Find Criminal Records in Goodhue County

Goodhue County criminal records are maintained at the District Court in Red Wing, the county seat along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. The 1st Judicial District handles all criminal cases here. You can search Goodhue County criminal records online through the state's free court access system, check the county jail roster for current bookings, or contact the courthouse directly for certified copies and older case files. This page explains all your options in detail.

Goodhue County District Court

The 1st Judicial District Court in Red Wing covers criminal cases for all of Goodhue County. The 1st District is one of the busier judicial districts in outstate Minnesota, covering several counties in the southeast. The Court Administrator at the Goodhue County courthouse manages all case files and processes requests for copies. Staff can search by name or case number.

Goodhue County sits just southeast of the Twin Cities metro, bordering Dakota, Washington, and Ramsey counties. It also borders Wisconsin across the Mississippi. The county has both small towns and rural areas. Criminal cases range from local misdemeanor matters to felony prosecutions handled by the county attorney in Red Wing.

The county's website at co.goodhue.mn.us provides contact information for county offices including the courthouse. The District Court's information is also available through the statewide court locator.

Searching Goodhue County Criminal Records

The Minnesota Court Records Online system at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us is the primary free tool for searching Goodhue County criminal cases. Enter the person's name or case number and the system returns matching records from the 1st District Court. Records filed since July 1, 2015 are free to view. Earlier records require a direct request to the Red Wing courthouse. It lists names, booking dates, and the charges filed. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.82, law enforcement must make arrest data public. The roster reflects that obligation and is updated regularly. This source is useful for recent arrests, not historical records.

A BCA criminal history search at chs.state.mn.us costs $8 and returns statewide conviction data. Under Minn. Stat. § 13.87, public conviction data goes back 15 years from sentence discharge. If a person has convictions in Goodhue County or elsewhere in Minnesota, this search will surface them. The BCA main site at bca.dps.mn.gov explains the full scope of available records.

The BCA public site at bca.dps.mn.gov is the gateway for statewide criminal history checks that include Goodhue County convictions.

What You Can and Cannot Access

Most criminal court records in Goodhue County are public. You do not need to be a party to the case or show a reason for requesting them. The Court Administrator at the Red Wing courthouse can make copies of most filed documents. Some materials may be restricted, such as sealed records, juvenile files, or certain exhibits.

Active law enforcement investigations are classified as confidential under Minnesota law. The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office and Red Wing Police Department cannot release data about open cases. Once a case is closed, that data transitions to public status. For ongoing matters, you may see charges in the court file before supporting investigative documents become available.

Expunged records are sealed but not gone. Under Minn. Stat. § 609A, a granted expungement order directs all relevant agencies to seal their copies. The record still exists in law enforcement systems. It just does not appear in public searches or commercial background check databases.

Note: Goodhue County residents who believe their records were improperly accessed can file a complaint with the county or the state's Data Practices office under Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act.

Expungement in Goodhue County

People with criminal records in Goodhue County can petition the 1st Judicial District Court in Red Wing for expungement. The petition process under Minn. Stat. § 609A requires filing the right forms and notifying all agencies that hold related records. A judge reviews the petition and may hold a hearing. In some cases, agencies may object before the court rules.

Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015 applies to some cases with no conviction. If your case was dismissed or you were acquitted, you may qualify without filing a full petition. The automatic process is triggered under specific conditions laid out in the statute.

Predatory offender registration requirements under Minn. Stat. § 243.166 are not wiped out by expungement. If you are required to register in Goodhue County, that obligation continues regardless of any sealed court records. Registration status remains publicly searchable through the state's predatory offender database.

The Minnesota Revisor of Statutes at revisor.mn.gov is where you can read the full text of laws governing criminal records and expungement in Goodhue County.

Cities in Goodhue County

No major cities in Goodhue County meet our population threshold for dedicated pages. Red Wing serves as the county seat. All criminal cases from communities throughout the county go through the 1st Judicial District Court in Red Wing.

Nearby Counties

Goodhue County borders these Minnesota counties. If a case may have been filed in a neighboring court, check the following jurisdictions.