Overview
Below is an overview of the criminal court process in Minnesota. Read through our Definitions tab for more information on specific terms used in criminal cases, and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) tab for answers to common questions related to criminal law.
The information on this page is specific to adult criminal cases. For more information related to juvenile cases, see the Juvenile Delinquency Help Topic page.
A criminal case is started with a citation (ticket) issued by an officer, or a complaint issued by the prosecuting authority and signed by a judge. There are different levels of offenses, and certain low level offenses are not considered crimes (for example, certain parking or traffic tickets). The criminal court process can be complicated. Consequences may include fines, jail time, probation, or other conditions. For an overview of your rights in a MN criminal case, see the Statement of Rights video.