Crime Numbers
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MNDPS) compiles annual statewide Uniform Crime (UCR) reports from crime data received from law enforcement agencies in the state. The 2018 crime data for Sherburne County shows that a total of 874 index crimes were recorded in the county. These include 77 violent crimes and 797 property crimes. Violent crime reports include 0 murder, 29 rapes, 6 robberies, and 42 aggravated assaults. Property crime reports comprise 104 burglaries, 638 larcenies, 54 motor vehicle thefts, and 1 arson.
Compared to the 2014 crime figures for the county, these figures indicate a 22.9% decline in total reported index crimes in 2018. In the five-year period, property crime rates went down by 26% while violent crime rate rose by 37.5%. The five-year crime trend for Sherburne County also reveals rising rape (+141.7%), robbery (+20%), aggravated assault (+7.7%), and motor vehicle theft (+3.8%) rates and falling burglary (-28.3%), larceny (-27.2%), and arson (-75%) rates. There were no recorded reports of murder in the county in both years.
Criminal Records
Statewide criminal history record information for Minnesota is retained by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The criminal history system for Minnesota contains information about all arrests and convictions from law enforcement agencies and information about convictions, court dispositions, probations, and custody actions from courts and corrections agencies. According to Minnesota laws, criminal history record information may be private or public.
Public information includes offenses, date of offenses, courts of conviction, sentences, levels of conviction, probation agencies, and places of confinement. Data on criminal convictions remain public for 15 years following the completion of the sentence. Public information is available to anyone.
Private data include all arrest information, juvenile records, and records of criminal convictions older than 15 years. Private information is only accessible to:
- Subjects of the records
- Criminal justice agencies
- Individuals and organizations mandated by law to conduct criminal history checks
- Individuals with signed and notarized consents from the subjects of the records
Individuals can request copies of their personal criminal history records by mail or in person. Requests should be written and should include the full names of the subjects including all other names used such as maiden names and former married names and dates of birth of the subjects. Enclose a check or money for the $8 fee made payable to the BCA and include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send the request by mail or deliver it in person to:
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55106
Individuals can also view their personal criminal histories at the BCA offices during weekdays between 8:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Acceptable ID must be presented before access will be granted and fingerprints may be taken for verification. There is no charge for viewing records but if printed copies are required, there will be a charge of $8 per record.
Individuals can view other people’s public criminal history information by accessing the Minnesota Public Criminal History Records website. Search for records by full names and dates of birth. Alternatively, visit the BCA office and conduct a search from the public terminals in the lobby. There is no charge for this service.
To obtain complete criminal history information about another person, which contains both public and private information, send a written request including a notarized informed consent form signed by the subject. The request should contain the full names as used by the subject and their date of birth. Enclose a check or money order for the $15 fee (made payable to the BCA) and a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail it to the BCA. Alternatively, submit the request in person at the BCA office. Records requested in person are typically ready for pickup within 3 working days. To receive them by mail, include an addressed stamped manila envelope in the request.
Information about traffic crashes investigated by the Minnesota State Police can be accessed on the Media Information Site page of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website.
Copies of Minnesota accident reports are available from the Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS). Police reports can be purchased in person or by mail. Complete the Minnesota Crash Record Request form and return it by mail or in person, along with a check or money order (payable to the Driver and Vehicle Services) for the $5 fee (for each record) to:
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Driver and Vehicle Services
445 Minnesota Street
St. Paul, MN 55101-5161
Submit requests for copies of criminal incident reports, investigative reports, and accident reports for Sherburne County to the Records Division of Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office. Complete the Sherburne County Data Request form and return it to the:
Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office
13880 Business Center Drive NW
Suite 100
Elk River, MN 55330-4668
Phone: (763) 765-3500
(800) 433-5245
Fax: (763) 765-3680
The Records Division will respond within 10 business days with details on when the information will be ready and how much it will cost.
The Minnesota sex offender registry is maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Information about sex offenders registered in Sherburne County can be accessed by members of the public on the Predatory Offender Registry website. The Minnesota Department of Corrections website provides information about Level 3 offenders in the state.
The Sherburne County Jail is a major regional facility that houses inmates under the control of Sherburne County as well as some federal inmates. It is run by the Sherburne County Sheriff and is located at 13880 Business Center Drive North West, Elk River, MN 55330. The contact phone number is (763) 765-3800.
Funds can be deposited in inmates’ commissary accounts by:
- Using Access Corrections online web deposit service
- Using Access Corrections telephone deposit service on (866) 345-1884
- Using the kiosks located in the jail lobby. The kiosks accept cash and credit/debit card deposits only and will charge a transaction fee.
Court Records
Minnesota operates a unified trial court system and District Courts have general authority over all civil and criminal cases. Districts Courts are subdivided into divisions that handle the different case types and these include civil, criminal, family, juvenile, probate, small claims, and traffic divisions. Some divisions will share jurisdiction over certain types of cases.
The District Court for Sherburne County is:
Sherburne County District Court
Sherburne County Government Center
13880 Business Center Drive NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Phone: (763) 765-4600
Fax: (763) 765-4606
Court records for Sherburne County can be accessed remotely, from the courthouse’s public terminals, or received upon request by mail or in person.
Access court records remotely by using the Minnesota Public Access (MPA) Remote which provides online access to certain case information. Available information is limited and copies obtained from this source are not regarded as official court records.
Access court records by using MPA Courthouse which provides electronic access to statewide public records via public access terminals available in the state’s district courthouses. In-person access to locally-stored hard copy public case records can be requested for records that are not available electronically.
Request for copies of court records by mail by sending a written request which should contain the case name, case file number (if known), and specific documents required. A daytime phone number should also be included at which the requester can be reached for questions. Certified copies of court records cost $14 per record while uncertified or plain copies cost $8 per record. Send the request along with a check for the payment to:
Sherburne County Courthouse Administration
Sherburne County Government Center
13880 Business Center Drive NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Make in-person requests by visiting the Sherburne County District Courthouse. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays except on state holidays.
Requests for information about land and property records for Sherburne County should be directed to the Sherburne County Recorder. Requests by mail should be sent to:
ATTN: County Recorder
Sherburne County Government Center
13880 Business Center Drive NW
Elk River, MN 55330-4668
Otherwise, visit the County Recorder Office in person to make a request.
Vital Records
Divorce records in Minnesota are retained by the District Court in the county where divorces were finalized. Divorce records are public records unless filed under seal, and can be received upon request by anyone who provides enough information about the records and pays the required fees. Certified copies of records cost $14 each. Obtain copies of divorce decrees for Sherburne County by submitting a request to the Court Administrator of the Sherburne County District Court at:
Sherburne County Court Administrator
Sherburne County Government Center
13880 Business Center Drive NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Phone: (763) 765-4600
(800) 433-5232
Fax: (763) 765-4606
Obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate for Sherburne County from the Sherburne County Recorder’s Office. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $9 each and are available to anyone who provides enough information to search for the records and pays the required fees. Submit requests for Sherburne County marriage certificates to:
Sherburne County Recorder
Sherburne County Government Center
13880 Business Center Drive NW
Suite 100
Elk River, MN 55330-4668
Phone: (763) 765-4420
(800) 719-2826
Fax: (763) 765-3271
Office hours are from Mondays to Fridays except on state holidays, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Birth records for Sherburne County can be obtained from the Sherburne County Recorder’s Office. Individuals eligible to receive copies of birth certificates are listed on the application form and requesters must indicate which category they fall under when completing the form. A third-party requester must present a signed and notarized statement from the subject of the record or an authorized entity to receive certified copies of a birth certificate.
Sherburne County death records are available from the Sherburne County Recorder’s Offices. Individuals requesting copies of death certificates are required to indicate their relationship to the deceased when completing the application forms. They must be one of the eligible entities listed on the application form or provide authorization from an eligible entity in order to receive certified copies.
To obtain a certified copy of a birth or death certificate, complete a birth or death application form and return it to the County Recorder by mail or in person. Certified copies of birth certificates cost $26 for the first copy and $19 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Certified copies of death certificates cost $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Copy fees are payable by check and money order for mail requests while only cash and credit and debit cards are accepted for in-person requests.
Send mail requests for copies to:
ATTN: County Recorder
Sherburne County Government Center
13880 Business Center Drive NW
Elk River, MN 55330-4668
Visit the County Recorder Office to make in-person requests.
The Sherburne County Recorder also issues uncertified/plain copies of birth and death certificates to individuals ineligible to receive certified copies. Use the Non-Certified Birth or Death Record Application forms for these types of requests. This is typically only available in person.
Certified copies of certificates for births that occurred from 1935 to the present and deaths that occurred from 1997 to the present can be obtained from any County Registrar in the State of Minnesota.
All Minnesota birth records from 1900 and death records from 1908 are available from the Office of Vital Records of the Minnesota Department of Health. The Office of Vital Records also issues non-certified copies of records, by mail, to individuals ineligible to receive certified copies.
