Find Free Hennepin County Records (Warrants, Marriages, Inmates)

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Free Hennepin County Public Records Search

Access Hennepin County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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When looking for criminal records such as warrants and arrests or personal records such as a marriage, divorce, birth, or death certificate, you can perform a free Hennepin County public records search to obtain what you need quickly. Conducting free public records searches for court dates, inmates, property ownership, or even performing a background check is possible if you have the right resources and know the steps.

The Freedom of Information Act and Minnesota Data Practices Act require government agencies to provide the general public with access to various records produced by the government.

Though both of these federal and state laws contain various exceptions and restrictions regarding the type of data that can be contained within a public records repository, this streamlined resource will explain how to easily track down information on anyone through official county record custodians.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of what types of government information is considered public record in Hennepin County, along with the tools and resources for finding and accessing these records. Below is all the information you need to access public records in Hennepin County, including the steps for searching for records online and in person and the agencies that host them.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

How To Run a Hennepin County Inmate Search Through the Sheriff’s Online Jail Roster

If you want to find out if someone is in jail, you can do so by performing a search with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office jail roster.¹ Here, you can get information for individuals that were arrested or jailed in Hennepin County. In addition, this tool can be used to find someone’s mugshot.

Before performing your search, gather all information already available to you. The more information you have, the better chance you will find what you are looking for. Detailed information is also helpful if you have to filter through multiple search results.

Here are some examples of information that may be helpful in performing your search:

• Full name of person you are searching
• Charges brought against them
• Date and time of arrest
• Location of arrest

In performing a search through the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office online directory, you have two options. The first option is to perform a basic name search, while the second option is to search these Hennepin County public records regarding inmates by custody status.

Here you can set a date range and search by selecting any of the following options:

• Received by jail
• Currently in jail (in custody)
• Released from Jail

Regardless of which search option you choose, once you enter your information you can view a list of results with the individual’s name and age. The search results will also provide their booking number and inform you as to their current custody status.

Once you click on a particular individual, you can view their mugshot along with other relevant information such as when they were arrested and the arresting agency. The arresting agency information is valuable if you want additional information such as arrest reports or other related information.

The search tool also provides a list of the individual’s charges. This can be helpful if you want to know specifically what criminal charges were brought against someone. You can also get bail information here and a case number.

This will be helpful information if you want to search Hennepin County criminal records (more will be discussed later on how to search criminal records and how they are different from Hennepin County arrest records).

Another way to perform an inmate search is through the Hennepin Adult Corrections Facility Roster search tool.² Here you can search for inmates in custody in Hennepin county by name. Here you can get a lot of the same information provided by the Sheriff’s Office search tool.

If you need additional information on jail records you can contact the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office directly at 612-543-3515 or by email at [email protected].³ You can also visit them in person at any of the below locations:

Location	Address	Phone Number
Patrol Headquarters	9401 83rd Ave. North Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55445	612-596-9800
Minneapolis	350 South 5th St. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415	612-348-3744
Spring Park	4141 Shoreline Dr. Spring Park, Minnesota 55384	612-596-9880

You can also contact the Hennepin Adult Corrections Facility. For Hennepin County bookings information you may have a need to reach out to them directly at 612-348-5112 or send them an email to [email protected]. If you want to go in person to request information you can go to either of the two below locations:

Hennepin County Public Safety Facility
401 South 4th Ave., S100
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415

Minneapolis City Hall
350 South 5th St.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415

How To Get Inmate & Arrest Information From City Police Departments in Hennepin County

In addition to the Sheriff’s office, you can find useful inmate and arrest information by contacting police departments within specific cities located in Hennepin County. This is especially useful if you know that the individual you are searching for was arrested by that particular police department.

The city police department may be able to provide you with the exact information you were trying to find. Or they may be able to provide you with additional information you did not have that will help further your inmate search.

The largest city in Hennepin County is Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Police Department provides an online tool to request records.⁴ This could include various records such as police reports, arrest records and body camera data requests.

You can also use this tool to check the status of any request you submit.

You can contact the Records Information Unit using the below contact information:

Here is the police department contact information for some of the other larger cities in Hennepin County:

Police Department	Address	Phone Number
Bloomington Police Department	1800 West Old Shakopee Road Bloomington, Minnesota 55431	952-563-4900
Brooklyn Park Police Department	5400 85th Ave. North Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55443	763-493-8222
Plymouth Police Department	3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, Minnesota 55447	763-509-5160
Maple Grove Police Department	12800 Arbor Lakes Pkwy North Maple Grove, Minnesota 55369	763-494-6100
Eden Prairie Police Department	8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344	952-949-8300
Minnetonka Police Department	14600 Minnetonka Boulevard Minnetonka, Minnesota 55345	952-939-8500
Edina Police Department	4801 West 50th Street Edina, Minnesota 55424	952-826-1610

Note: The police departments listed above do not have an online search tool for inmate information. If you want information (e.g., a recent arrest report) from these police departments, you will have to contact them by phone, email, or in person. 

How To Find Hennepin County Marriage & Divorce Records Online and in Person

The Hennepin County Vital Records Office is the custodian of marriage certificates, however,  if you want to check if someone is married there are ways to search online through the Minnesota Department of Health.⁵ If you want to search public divorce records you will have to search through the Hennepin County Family Court.

Whether you just want to find out if someone is married or need these records for a specific reason, below is a detailed outline of the process for requesting both marriage and divorce records.

Request Marriage Records From the Hennepin County Vital Records Office

If you would like to search for marriage records online you can do so through the Minnesota Department of Health Online Search Tool.⁶ To search for marriage records you can select Hennepin County and then enter the name of either marriage applicant you are searching. In addition, you can also select a date range for your marriage records to narrow your search.

Once the results show up you can view the following information:

• County of marriage
• Marriage certificate number
• Marriage date
• Both applicant’s names

There is also an option to request a copy. You will then be asked to input your own personal information and indicate how you would like to receive the record. Marriage records are public records in Hennepin County and throughout the state of Minnesota so anyone is allowed to make this request.

Hennepin County marriage records can be requested through their Vital Records Office. To make a request you must have the marriage applicants names as well as an accurate marriage date.

The Hennepin County Vital Records Office does provide assistance for individuals searching marriage records if you do not have the information you need. In addition to the cost of the marriage record, the Vital Records Office will conduct a search of all marriage records at a rate of $20 per hour (with a minimum $10 charge).

Here are your options for requesting a marriage record from the Vital Records Office.

Online Requests: Online requests are not done directly through the Hennepin County Vital Records Office. To do so you will have to submit your request through an approved third-party service, VitalChek.⁷ VitalChek will walk you through the process step-by-step with various questions and prompts to submit the necessary information.

Request By Mail: Follow the steps outlined below.

1. Complete a Request for Copy of Marriage Record Application.⁸
2. Make sure to sign the completed application.
3. Mail or drop off your application at any of the below locations.

Brookdale Service Center
6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Suite 100
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55430

Government Center Service Center
300 6th St., Suite A-025
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487

Maple Grove Service Center
9325 Upland Lane N., Suite 101
Maple Grove, Minnesota 55369

Midtown Exchange Service Center
2929 Chicago Ave. S., Lower Level
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407

North Minneapolis Service Center
1001 Plymouth Ave. N. 
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55411

Ridgedale Service Center
12601 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305

In Person Request: For in person requests, you can schedule an appointment in advance at any of the addresses listed above.⁹ You can also go in person without an appointment, but you may encounter wait times. You can contact the Hennepin County Service Centers at 612-348-8240 or [email protected] to confirm a particular location’s available hours.

Fax Your Request: To fax a request, start by preparing and signing a Request for Copy of Marriage Record Application, then fax the application–along with a fax cover sheet–to 612-348-2010.

Processing time for a request submitted with the Vital Records Office is 2-3 weeks from when it is received. Expedited service can be processed in approximately 5-7 business days. However, if there is a delay beyond this timeframe you can submit an order status request using their  Vital Records Order Inquiry Form.¹⁰

Note: Fees for a marriage certificate are $9.00 per certified copy through both Hennepin County and the Minnesota Department of Health. If you submit your request online through VitalChek, there is an additional $9.50 processing fee. Also, you have the option of expediting the process for an additional $20.00.

How To Retrieve Divorce Records Through the Hennepin County Family Court

If you are looking for Hennepin County divorce records then your starting point is performing a case search with the  Minnesota District (Trial) Court Case Search which includes their Family Court.¹¹

To find divorce records, you can either perform a case search or a document search. Document searches can be used when you already have the specific case number. If you do not have that information, you can perform a case search where you can search Hennepin County public records pertaining to dissolution of marriage by name.

Here, you can further filter your search results by case status, date of birth, and date filed (either the exact date or a date range).

Specifically as it pertains to divorce records in Hennepin County, you can filter the results to only include family law cases in Hennepin County. Once you complete a search, you can get detailed case information as well as additional information about the party’s to the case. This includes the city where they live, date of birth, and who represented them.

You can also view case assignment and case event information. In the case events section, you can view the actual documents that were filed with the courts including the actual divorce decree.

If you need additional information as it pertains to divorce records, you can contact the Hennepin Family Court at 612-348-6734 or go in person from Monday through Friday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM at the below address:

4th District Family Court
Family Justice Center
110 South Fourth Street, Ste. 125
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

How To Use Minnesota’s Case Search Tool To Access Hennepin County Criminal History Information

You can use the Minnesota District (Trial) Court Case Search to perform a Hennepin County case search and see if someone has a criminal record. If you know the case number for the individual you are searching, you can perform a quick document search. Most people will not have this information and can simply perform a case search using the individual’s name.

To perform a free criminal record check specifically in Hennepin County, select “Criminal” under the case category section and only check Hennepin under the “County List” section.  Once you search through the public criminal records and find the record you are looking for, there is a lot of valuable information for you to review.

If you look up someone’s criminal record to view their current case status, you can find that under the “case information” section. Here you can also find when the case was filed, the case number, and other relevant information.

If you want to see any offenses an individual was convicted of, you can check the “Charges” section. Here, you can find the specific charge along with the criminal statute that was violated. In addition, you can view the disposition of the case (i.e. result) and other related information about an individual’s sentence.

Finally, there is a section that details all case events where users can see the various hearing dates along with documents that were filed as part of the person’s criminal case.

You can also request copies of criminal records through the Hennepin County District Court’s Records Center by filling out their Criminal History Search Form and submitting it to the below address:¹²

Hennepin County Government Center
4th District Court Records Center
300 S. Sixth St., #SK-0260
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487

Note: Certified copies of any criminal records cost $14.00 per copy. Payment should be made to the District Court Administrator. 

How To Search Through Minnesota State Resources To Find Criminal Records

If you want to search throughout the entire state of Minnesota, there are additional resources that you can utilize. These tools can assist you in searching criminal records throughout Minnesota.

Whether you are looking for records outside Hennepin County or could not find what you are looking for with the above search tools, try these online search tools for searching criminal information through all Minnesota public records:

• Minnesota District (Trial) Court Case Search – This search tool can be used to check for criminal records in every county throughout the state of Minnesota. In addition, you can use this tool to perform a broad statewide search to get an individual’s criminal records for the entire state of Minnesota.
• Minnesota Department of Corrections Predatory Offender Search – You can use this online search tool to search for individuals by name or location (e.g., city, county, etc.) if convicted of certain predatory offenses.¹³
• Minnesota Department of Corrections Offender Search – Search inmates that are incarcerated or under the supervision of the Minnesota Department of Corrections.¹⁴
• U.S. National Sex Offender Registry – A national sex offender search tool that you can use to find individuals convicted of sex offenses anywhere in the United States.¹⁵
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) – A federal inmate search tool used to locate inmates throughout federal prisons in Minnesota and the rest of the United States.¹⁶

How To Get a Background Check Done in Hennepin County, Minnesota

A background check is a great tool. It can be used both personally and professionally.

Personally, a background check is an informal way for you to check yourself or another’s background, from criminal records to other Hennepin county judicial records. You can conduct a personal background check by yourself with the tools and resources provided in this article. You can access all of these records without notifying the person you are conducting a personal background check on.

Professional background checks are useful as well. They can be used, for example, by employers and landlords to make sure an individual’s background is consistent with the information they provided. It may be used in other situations such as applying for a firearm license or security clearance.

When someone wants to perform a professional background check on someone else they have to first get their consent as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.¹⁷ In addition, a prospective employer or landlord cannot discriminate against you because of what they find in your background check. You have protections through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) where you can file a charge through their online portal.¹⁸

If you want to request a background check in Hennepin County you can do so through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Division.¹⁹ There is no government agency in Hennepin County that provides background checks by personal request.

However, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension provides background checks that are required by Minnesota law as well as background checks with informed consent.

Request with Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension can be done by mail or in person at the below address:

Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Avenue E.
St. Paul, Minnesota 55106

If you have specific background check questions or want to schedule an appointment you can contact them at 651-793-2400. The fee for a background check limited to the state of Minnesota is $8.00. For a Minnesota and FBI fingerprint-based background check (which searches throughout the U.S.) the fee is $33.25.

If you need fingerprinting as part of a background check you can do so through the  Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.²⁰ The fee for the fingerprinting service is $20 which includes two fingerprint cards. For each additional fingerprint card you request it is another $1.00.

The Sheriff’s Office only accepts cash for payment.

To get fingerprinted bring money for your fee and a valid government-issued ID to the below address:

Public Safety Facility
401 S. 4th Ave., Lower Level
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415

Fingerprinting hours are as follows: Monday through Friday (6:30AM – 10:30AM and 4:00PM – 8:00PM); and Saturday (11:00AM – 6:00PM).

Note: The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office only provides electronic fingerprinting. If you need ink fingerprinting, you will have to locate another facility. 

How To Check for Warrants in Hennepin County

If you want to conduct a warrant search in Hennepin County, you have a few options. First, you can check if someone has a warrant in person by going to the below address:

Hennepin County Public Safety Facility
401 South Fourth Ave.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415

Another option is to call the Hennepin County District Court at 612-543-9768. They can confirm whether or not someone has a warrant out for their arrest as long as you can provide them with the individual’s date of birth and full name.

The above are explicit options the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office provides for checking for warrants. If you are looking for an online option, you can search the Minnesota District (Trial) Court Case Search where users can search for criminal records.

When you find the individual you are searching for, check the case events and dispositions sections to see if any warrants have been issued recently.

For the entire state of Minnesota, you can search the state’s Active Warrant Listings.²¹ This resource can provide you the warrant number, date the warrant was issued, and other useful information. The limitation is that it does not provide a search tool and is not limited to Hennepin County warrants.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office maintains a public index of their Most Wanted List.²² By utilizing it, citizens can see a mugshot of these individuals, their name, and the reason for their warrant.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections also provides an Active DOC Fugitives list, where residents can search and view the mugshots of wanted fugitives throughout the state of Minnesota.²³

How To Use Hennepin County Law Enforcement Search Tools To Determine if Someone Is on Probation

If you want to search Hennepin County public records to find out if someone is on probation, you can do so through their Sheriff’s Office jail roster or the Hennepin Adult Corrections Facility Roster search tool.

Both tools can provide you information on the charges brought against the individual, their current status and whether or not they have been released from jail. Individuals that were recently released from jail after a conviction are likely to be on probation. Look to the status of their charge to see if they were convicted of any offenses.

The Hennepin Adult Corrections Facility Roster search tool provides their current housing location which includes whether they are home on electronic monitoring. This is often indicative of an individual being on probation.

For additional probation information you can try contacting the Hennepin County Community Corrections and Rehabilitation Adult Probation Department.²⁴ You can reach out to them by phone at 612-348-6180 or by email at [email protected]. If you want to talk to someone in person, you can visit them at one of their several probation locations.²⁵

How To Research Court Records in Hennepin County via Minnesota’s Trial Court Case Search Tool

If you are looking for the best option to look up Hennepin County court records, your primary online tool is to search with the  Minnesota District (Trial) Court Case Search. You can use this tool to specifically search Hennepin County Court Records. The search tool contains the following types of cases:

• Civil
• Criminal
• Family
• Estates
• Mental Health

You can also look up court records by searching in person. Below is the contact information for courts within the jurisdiction of Hennepin County:

Courthouse	Address	Phone Number
Civil Court and Conciliation Court	Hennepin County Government Center 300 South 6th St., Room #C-332 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487	612-348-3164
Criminal Court – Division 1	Hennepin County Government Center 300 South 6th St., Skyway Level – Second Floor Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487	612-348-2040
Criminal Court – Division 1	Public Safety Facility 401 Fourth Ave. S. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415	612-348-2040
Criminal Court – Division 2	Brookdale Regional Center 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy. Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55430	612-348-2040
Criminal Court – Division 3	Ridgedale Regional Center 12601 Ridgedale Dr. Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305	612-348-2040
Family Court	Family Justice Center 110 South Fourth St. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401	612-348-6734
Housing Court	Hennepin County Government Center 300 South 6th St., Room #C-300 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487	612-348-5186
Juvenile Court	Juvenile Justice Center 590 Park Ave. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415	612-348-4822
Probate and Mental Health Court	300 South 6th St., Room #C-400 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487	612-348-3244

How To Obtain Various Types of Vital Records in Hennepin County: Certificates of Birth & Death

To check public records for a certificate of birth or certificate of death, you can contact the Hennepin County Vital Records Office.²⁶

Here are the options that the Vital Records Office provides for requesting a birth or death record in Hennepin County:

Online Requests — Similar to marriage records, online requests can be done through VitalChek. VitalChek will walk you through the process of requesting a birth or death record.

Dropping Off an Application — Follow the steps outlined below to drop off a vital records application:

1. Fill out the application applicable to the type of record you are requesting – (1) certified birth certificate application; (2) non-certified birth certificate application; or (3) death record application.
2. If you are requesting a certified application you must sign it in the presence of a notary.
3. Drop the application off at an approved  Hennepin County Drop off location.²⁷

Faxed Application — You can prepare the order form on VitalChek and then print it out and fax it, along with a Fax coversheet to 612-348-2010.

By Mail — You can mail your completed application to the below address:

Vital Records Office
Hennepin County Government Center
300 South 6th St, MC- 026
Minneapolis Minnesota 55487

In Person Requests — You can make a request in person to any Vital Records Office location. You can also schedule an appointment to streamline the process.

The fees for requesting a birth or death records are as follows:

• Certified Copy
  • Birth Records – $26.00 (additional copies are $19.00)
  • Death Records – $13.00 (additional copies for $6.00)
• Non-certified Copy (birth or death record) – $13.00
• Expedited Processing Fee – $20.00
• VitalChek additional fee – $9.50

To request a certified death or birth certificate, you have to fall under one of the categories of eligible persons.²⁸ Otherwise, you can only obtain a non-certified birth record.

How To View Hennepin County Property Records Online

You can access property records online through the Hennepin County Recorder’s Office.²⁹ You can use this tool to search by any of the following:

• Address of the property
• Property ID Number
• Legal Description
• Property Interactive Map

You can use this resource if you are looking to find any of the following information:

• Description of the property
• Sales data
• Tax Statement
• Assessed value of the property
• Tax information for the current or prior years

The search tips page offers additional advice on how to conduct a property records search.³⁰ If you need additional assistance with your search, you can call 612-348-3011 or email [email protected]. You may also go in person from Monday through Friday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM to the below address:

A-600 Government Center
300 S. Sixth St.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487

A Summary of How To Access Hennepin County Public Records

As this article has highlighted, there are many different types of accessible public records in Hennepin County and many different ways to get them. If a record is considered public information there is a way to view it you just have to know how. Fortunately, there are several useful online tools you can use to find these public records online.

Here is a summary of tools to search and request these public records online:

• Hennepin County Inmate Search Tools
  • Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office jail roster
  • Hennepin Adult Corrections Facility Roster Search Tool.
• Hennepin County Court Records (including family, civil, criminal and other case types)
  • Minnesota District (Trial) Court Case Search
• Hennepin County Marriage Records
  •  Minnesota Department of Health Online Search Tool
• Hennepin County Vital Records
  • Hennepin County Vital Records Office
• Hennepin County Property Records
  • Hennepin County Recorder’s Office

Understanding what records you can access and how to search for them is half the battle. Once you are armed with these tools, there is a plethora of Hennepin County public records available at your disposal to assist you in your endeavors.