Murray County Criminal Records

Murray County criminal records are filed and maintained through the 5th Judicial District Court in Slayton, the county seat in southwestern Minnesota near the South Dakota border. Murray County has a population of about 8,500 people, making it one of the smaller counties in the state. Criminal matters here include traffic offenses, misdemeanors, and felony cases processed at the Murray County Courthouse in Slayton. You can search public criminal case records for free through Minnesota Court Records Online or get a statewide conviction history from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for $8. This page walks through the main ways to find Murray County criminal records.

Murray County Sheriff and Criminal Records

The Murray County Sheriff's Office covers law enforcement across the county and operates the local jail. In a small rural county like Murray, the Sheriff's Office handles most criminal matters, with city police departments in Slayton and other incorporated areas covering their own jurisdictions. All arrests processed through the county jail generate public records under Minnesota law.

Arrest data is public under Minn. Stat. § 13.82. The Murray County Sheriff's Office must release arrest information including the date, time, charges, name of the person arrested, and current custody status when a request is made. This applies to all law enforcement agencies in the county. The Murray County Courthouse and Sheriff's Office are both located in Slayton.

The DOC Public Viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us is a free search tool for checking whether someone from Murray County is currently in a state correctional facility or under state supervised release. It does not show people held only at the local jail level.

Note: Criminal investigation records are confidential while the investigation is active. They become public after a case is closed or a charging decision is reached, unless another investigation would be compromised by disclosure.

How to Find Murray County Criminal Records

Minnesota Court Records Online at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us is the free starting point for Murray County criminal case records. MCRO covers all 87 Minnesota counties, including the 5th Judicial District that serves Murray County. Search by name or case number to find case status, charges, and hearing records. Documents from July 1, 2015 forward are available to view and download at no cost. No account is required for basic searches.

For cases before July 1, 2015, the Murray County Court Administrator in Slayton can look up older records and provide copies. The court handles requests during regular business hours. Certified copies of court documents carry higher fees than plain copies. Call ahead if you are looking for a specific older case to confirm what is available.

The BCA's criminal history search at chs.state.mn.us costs $8 and returns conviction data from all Minnesota counties, including Murray, for the past 15 years from sentence discharge. This follows the rules set by Minn. Stat. § 13.87. The search requires a full name and date of birth. It covers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions. It does not show arrests, dismissed charges, or pending cases.

Court Records in Murray County

The 5th Judicial District serves Murray County and several other southwestern Minnesota counties. The district court in Slayton handles all criminal matters filed in Murray County, from minor traffic violations to serious felony prosecutions. Each criminal case file includes the charging documents, all motions, hearing records, plea or trial outcomes, and the sentencing order. These records are public by default, with limited exceptions for restricted case types.

Cases that are not accessible through MCRO include domestic abuse orders, harassment petitions, and certain juvenile delinquency filings for older youth. Those records may be available at the courthouse depending on specific circumstances. The Murray County Court Administrator can tell you what is available and how to request copies.

Statewide Criminal Background Checks

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at bca.dps.mn.gov maintains a central database of Minnesota conviction history. When someone is convicted in Murray County, the court reports that information to the BCA. The BCA then makes it available through the public criminal history search at chs.state.mn.us for $8 per search.

Under Minn. Stat. § 13.87, the public record shows conviction data for 15 years following the discharge of a sentence. This window starts from sentence discharge, not the conviction date, so recent convictions with long sentences may still be in the public window even years later. The search covers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions statewide. Arrest data and juvenile records are not part of the public search results.

The Minnesota Revisor of Statutes at revisor.mn.gov is where you can find the full text of state laws governing public access to criminal records in Murray County and across Minnesota.

Expungement of Criminal Records

Minnesota has two routes to seal a Murray County criminal record. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015 covers dismissed cases, completed diversions, and many convictions after a waiting period. The BCA identifies eligible records and seals them without requiring any action from the person. Waiting periods run from discharge of sentence: two years for misdemeanors, three for gross misdemeanors, and four to five for eligible felonies.

For records not covered by automatic expungement, a petition can be filed at the 5th Judicial District Court in Slayton under Minn. Stat. § 609A.03. The petition must include the full case details, address history, and evidence of rehabilitation. After filing, the petitioner serves the county attorney and all agencies holding records. A hearing is held at least 60 days later. The court weighs the benefit to the petitioner against public safety. If granted, the record is sealed from public view but is not destroyed. Criminal justice agencies can still access sealed records when needed for investigations.

Note: LawHelpMN at lawhelpmn.org has plain-language guides for people in rural areas like Murray County who want to understand the expungement process without hiring an attorney.

Predatory Offender Registry

People convicted of certain serious crimes who live in Murray County must register as predatory offenders under Minn. Stat. § 243.166. Covered offenses include criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, and related crimes. People who move to Murray County from another state with qualifying convictions must also register. Registration requires providing current and secondary addresses, employment, vehicle information, and phone numbers. Annual in-person verification is required, and address changes must be reported within five days.

Under Minn. Stat. § 244.052, each registered offender gets a risk level before release from custody. Level III offenders, those assessed as high risk, have their information posted publicly through the Department of Corrections. You can search for Level III offenders in Murray County at coms.doc.state.mn.us. Failure to register is a felony under Minnesota law, and the BCA may make information about non-compliant offenders public if they remain out of compliance for more than 30 days.

Cities in Murray County

No major cities in Murray County meet our population threshold for dedicated pages. Slayton is the county seat and largest city. All criminal case filings from communities in Murray County are handled by the 5th Judicial District Court in Slayton.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Murray County. Cases filed near county lines may be in one of these neighboring jurisdictions.