How Do I Look Up Warrants in Minnesota?

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    MinnesotaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on MinnesotaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

    You can use MinnesotaCourts.us to locate a warrant in Minnesota, as it compiles publicly available information reported by Minnesota's courts and law enforcement agencies into a single search. A search reveals the warrant type, issuing court, case number, alleged offense, and bail or bond amount, when available.

    Minnesota distributes its judicial caseload across ten judicial districts spanning 87 counties — a fragmented structure where warrant records sit with individual county sheriff's offices and district courts rather than in one statewide repository. The state's primary public case lookup tool, Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), provides access to case filings and hearing schedules but was not designed as a warrant-specific search. A person looking for warrant information through MCRO would need to already know the case number or party name, and even then, an active warrant may appear only as a docket entry rather than a standalone searchable record. Counties like Hennepin and Ramsey maintain their own booking and warrant lookup pages, but many of the state's rural counties offer nothing online at all.

    That patchwork means checking for a warrant in Minnesota can require contacting multiple agencies in different districts — a time-intensive process that MinnesotaCourts.us consolidates into a single query. For a state where a person's connection to multiple counties (one for work, another for residence, a third where an alleged offense occurred) is common, that consolidation carries real practical value.

    Are Warrants Public Information in Minnesota?

    Minnesota handles warrant transparency differently from most states. Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, § 13.82, law enforcement data is classified by type and status rather than through a single blanket presumption of openness or closure. Arrest data — including the charge, the warrant or legal basis for an arrest, and the identity of the person arrested — is public at all times at the originating agency once an arrest, citation, or incarceration occurs (§ 13.82, subd. 2). That means once a warrant has been served and someone is in custody, the underlying warrant information becomes accessible through the arresting agency.

    Before that point, however, arrest warrant index data is classified as confidential under § 13.82, subdivision 19. This is an unusual provision. The data remains confidential until the defendant is taken into custody, served with the warrant, or appears before the court — unless the law enforcement agency independently decides that releasing the information serves a public purpose. Some agencies exercise this discretion and publish active warrant lists on their websites; others do not.

    Search warrant affidavits fall under a separate classification. Because they are part of active criminal investigative data (§ 13.82, subd. 7), they are confidential while the investigation is ongoing. Bench warrants tied to open court proceedings are ordinarily part of the court file, which is accessible under the Minnesota Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch, but the issuing court can restrict access on a case-by-case basis. The practical result: a warrant can exist for months without any public-facing trace if the issuing agency has chosen not to disclose it and no arrest has occurred.

    How to Search for a Warrant in Minnesota

    1. Use MinnesotaCourts.us. Our Instant Warrant Lookup presents you with warrant record data compiled from available public resources in one convenient search. When available, you can find warrant type, issuing court, case number, alleged offense, and bail/bond amount, among other details, depending on the record type and issuing county.
    2. Search Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). The state judiciary operates MCRO, which covers all ten judicial districts and allows searches by person name, case number, or citation number. Public documents filed on or after July 1, 2015, are accessible online for criminal and civil cases. MCRO is free to use, but warrant-specific information may appear only as a line item within a case's register of actions, not as a standalone result. Documents filed before July 1, 2015, have limited availability — users may need to contact local court administration for older records.
    3. Contact the county sheriff's office or clerk of court. Because Minnesota classifies arrest warrant index data as confidential until served (§ 13.82, subd. 19), the issuing sheriff's office is often the only source that can confirm an active warrant exists — and only if that office has exercised its discretion to make the data public. Have the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and the county where the case may have originated ready before calling. Some counties, such as Martin County, publish active warrant lists directly on their sheriff's office website; others require an in-person or phone inquiry.
    4. Visit the courthouse or sheriff's office in person. A walk-in records request can sometimes surface information that is not available over the phone or online, particularly in rural counties. Be aware that if you are checking on a warrant issued in your own name, appearing at a law enforcement facility creates an obvious risk of arrest.
    5. Retain an attorney. A criminal defense lawyer can make discreet inquiries through the court system and prosecutor's office without triggering an arrest. Attorneys also have access to confidential case information that the public does not.

    How Long Is a Warrant Active in Minnesota?

    Arrest warrants and bench warrants in Minnesota do not expire. Under Rule 3.01 of the Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure, a warrant remains in force until the defendant is taken into custody, appears before the court, or the court recalls it. There is no statutory sunset provision. Search warrants operate on a tighter clock: § 626.15 requires execution and return within ten days of issuance, after which the warrant is void — except for warrants targeting financial institution records, which carry an initial 30-day window and can be extended in 30-day increments by court order if the institution has not yet produced the records. Minnesota also restricts misdemeanor arrest timing: under Rule 3.03, subd. 3, a misdemeanor warrant cannot be executed on a Sunday or between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on any other day unless a judge authorizes it on the warrant or the person is found on a public highway.

    Minnesota Warrant Records by County

    Warrants in Minnesota are issued and maintained at the county level by the district court and the county sheriff's office. The state does not operate a centralized, public-facing warrant database. The Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN), maintained by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, aggregates warrant data statewide, but access is restricted to law enforcement personnel. For members of the public, this means warrant searches must be conducted county by county — by querying MCRO, contacting the relevant sheriff's office, or checking whether a given county publishes an active warrant list online.

    The table below lists all 87 Minnesota county sheriff's offices with their current contact information.

    County

    Organization

    Address

    Phone Number

    Aitkin

    Aitkin County Sheriff's Office

    217 2nd St NW, Aitkin, MN 56431

    (218) 927-7435

    Anoka

    Anoka County Sheriff's Office

    13301 Hanson Blvd NW, Andover, MN 55304

    (763) 324-5000

    Becker

    Becker County Sheriff's Office

    925 Lake Ave, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

    (218) 847-2661

    Beltrami

    Beltrami County Sheriff's Office

    613 Minnesota Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601

    (218) 333-9111

    Benton

    Benton County Sheriff's Office

    531 Dewey St, Foley, MN 56329

    (320) 968-7201

    Big Stone

    Big Stone County Sheriff's Office

    20 SE 2nd St, Ortonville, MN 56278

    (320) 839-3558

    Blue Earth

    Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office

    401 Carver Rd, Mankato, MN 56001

    (507) 304-4800

    Brown

    Brown County Sheriff's Office

    15 S Washington St, New Ulm, MN 56073

    (507) 233-6700

    Carlton

    Carlton County Sheriff's Office

    1780 Justice Dr, Carlton, MN 55718

    (218) 384-3236

    Carver

    Carver County Sheriff's Office

    606 E 4th St, Chaska, MN 55318

    (952) 361-1212

    Cass

    Cass County Sheriff's Office

    301 Minnesota Ave W, Walker, MN 56484

    (218) 547-1424

    Chippewa

    Chippewa County Sheriff's Office

    629 N 11th St, Montevideo, MN 56265

    (320) 269-2121

    Chisago

    Chisago County Sheriff's Office

    15230 Per Rd, Center City, MN 55012

    (651) 213-6300

    Clay

    Clay County Sheriff's Office

    911 11th St N, Moorhead, MN 56560

    (218) 299-5151

    Clearwater

    Clearwater County Sheriff's Office

    213 Main Ave N, Bagley, MN 56621

    (218) 694-6226

    Cook

    Cook County Sheriff's Office

    143 Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604

    (218) 387-3030

    Cottonwood

    Cottonwood County Sheriff's Office

    902 5th Ave, Windom, MN 56101

    (507) 831-1375

    Crow Wing

    Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office

    326 Laurel St, Brainerd, MN 56401

    (218) 824-1067

    Dakota

    Dakota County Sheriff's Office

    1580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033

    (651) 438-4700

    Dodge

    Dodge County Sheriff's Office

    22 E 6th St, Mantorville, MN 55955

    (507) 635-6200

    Douglas

    Douglas County Sheriff's Office

    216 7th Ave W, Alexandria, MN 56308

    (320) 762-8151

    Faribault

    Faribault County Sheriff's Office

    320 Dr H Russ St, Blue Earth, MN 56013

    (507) 526-5148

    Fillmore

    Fillmore County Sheriff's Office

    101 Fillmore St, Preston, MN 55965

    (507) 765-3874

    Freeborn

    Freeborn County Sheriff's Office

    411 Broadway Ave S, Albert Lea, MN 56007

    (507) 377-5205

    Goodhue

    Goodhue County Sheriff's Office

    430 W 6th St, Red Wing, MN 55066

    (651) 385-3155

    Grant

    Grant County Sheriff's Office

    10 2nd St NE, Elbow Lake, MN 56531

    (218) 685-8280

    Hennepin

    Hennepin County Sheriff's Office

    350 S 5th St, Room 6, Minneapolis, MN 55415

    (612) 348-3744

    Houston

    Houston County Sheriff's Office

    306 S Marshall St, Suite 1100, Caledonia, MN 55921

    (507) 725-3379

    Hubbard

    Hubbard County Sheriff's Office

    301 Court Ave, Park Rapids, MN 56470

    (218) 732-3331

    Isanti

    Isanti County Sheriff's Office

    2440 S Main St, Cambridge, MN 55008

    (763) 689-2141

    Itasca

    Itasca County Sheriff's Office

    108 NE 5th St, Grand Rapids, MN 55744

    (218) 326-3477

    Jackson

    Jackson County Sheriff's Office

    400 Sherman St, Jackson, MN 56143

    (507) 847-4420

    Kanabec

    Kanabec County Sheriff's Office

    317 Maple Ave E, Mora, MN 55051

    (320) 679-8422

    Kandiyohi

    Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office

    2201 NE 23rd St, Willmar, MN 56201

    (320) 235-1260

    Kittson

    Kittson County Sheriff's Office

    410 5th St S, Suite 102, Hallock, MN 56728

    (218) 843-3535

    Koochiching

    Koochiching County Sheriff's Office

    715 4th St, International Falls, MN 56649

    (218) 283-4416

    Lac qui Parle

    Lac qui Parle County Sheriff's Office

    911 8th Ave, Madison, MN 56256

    (320) 598-3720

    Lake

    Lake County Sheriff's Office

    613 3rd Ave, Two Harbors, MN 55616

    (218) 834-8385

    Lake of the Woods

    Lake of the Woods County Sheriff's Office

    206 8th Ave SE, Suite 300, Baudette, MN 56623

    (218) 634-1143

    Le Sueur

    Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office

    435 E Derrynane St, Suite 1100, Le Center, MN 56057

    (507) 357-4440

    Lincoln

    Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

    319 N Rebecca, Ivanhoe, MN 56142

    (507) 694-1000

    Lyon

    Lyon County Sheriff's Office

    611 W Main St, Marshall, MN 56258

    (507) 537-7666

    Mahnomen

    Mahnomen County Sheriff's Office

    311 N Main St, Mahnomen, MN 56557

    (218) 935-2255

    Marshall

    Marshall County Sheriff's Office

    208 E Colvin Ave, Suite 1, Warren, MN 56762

    (218) 745-5411

    Martin

    Martin County Sheriff's Office

    201 Lake Ave, Fairmont, MN 56031

    (507) 238-4481

    McLeod

    McLeod County Sheriff's Office

    801 10th St E, Glencoe, MN 55336

    (320) 864-3134

    Meeker

    Meeker County Sheriff's Office

    326 N Ramsey Ave, Litchfield, MN 55355

    (320) 693-5400

    Mille Lacs

    Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office

    635 2nd St SE, Milaca, MN 56353

    (320) 983-8250

    Morrison

    Morrison County Sheriff's Office

    213 SE 1st Ave, Little Falls, MN 56345

    (320) 632-9233

    Mower

    Mower County Sheriff's Office

    201 1st St NE, Suite 3, Austin, MN 55912

    (507) 437-9400

    Murray

    Murray County Sheriff's Office

    2558 29th St, Slayton, MN 56172

    (507) 836-6168

    Nicollet

    Nicollet County Sheriff's Office

    501 S Minnesota Ave, St. Peter, MN 56082

    (507) 934-7100

    Nobles

    Nobles County Sheriff's Office

    1530 Airport Rd, Suite 100, Worthington, MN 56187

    (507) 295-5400

    Norman

    Norman County Sheriff's Office

    15 2nd Ave E, Ada, MN 56510

    (218) 784-7114

    Olmsted

    Olmsted County Sheriff's Office

    101 4th St SE, Rochester, MN 55904

    (507) 328-6800

    Otter Tail

    Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office

    417 Court St S, Fergus Falls, MN 56537

    (218) 998-8555

    Pennington

    Pennington County Sheriff's Office

    102 1st St W, Thief River Falls, MN 56701

    (218) 681-6161

    Pine

    Pine County Sheriff's Office

    635 Northridge Dr NW, Suite 100, Pine City, MN 55063

    (320) 629-8380

    Pipestone

    Pipestone County Sheriff's Office

    416 S Hiawatha Ave, Pipestone, MN 56164

    (507) 825-1100

    Polk

    Polk County Sheriff's Office

    600 Bruce St, Crookston, MN 56716

    (218) 281-0431

    Pope

    Pope County Sheriff's Office

    130 E Minnesota Ave, Glenwood, MN 56334

    (320) 634-5411

    Ramsey

    Ramsey County Sheriff's Office

    425 Grove St, 3rd Floor, St. Paul, MN 55101

    (651) 266-9333

    Red Lake

    Red Lake County Sheriff's Office

    124 Main Ave N, Red Lake Falls, MN 56750

    (218) 253-2996

    Redwood

    Redwood County Sheriff's Office

    303 E 3rd St, Redwood Falls, MN 56283

    (507) 637-4036

    Renville

    Renville County Sheriff's Office

    105 S 5th St, Suite 210, Olivia, MN 56277

    (320) 523-1161

    Rice

    Rice County Sheriff's Office

    118 NW 3rd St, Faribault, MN 55021

    (507) 332-6210

    Rock

    Rock County Sheriff's Office

    1000 N Blue Mound Ave, Luverne, MN 56156

    (507) 283-5000

    Roseau

    Roseau County Sheriff's Office

    604 5th Ave SW, Roseau, MN 56751

    (218) 463-1421

    Scott

    Scott County Sheriff's Office

    301 Fuller St S, Shakopee, MN 55379

    (952) 496-8300

    Sherburne

    Sherburne County Sheriff's Office

    13880 Business Center Dr NW, Suite 100, Elk River, MN 55330

    (763) 765-3500

    Sibley

    Sibley County Sheriff's Office

    419 Harrison St, Gaylord, MN 55334

    (507) 237-4330

    St. Louis

    St. Louis County Sheriff's Office

    2030 N Arlington Ave, Duluth, MN 55811

    (218) 726-2340

    Stearns

    Stearns County Sheriff's Office

    807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303

    (320) 259-3700

    Steele

    Steele County Sheriff's Office

    2500 Alexander St SW, Owatonna, MN 55060

    (507) 444-3800

    Stevens

    Stevens County Sheriff's Office

    400 Colorado Ave, Suite 401, Morris, MN 56267

    (320) 208-6500

    Swift

    Swift County Sheriff's Office

    301 14th St N, Suite 4, Benson, MN 56215

    (320) 843-3133

    Todd

    Todd County Sheriff's Office

    115 3rd St S, Long Prairie, MN 56347

    (320) 732-2157

    Traverse

    Traverse County Sheriff's Office

    702 2nd Ave N, Wheaton, MN 56296

    (320) 563-4244

    Wabasha

    Wabasha County Sheriff's Office

    848 17th St E, Wabasha, MN 55981

    (651) 565-3361

    Wadena

    Wadena County Sheriff's Office

    415 S Jefferson St, Wadena, MN 56482

    (218) 631-7600

    Waseca

    Waseca County Sheriff's Office

    122 3rd Ave NW, Waseca, MN 56093

    (507) 835-0510

    Washington

    Washington County Sheriff's Office

    15015 62nd St N, Stillwater, MN 55082

    (651) 430-7600

    Watonwan

    Watonwan County Sheriff's Office

    710 2nd Ave S, St. James, MN 56081

    (507) 375-3884

    Wilkin

    Wilkin County Sheriff's Office

    300 S 5th St, Breckenridge, MN 56520

    (218) 643-4414

    Winona

    Winona County Sheriff's Office

    201 W 3rd St, Winona, MN 55987

    (507) 457-6368

    Wright

    Wright County Sheriff's Office

    3800 Braddock Ave NE, Buffalo, MN 55313

    (763) 682-7622

    Yellow Medicine

    Yellow Medicine County Sheriff's Office

    415 9th Ave, Suite 103, Granite Falls, MN 56241

    (320) 564-2130