Expungements
An Expungement is a court order sealing criminal records and prohibiting the disclosure of their existence or their opening except under court order or statutory authority.
The Expungement process is explained in Minnesota Statutes 609A.01 to 609A.03.
What kinds of criminal records are eligible for Expungement?
- Certain controlled substance offenses where the proceedings were dismissed or have been discharged.
- Certain Convictions resulting from an adult prosecution of a juvenile.
- Certain criminal proceedings not resulting in a conviction.
You can obtain Expungement Forms online, from the Hennepin County Government Center, or your local courthouse. There is also a helpful expungement video to guide your way.
To learn more, see Basics on Criminal Expungements and Getting Started: Criminal Record Expungements.
Return of Identification Data
Minnesota State Statute 299C11.(b) is a separate process from an Expungement with different requirements.
You may be eligible for the return of Identification Data if you meet the following conditions:
- You have not been convicted of any felony or gross misdemeanor within ten years preceding the arrest.
- The charges were dismissed prior to a determination of probable cause; or
- The prosecuting authority declined to file any charges and a grand jury did not return and indictment.
- Where these conditions are met, the Minneapolis Police Department, upon demand, will return to the subject of the arrest, finger and thumb prints, distinctive physical mark data, identification data and photographs.
- This return covers only the data we control in the Minneapolis Police Department. Additional identification data may exist elsewhere within other criminal justice jurisdictions.
If you meet the conditions listed above and would like a return of identification, please print the Return of Identification Form (pdf) and mail, fax or deliver it in person to our address on the form.
Last updated Sep. 27, 2011