Search Bloomington Court Records

Bloomington court records go through the Hennepin County District Court, which is the trial court for all cities in Hennepin County. Bloomington sits in the 4th Judicial District and has its own police department that handles records requests for local law enforcement data. You can search Bloomington court cases for free through Minnesota Court Records Online. For police reports, accident records, and background checks, the Bloomington Police Department has a separate records process. This page explains where to go and how to access both court and police records for the city.

Bloomington Court Records at Hennepin County

All court cases filed by Bloomington residents go through the Hennepin County District Court. The main courthouse is the Hennepin County Government Center at 300 South Sixth Street in Minneapolis, which is where the Records Center is located. However, Bloomington residents may find the Ridgedale Service Center more convenient. It is at 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343, and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Ridgedale location handles traffic cases and other misdemeanor violations under Minnesota Statute 488A.08.

For cases that require going to the main courthouse, the Records Center is in Room A250 on the Skyway Level of the A-Tower at 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487. The phone number is (612) 348-6000, and hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Certified copies are $14 per document. Plain copies made at the public access terminals are free.

The Ridgedale Service Center is generally the most practical option for Bloomington residents with minor traffic or misdemeanor matters. For civil cases, felony records, or family court filings, you will need to deal with the main Hennepin County records operation in Minneapolis.

How to Search Bloomington Court Records

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us is the free online system for searching court records. It covers all Hennepin County cases, including those involving Bloomington residents. You can search by name, case number, attorney, or citation number. Results show party names, filing dates, case type, hearing dates, and docket entries. Documents from cases filed after July 1, 2015 are downloadable in PDF format at no charge for public case types.

For cases with restricted documents, such as civil commitment, domestic abuse, and harassment matters, you need to request copies directly from the court. Those records require a visit to the Records Center or a written request. Older records from before 2005 are generally only available in person.

Court fines and fees can be paid online at webpay.courts.state.mn.us. A $2.34 convenience fee applies. You can also call the Court Payment Center at (651) 281-3219 for metro area cases. Mail payments go to Minnesota Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201. At the Ridgedale Service Center, cash, check, and credit cards are all accepted in person.

Note: The Hennepin County Attorney case search tool at hennepinattorney.org is another option for searching adult felony cases involving Bloomington defendants by name, case number, or attorney.

Bloomington Police Records

The Bloomington Police Department is at 1800 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431. The main phone number is (952) 563-4900. The police lobby is open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. For records-specific requests, call (952) 563-8592 or submit a request online through the city's data and records portal.

You can request police reports, accident reports, calls for service, 911 transcripts, background checks, body-worn camera videos, and animal control records. The Bloomington Police Department uses a Laserfiche WebLink system as an online repository for searching, retrieving, and printing public records. The city's main data and records portal is at bloomingtonmn.gov/dr/data-and-records. That page links out to the available records databases and data dashboards. The police data dashboard includes a summary of all citations and warnings issued by Bloomington officers, with date, time, and location details.

The Bloomington data and records portal provides access to police dashboards, Laserfiche document searches, and links to other public records available from the city.

For data practices requests, the city has a specific process. You fill out a Police Records Request Form and submit it by phone, email, or in person. The data practices page at bloomingtonmn.gov/dr/data-practices explains the process and what types of records are covered. The Bloomington PD responds to requests within the state's standard timeline. Under state law, large or complex requests may take up to 10 business days.

The Bloomington Police records requests page walks you through how to submit a request for police reports, background checks, body camera footage, and other data types.

Criminal History in Bloomington

For a local records check in Bloomington, you can request one through the Bloomington Police Department. This shows contacts tied to a person within Bloomington's jurisdiction. Under Minnesota Statute 13.87, subdivision 1(c), certain criminal history data is public and accessible to anyone.

For a full statewide background check, use the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Criminal History Search (CHS) at chs.state.mn.us. This is free for public use and covers convictions from all Minnesota courts. The BCA is at 1430 Maryland Ave East, St. Paul, MN 55106. The CHS portal handles most requests online. A certified background check report from the BCA requires a fee and is available for those who need official documentation. The BCA system is more thorough than a local records check because it pulls data from all 87 Minnesota counties, not just Hennepin.

The Bloomington Police records page at bloomingtonmn.gov/pd/police-records-requests explains both the local records check process and how to access the BCA system for full background checks.

Bloomington Court Fees and Payments

Court cases involving Bloomington residents are handled by Hennepin County District Court, so the fee schedule is the same as for all Hennepin County cases. Certified copies cost $14 per document. Plain copies made at the courthouse are free. Contact the Records Center at (612) 348-6000 for information on mail request fees.

Fines and fees can be paid online at webpay.courts.state.mn.us, by phone at (651) 281-3219, or by mail to Minnesota Court Payment Center, P.O. Box 898, Willmar, MN 56201. Online and phone payments carry a $2.34 convenience fee. You need the citation or case number to pay. In-person payments at the Ridgedale Service Center are also an option for Bloomington residents with traffic or misdemeanor fines.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch at mncourts.gov has a self-help center phone line at (651) 435-6535. Staff there can answer general questions about the court system, records access, and how to request fee waivers if you cannot afford court costs.

Public Records Access in Bloomington

Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act, Minnesota Statute Chapter 13, governs public access to government data in Bloomington. Most court records are open to anyone. Some data is classified as private by law, including certain juvenile records, sealed cases, and restricted family court orders. Bloomington city records follow the same framework, covering police data, building permits, code violation records, and other municipal data.

The city's Laserfiche WebLink system is an online repository where you can search for meeting records, ordinances, resolutions, and various public documents from the city. The data and records portal at bloomingtonmn.gov organizes these resources by department, making it easier to find what you need. Engineering records, environmental health records, fire records, licensing records, and planning records are all accessible through the same portal.

For court records specifically, MCRO and the public access terminals at the Hennepin County courthouse are your main tools. Bloomington does not have its own district court building, so all case filings and records are managed by Hennepin County. Any case involving a Bloomington address will be in the Hennepin County system.

Note: Bloomington fire records, code violations, and inspection reports are also publicly accessible through the data practices portal, separate from court and police records.

Hennepin County Court Records

Bloomington is in Hennepin County, and all Bloomington court cases are filed with the Hennepin County District Court. The county page covers the full Hennepin County court system, all locations, records access, and resources for cities and towns across the county.

View Hennepin County Court Records

Nearby Cities

Nearby cities in the south metro also have court records pages. These cities use the same Hennepin County or Dakota County district court systems depending on their location.

• Minneapolis
• Eden Prairie
• Burnsville
• Eagan
• Apple Valley
• Minnetonka