​The Minnesota Criminal History System (CHS) contains information on people arrested for felony, gross misdemeanor and some misdemeanor offenses. It is used by the criminal justice community for decisions regarding investigations, arrests, bail or bond, criminal charges, plea bargains, convictions, probation and placement in correctional facilities. It is also used during mandated background checks on people seeking employment or licensing for various positions. 

What information from a BCA criminal history record is considered public?

Data on criminal convictions is public for 15 years following the completion of the sentence. Public information includes:

• The offense
• Date of the offense
• Court of conviction
• Date of the conviction
• Any sentence
• The level of conviction (felony, gross misdemeanor, etc.)
• Probation agency or place of confinement

What information from a BCA criminal history record is not public?

• Arrest information
• Court information from cases that did not result in a conviction
• Convictions for which the sentence was completed more than 15 years ago
• Juvenile criminal history information is private. It can only be released as described in Minnesota Statutes §299C.095

Information that is not public may be available through the background check process.