How to Run a Background Check on Yourself in Minnesota

Before a job or apartment application, it's worth seeing what's on your record. In Minnesota you can check the public version for free and order your complete record from the BCA for $8.

Last reviewed October 31, 2026.

1. See what the public sees (free)

Run your own name and date of birth through the BCA's Public Criminal History Search. This is the same public data anyone can pull. It shows convictions for 15 years after a sentence ends and leaves out arrests without a conviction, juvenile records, and out-of-state cases.

2. Check court records

Search your name in Minnesota Court Records Online. Court records can show convictions older than 15 years, which the BCA public search drops. If you have an open case, search by case number instead, since pending cases don't come up by name.

3. Request your complete BCA record ($8)

The BCA's Criminal History Record Request gets your full record, including private data and sealed offenses. The fee is $8.

• In person: bring the completed form and a current government-issued photo ID to the BCA, 1430 Maryland Avenue East, St. Paul.
• By mail: sign the form in front of a notary, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment, and mail it to: CHA Unit, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, 1430 Maryland Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN 55106.

4. Fix what's wrong

• Errors in your BCA record: contact the BCA and ask how to challenge the inaccurate entry.
• Records that should be sealed: many records now qualify for automatic sealing under the Clean Slate Act. See our expungement guide.
• Errors in a commercial report: dispute them directly with the background check company.

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