co.cottonwood.mn. The court is part of Minnesota's 5th Judicial District. Felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor cases all go through this court. The court administrator manages public records requests and copy orders.
Free online access to Cottonwood County criminal court cases is available through Minnesota Court Records Online at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. MCRO covers filings made after July 1, 2015. You can search by full name or case number and see charges, docket entries, hearing dates, and case status. Use the court finder at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts for current courthouse hours and contact details.
Cases filed before 2015 are not in MCRO. For older records, contact the Cottonwood County courthouse directly. Staff can search the physical index by name and let you know what is available in the public record. Certified copies require a per-page fee, and plain copies are less expensive.
Minnesota BCA Criminal History
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs the state's central conviction database. It covers all counties, including Cottonwood. A public name search costs $8 at chs.state.mn.us. Additional information about the database is at bca.dps.mn.gov.
Public access to the BCA's conviction data is controlled by Minnesota Statute 13.87. The law limits the public record to convictions within 15 years after sentence discharge. Records that are older, were dismissed, or were expunged do not show up. The BCA is useful for confirming whether someone has a felony or gross misdemeanor conviction in Minnesota.
Investigative data stays confidential while a case is open under state law. Once a case closes, the arrest and charge information becomes part of the public record, assuming no court order seals it.
Cottonwood County Online Resources
The Cottonwood County homepage at co.cottonwood.mn.us provides access to all county departments, including the Sheriff's Office and court services.
The county homepage links to the Sheriff, Human Services, and other offices involved in the local criminal justice process.
The roster is updated regularly with current data from the Cottonwood County jail facility in Windom.
Expungement of Cottonwood County Records
Minnesota's expungement statute at Minnesota Statute 609A allows people to petition the Cottonwood County District Court to seal certain criminal records. When a court grants expungement, the record is sealed from public access at the BCA, in the court system, and at law enforcement agencies named in the order. The record is not destroyed. Law enforcement and prosecutors can still access it in specific circumstances allowed by law.
Some cases qualify for automatic sealing under Minnesota Statute 609A.015 without a petition. These include dismissals, acquittals, and certain stayed sentences that were discharged. For other cases, you must file a petition with the District Court, serve the county attorney, and wait for a hearing. The judge decides. If granted, all named agencies must seal their copies within the timeframe set in the order.
DOC Offender Search and Sex Offender Registry
The Minnesota Department of Corrections offers a free public offender search at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer. It shows people currently in state prison or on supervised release. Search by name to see status and supervision details. This covers DOC-supervised offenders from all Minnesota counties, including Cottonwood.
Sex offender registration in Minnesota is governed by Minnesota Statute 243.166. People with qualifying predatory offense convictions must register with the Cottonwood County Sheriff's Office. The BCA maintains the public predatory offender registry, which is searchable online. Failing to register is a separate felony charge under state law.
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Nearby Counties
These counties border Cottonwood County in southwestern Minnesota. Each maintains its own criminal records through its sheriff and district court.
