Minnesota Criminal Records

Minnesota Criminal Records include information gathered from the municipal, county, and state authorities and a complete overview of an individual's criminal history. This data provides information about every arrest and conviction.

Access to criminal records in Minnesota is either open or limited. The Data Practices Act does not restrict who can seek forms; therefore, law enforcement can request arrests and convictions. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) also makes criminal records and arrest information publicly available in the state.

Even though procedures for collecting criminal records differ by state, most are preserved online by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)and the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

This official document in Minnesota can be different, but it will include:

• Subject's details (name, date of birth, race)
• Photograph/mugshot
• Fingerprints
• Physical descriptors
• Current and previous addresses
• Disposition of all warrants
• Arrest records from the past
• Information on the arrest

Like many other states, Minnesota's Criminal Records have much basic information about crimes. But if you break the law in the state, these are the types of information you can expect to find in a criminal record.

Felonies

In Minnesota, felony records are crimes with a minimum sentence of one year in county jail, state prison, or even the death penalty. In contrast to other states, Minnesota law does not divide felonies into different categories. Instead, its statutes state the maximum sentence for each specific felony.

Examples of offenses that are known as felonies are:

First-degree Murder

This kind of felony carries a punishment of a life sentence.

First-degree Criminal Sexual Conduct

If you commit this felony, you will face up to 30 years in prison and a $40,000 fine.

Second-degree Manslaughter

Those guilty of this felony will face up to ten years in jail and a $20,000 fine.

Burglary in the Third Degree

The maximum sentence for this kind of felony is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Property Damage ($500 to $1,000)

Those who commit this type of felony face a maximum sentence of one year, one day in jail, and a $3,000 fine.

How long does Minnesota keep a record of a felony? Unless you apply for expungement, a felony will stay on your record for life.

Misdemeanor

Minnesota is different from most other states because it does not divide misdemeanor offenses into classes. Rather, misdemeanors in Minnesota have three types which are:

Gross Misdemeanors

These are the worst types of misdemeanor crimes in the state. They include cases of assault in the fifth degree, DWI in the second or third degree, and other theft crimes. Misdemeanors like these can get you to a year in prison and a $3,000 fine.

Misdemeanors

This type of misdemeanor is the second most severe crime. It includes vandalism, reckless driving, disorderly conduct, a first-time DWI conviction, and being drunk in public. If you commit this misdemeanor, you could spend up to 90 days in prison and pay a $1,000 fine.

Petty Misdemeanors

The least severe kind of misdemeanor is petty misdemeanors. There is no way to go to jail for these offenses, so they are not technically crimes. These offenses are more like what people in other states call "infractions" or "violations", like getting a ticket for speeding. Petty misdemeanors don't lead to jail time, but they can come with a fine of up to $300.

How long does a misdemeanor stay on your record in Minnesota? these crimes will remain on your record regardless of category until you apply for expungement.

To have a criminal record expunged, an individual must not commit a crime for at least:

• Two years to remove petty or misdemeanor record
• Four years to clean a gross misdemeanor record

Criminal Driving Violations

A criminal driving violation is anything that goes against the Minnesota state traffic code. Minnesota law enforcement routinely enforces these violations, issuing tickets or making arrests as necessary.

In Minnesota, most criminal driving violations are either traffic felonies or misdemeanors.

Traffic Felony

Various felony traffic offenses in Minnesota can result in criminal charges. Here are some of the most common:

• Vehicular assault
• Vehicular homicide
• Driving while drunk or high
• Reckless driving
• Leaving a car accident scene
• Getting away from a cop

Felony traffic violations in Minnesota can lead to jail time, fines, and other consequences.

Traffic Misdemeanors

Traffic misdemeanor records in Minnesota are not as severe as felony offenses, but they can still lead to fines and jail time. Here are the most common traffic misdemeanors:

• Speeding
• Driving with no license
• Driving without car insurance

The fines for these crimes depend on how bad they are, but they can be as much as $1,000. By committing this, you could spend anywhere from one day to one year in jail and license suspension for 90 days.

In Minnesota, a criminal traffic violation stays on a person's record for a different time, depending on how bad the crime was. However, most traffic offenses will remain on an individual's record for at least three years.

In some cases, criminal traffic violations can stay on a person's record for up to seven years, while a more severe offense can remain on a person's record for up to 10 years. If the offender has many crimes, they will stay on their record longer unless they petition for expungement.

Sexual Offenses

Minnesota's laws prohibit sexual behavior between children under 18 and authority figures; even the consent age is 16. In this state, people who do sexual acts with children under the age of consent can be found guilty of criminal sexual conduct (CSC).

Like any other state, Minnesota classified sexual offenses based on their degree.

First Degree Sexual Conduct

First-degree CSC carries a punishment of up to 30 years sentence or a $40,000 fine, or both, if it occurs between:

• A child under 13 and a three or more years older defendant
• A child at least 13 but under 16 and a defendant four or more years older in authority

Second Degree Sexual Conduct

This form of CSC can result in up to 25 years in prison, a $35,000 fine, or both. In Minnesota, second-degree CSC occurs when:

• A child under 13 when the offender is older than three years
• A child is at least 13 but under 16 when the offender is four years older and in authority

Third Degree Sexual Conduct

According to Minnesota's laws, a person commits the crime of third-degree criminal sexual conduct when:

• A child is under 13 while the defendant is three years older
• A child is over 13 but under 16 when the defendant is two years older
• A child at least 16 but under 18 when the defendant is more than four years older

Third-degree CSC carries a punishment of up to five years in prison, a $30,000 fine, or both if the minor is 13 to 16 and the defendant is one to two years older. Otherwise, the offense can result in up to 15 years in prison, a $30,000 fine, or both.

Fourth Degree Sexual Conduct

Fourth-degree CSC carries a punishment of up to ten years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both. This crime happens when the defendant and victim have sexual contact short of penetration when:

• The child is under 13, and the defendant is no more than three years older
• The child is at least 13 but under 16, and the defendant is at least four years older or in authority
• The child is at least 16 but under 18, while the defendant is over four years older and in authority

How long does Minnesota keep a record of a sex offense? In this state, if someone is proven guilty of a sex crime, that conviction usually stays with them forever.

Under Minnesota law, people guilty of criminal sexual conduct must sign up as sex offenders. The BCA keeps up the Minnesota Predatory Offender Search and lets the public use it. Here, you may perform searches by city, county, or zip code.

Every state has its expungement process. In Minnesota, legal expungement of almost all misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases and some felony cases is possible.

The expungement procedure entails more than simply petitioning the court to remove a record. A person seeking expungement must go through court or reach a deal with the prosecutor.

How Does a Criminal Record Get Expunged in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, there are two ways to remove a criminal record.

• Petition: A person can file a petition with the court to get their record wiped clean. In their petition, petitioners must show eligibility and explain why expungement is justified. People with a stake in the case should also receive the petition.
• Agreement: A prosecutor can agree with a person to have their record expunged without needing a petition or court hearing.

Who Can Get an Expungement in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, you can only get your record expunged after a certain amount of time has passed since you finished your sentence for the crime.

To be able to go through an expungement process, you must meet the following conditions:

• Misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors require two years without further convictions.
• Gross misdemeanors need four years without new convictions after release.
• For felonies on the expungable list, no additional convictions for five years following discharge.

Minnesota Inmate Records are official records of people arrested and held in prisons or jails in the state.

In this state, you can access public information by going to the Minnesota Department of Corrections (MDC) or searching online for the department's inmate search.

In the inmate search, you will need either the offender's name or the inmate's identification number to find public information.

Minnesota's Inmate Records has several essential information pieces like many other states. Getting access to this record, on the other hand, will usually give you the following information:

• Inmate's details (name, date of birth)
• Any aliases
• Physical descriptors (height and weight)
• Social security number
• DOC ID
• Incarceration date
• Information on the inmate's crime
• Inmate photograph
• The anticipated release date
• Placed in charge

Arrest records in Minnesota reveal a person's history of crime. It shows if an arrestee got questioned, arrested, apprehended, or investigated and may explain the charges causing the arrest.

A warrant of arrest in this state gives a police officer permission to arrest or hold a person. However, police officers are also able to arrest people without a warrant. It happens when an officer has reasonable cause to suspect a crime or has witnessed one.

After the arrest, the officer will take the fingerprints, photograph, and book the arrestee into jail through a process called booking. According to Minnesota law, an arrestee must see a judge within 36 hours. In misdemeanor cases, if the person is not in front of a judge within 36 hours, they may be given a ticket and let go.

In this state, the BCA keeps arrest records. Police departments also keep these records for anyone detained in their authority, whereas law enforcement agencies keep records for people arrested elsewhere.

To search for an arrest, you need to know where it happened. People who want them can usually get arrest records for free.

Minnesota Arrest Records include the following:

• Arrestee's personal information (name, gender, and date of birth)
• Crime Summary
• Time and place of the arrest
• Name of the officer-in-charge
• Name and address of the suspect's jail

Official criminal records are publicly available in Minnesota by any employers who require them. These documents are also accessible to people before volunteering for specific organizations, establishing a business contract, or doing business with a particular contractor.

In this state, people with records and people who live there can ask for criminal records. State residents can check their criminal records for free; however, this does not include confidential or sensitive information.

The Minnesota Criminal History Search is a tool that you can use to look for criminal records. One disadvantage about this website, though, is that it doesn't have information about arrests, federal crimes, juveniles, or information that is considered private.

You can also go to the BCA or mail them to get copies of your criminal record. If you need a printed copy of your criminal record, you can write to the BCA office or go there in person.

Upon request, a written request with personal information is necessary. A public notary needs to sign, date, and notarize your request. Then checks will be made payable to the BCA for $8.