The CVJU has its roots in the Office of Crime Victims Ombudsman (OCVO), which was created in 1985 with the mission to investigate complaints of statutory victim rights violations and victim mistreatment. It was the first such office in the country. In 2003, as part of a statewide reorganization, the CVJU was created to assume the OCVO's responsibilities. The CVJU is housed within the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs. Minnesota remains one of a handful of states with a formalized victim rights compliance office.

The CVJU derives its authority specifically from Minnesota Statutes sections 611A.72-74. This statute gives the CVJU, working on behalf of the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, broad powers to investigate elements of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement agencies, prosecutors' offices, probation departments, court administration, and victim advocacy programs.

Although Minnesota's compliance effort no longer carries the title of ombudsman, it operates under the same principles. That is, the CVJU provides an avenue of redress for citizens to complain about their government. When conducting investigations into victim complaints, the CVJU takes a neutral role. The CVJU is not an advocate for the victim or a defender of the criminal justice system, and considers inquiries and complaints in an unbiased manner. When the CVJU uncovers problems, it seeks to work with an agency to find solutions rather than taking a punitive stance.​​