The DOC locator and the BCA together provide comprehensive coverage of an individual's criminal justice status.
Minnesota Data Practices Act
The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act gives the public the right to request records from government agencies. Criminal justice data, including arrests and convictions, is public by default in Minnesota. To request records from Stearns County agencies, contact the relevant office and submit a written data request. Agencies must respond within ten business days. Records classified as private or confidential cannot be released. If you believe a denial is improper, you may appeal to the Office of Administrative Hearings. For most Stearns County records, the online tools above are faster and simpler than a formal data request.
BCA Mail Requests
Certified criminal history records from the BCA require a mail request. Write to Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, 1430 Maryland Avenue E, St. Paul, MN 55106. Include the full name and date of birth of the subject, and enclose a $15 check or money order payable to the BCA. Call 651-793-2400 with questions. Processing typically takes about two weeks. Certified records are appropriate when you need an official documented response rather than the results of a free online search. The BCA is the only agency that can provide a certified statewide criminal history.
Communities in Stearns County
Stearns County includes the city of St. Cloud, which has its own dedicated background check page. Other communities in the county include Sauk Centre, Cold Spring, and Waite Park, none of which currently have dedicated city pages.
Nearby Counties
Stearns County borders several counties in central Minnesota. Each has its own court and sheriff resources.