Post-Conviction Help
Expungements and Criminal Records Issues
In partnership with the Volunteer Lawyers Network, the Legal Rights Center provides regular criminal expungement seminars on the first Tuesday of every month, at 2:00 pm, at the Minneapolis Urban League (2100 Plymouth Ave North, 55411). At each seminar, you will hear a brief presentation about Criminal Expungement in Minnesota and then meet with attorneys who can answer your questions and may be able to connect you with further assistance.
Legal Rights Center also partners with the U of M Law School to provide a free monthly workshop called Second Chance Saturday. It occurs the 3rd Saturday of every month from 11:30 to 2:30 at the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (2001 Plymouth Ave North, 55411). Attorneys and students will discuss expungements as well as employment law rights that protect people with records during the job application process. We will also help participants learn to explain their record to employers and landlords.
Both events provide an opportunity for you to sit down with an attorney for a review of your record. For that purpose it is best if you can obtain copies of both your court records and your BCA records ahead of time.
How to get your records:
In Ramsey County, free service to eligible clients is available from the Neighborhood Justice Center (651-222-4703) and the Volunteer Lawyers Network (612-752-6677). For most other counties in Minnesota, call your local Legal Aid office for representation or a referral.
Appeals and plea withdrawals
If the lawyer who represented you cannot help, contact the Appellate office of the Minnesota Public Defender at 651-201-6700. Time limits may apply.
Prisoner assistance
For civil legal help contact Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners at 651-290-6413.
Post-conviction petitions
For petitions to both state and federal court, if the lawyer who represented you cannot help, contact the Appellate office of the Minnesota Public Defender at 651-201-6700. See also The Innocence Project Of Minnesota for help overturning wrongful convictions when new evidence could prove innocence.
In partnership with the Volunteer Lawyers Network, the Legal Rights Center provides regular criminal expungement seminars on the first Tuesday of every month, at 2:00 pm, at the Minneapolis Urban League (2100 Plymouth Ave North, 55411). At each seminar, you will hear a brief presentation about Criminal Expungement in Minnesota and then meet with attorneys who can answer your questions and may be able to connect you with further assistance.
Legal Rights Center also partners with the U of M Law School to provide a free monthly workshop called Second Chance Saturday. It occurs the 3rd Saturday of every month from 11:30 to 2:30 at the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (2001 Plymouth Ave North, 55411). Attorneys and students will discuss expungements as well as employment law rights that protect people with records during the job application process. We will also help participants learn to explain their record to employers and landlords.
Both events provide an opportunity for you to sit down with an attorney for a review of your record. For that purpose it is best if you can obtain copies of both your court records and your BCA records ahead of time.
How to get your records:
- MN Court Records (MNCIS): Go to any Minnesota courthouse and ask a court clerk to print your list of criminal cases. Most courthouses will charge you a printing fee of $8.00 to $10.00. You do not need to print each record, just ask the clerk for the CASE RECORDS SEARCH RESULTS PAGE, which lists all of your cases and case numbers.
- Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Records: You can obtain your BCA records in one of two ways. (1) Send the BCA a written and notarized request with your name and date of birth, an any other names used; along with a person check or money order for $8.00 made payable to the BCA, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. (2) You can also go to the BCA directly and request a copy of your record. The BCA will take your fingerprints and ask you to pay $8.00.
- You can download a sample BCA form here: bca_record_request.pdf
- The BCA is located at 1430 Maryland Ave. E., St. Paul, MN 55106
In Ramsey County, free service to eligible clients is available from the Neighborhood Justice Center (651-222-4703) and the Volunteer Lawyers Network (612-752-6677). For most other counties in Minnesota, call your local Legal Aid office for representation or a referral.
Appeals and plea withdrawals
If the lawyer who represented you cannot help, contact the Appellate office of the Minnesota Public Defender at 651-201-6700. Time limits may apply.
Prisoner assistance
For civil legal help contact Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners at 651-290-6413.
Post-conviction petitions
For petitions to both state and federal court, if the lawyer who represented you cannot help, contact the Appellate office of the Minnesota Public Defender at 651-201-6700. See also The Innocence Project Of Minnesota for help overturning wrongful convictions when new evidence could prove innocence.