Search Washington County Criminal Records

Washington County criminal records are maintained by the 10th Judicial District Court in Stillwater, the county seat and one of Minnesota's oldest cities, situated on the St. Croix River along the Wisconsin border. Washington County is part of the Twin Cities metro area, with a growing suburban population that includes Woodbury, one of Minnesota's fastest-growing cities. Criminal records here span the full range from misdemeanor charges to serious felony cases filed in district court. You can search them online for free, request records at the Stillwater courthouse, or run a statewide conviction check through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Washington County Sheriff and Criminal Records

The Washington County Sheriff's Office serves this rapidly growing suburban county east of St. Paul. The Sheriff's Office is located at 15015 62nd Street North in Stillwater. You can reach the Sheriff at (651) 430-7600. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol for unincorporated areas, runs the county jail, and coordinates with city police departments in communities like Stillwater, Oakdale, Cottage Grove, and Woodbury on major criminal investigations.

Arrest data from Washington County law enforcement agencies is public under Minn. Stat. § 13.82. This statute makes the basic facts of any arrest public: the date and time, the charges, the person's name and age, the arresting officer's identity, and the custody location. Active investigations remain confidential while open. They become public once closed or when a decision not to prosecute is reached. This applies to the Sheriff, city police, and all other agencies operating in Washington County.

Washington County's website at co.washington.mn.us provides information on county services including the Sheriff's Office. The county also posts public safety information and resources for residents. For people seeking current inmate custody status, calling the jail directly at the Sheriff's Office number is the most reliable option.

The Minnesota DOC offender locator at coms.doc.state.mn.us shows anyone currently serving a state sentence or on state-supervised release, including Washington County cases that resulted in state prison time.

How to Search Washington County Criminal Records

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us is the free statewide tool for finding Washington County criminal cases. Enter a name or case number to search the 10th Judicial District records. The system shows party names, charges, case status, and the full hearing history. Documents from cases filed after July 1, 2015 are downloadable at no charge. Cases before that date need an in-person or written request at the Stillwater courthouse.

As a suburban metro county, Washington County has a higher case volume than most outstate counties. MCRO handles this well since it's the same statewide portal regardless of county size. You can search without creating an account. Creating one lets you track cases and get updates. Documents from MCRO are unofficial. Contact the Court Administrator in Stillwater if you need certified copies.

For statewide conviction history, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs a public search at chs.state.mn.us for $8. This returns conviction records from all Minnesota counties for 15 years after sentence discharge under Minn. Stat. § 13.87. Arrests without convictions don't appear. Neither do juvenile records. The BCA's main site at bca.dps.mn.gov describes what the search covers.

The BCA at bca.dps.mn.gov runs the statewide criminal history database covering Washington County convictions and all others across Minnesota.

Court Records in Washington County

Washington County District Court is part of the 10th Judicial District. The Court Administrator's office in Stillwater handles case files and public record requests. With a county population approaching 280,000, Washington County sees a significant volume of criminal cases each year. The court handles everything from ordinance violations to major felonies originating in Woodbury, Stillwater, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, and other cities across the county.

The courthouse sits at 14949 62nd Street North in Stillwater. The Court Administrator can be reached at (651) 430-6300. Regular business hours apply for walk-in requests. For documents filed before 2015, in-person or mail requests are needed. Certified copies are available for a fee. If you're looking for a case involving a Woodbury resident, the 10th District Court in Stillwater handles it even though the offense may have occurred in a different city.

Criminal History Checks

Washington County is one of Minnesota's faster-growing counties, and its criminal record volume reflects that growth. The BCA public search at chs.state.mn.us covers Washington County convictions as part of its statewide database. For $8, you can check conviction records for anyone who has lived or been charged in the county. The search returns felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions within the 15-year public window set by Minn. Stat. § 13.87.

Washington County law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff's Office and city police departments in Woodbury, Stillwater, and Oakdale, are connected to the state criminal justice data network through Minn. Stat. § 299C.46. This gives them access to warrant databases, protection orders, and full criminal history records beyond what the public can see. The public BCA search returns only conviction data, not the full picture that agencies use.

Note: MCRO shows case-level detail not found in the BCA search alone. Using both together gives the most complete public view of Washington County criminal records.

Expungement in Washington County

Washington County residents with criminal records may be eligible for expungement under Minnesota law. The automatic path under Minn. Stat. § 609A.015 requires no petition. The BCA identifies qualifying records and seals them after waiting periods tied to the offense level. Dismissed charges, cases resolved in your favor, and many lower-level convictions may qualify. The waiting period runs from when your sentence was fully discharged.

If you don't qualify for automatic expungement, you can file a petition with the 10th Judicial District Court in Stillwater under Minn. Stat. § 609A.03. The petition must include all aliases, addresses since the offense, your full criminal history, and reasons for seeking expungement. All affected agencies receive copies, including the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the BCA, and city police departments with records tied to the case. A hearing is scheduled at least 60 days after service. The judge weighs the benefit to you against public safety concerns and any victim input.

Expungement seals the record from public view. Law enforcement and prosecutors can still access sealed records for investigative and charging purposes. DNA samples are not sealed under the statute. Legal assistance for Washington County residents may be available through LawHelpMN.org.

Predatory Offender Registry

Washington County residents convicted of qualifying offenses must register as predatory offenders under Minn. Stat. § 243.166. Covered offenses include criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, certain offenses involving minors, and related serious crimes. Offenders moving to Washington County from another state must register here. Registrants provide address, employment, vehicle, and phone information to the Sheriff's Office or their corrections agent, and they verify this data in person once a year.

Before each registrant is released from confinement, a review committee assigns a risk level under Minn. Stat. § 244.052. Level I offenders are low risk. Level II carries moderate risk with possible disclosure to schools and organizations. Level III is high risk. The DOC posts Level III offender information publicly at coms.doc.state.mn.us. In a suburban county like Washington, Level III notifications can involve heavily populated areas. The BCA maintains the full registry database statewide.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County includes Woodbury, one of Minnesota's fastest-growing cities, and several other suburban communities. All criminal cases from these cities go through the 10th Judicial District Court in Stillwater.

Nearby Counties

Washington County borders Ramsey County to the west, and shares its eastern border with Wisconsin. Cases filed in nearby areas may fall under a different jurisdiction.