Search Dakota County Criminal History
Dakota County criminal history records are kept by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in Hastings. You can search criminal cases online through the state court system or look up inmates in the county jail. The county covers about 440,000 people in the southern Twin Cities metro, including communities like Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley, and Lakeville. Both the Sheriff's Office and the court handle different parts of the criminal records process. This page shows you where to look and what you can find.
Dakota County Overview
Dakota County Sheriff Criminal Records
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It handles arrest records, incident reports, and jail bookings. The Sheriff maintains criminal history data under Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act. Under Minnesota Stat. sect. 13.82, arrest data is public once someone is booked. That means you can find out if someone is in custody, what charges they face, and what bail has been set.
The Sheriff's Office accepts public data requests by email. You can reach their records unit at DCSORcords@co.dakota.mn.us for law enforcement records. For general data requests, send email to data.practices@co.dakota.mn.us. Requests may take a few business days to process. The office is located at 1580 Hwy 55 in Hastings.
| Agency | Dakota County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 1580 Hwy 55, Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Phone | (651) 437-4700 |
| Jail Line | (651) 438-4800 |
| Records Email | DCSORcords@co.dakota.mn.us |
| Data Requests | data.practices@co.dakota.mn.us |
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office page provides general information about their law enforcement services. Visit the Dakota County Sheriff's Office website to find contact details and links to records resources.
Dakota County Jail Inmate Search
Dakota County runs a free online inmate search tool. You can look up people currently in the county jail using a name, booking number, sex, or age. The search shows booking dates, charges, bail amounts, and a booking photo where available. This data is public under Minnesota law.
The inmate search tool reflects current custody status only. It does not show past bookings once a person has been released. If you need records from older jail stays, you will need to contact the Sheriff's Office directly and submit a data request. The tool updates throughout the day as new bookings come in.
The Dakota County Jail Inmate Search page lets you look up anyone currently in custody at the county jail. The screenshot below shows what the search interface looks like.
The system is free to use and does not require an account. Results show the person's full name, age, charges, and booking date.
Note: The inmate search only shows people in current custody and does not include full criminal history records.
Dakota County Criminal Complaint Search
Dakota County also provides a Criminal Complaint Search tool. This lets you look up criminal complaints filed in the past 12 months. The search covers most criminal cases but leaves out cases involving sexual conduct or child pornography, which are restricted by law. You can search by name or other identifying details. It is a good resource for recent criminal activity in the county.
The complaint search shows the nature of charges, the date filed, and case information. It does not replace the full court record, but it gives you a quick look at recent filings. The tool is maintained by Dakota County and is free to use. You can find it on the same county website that hosts jail and court resources.
Visit the Dakota County Criminal Complaint Search to look up recent criminal cases filed in the county. Results cover a 12-month rolling window and are updated regularly.
Dakota County District Court Criminal Cases
The Dakota County District Court is part of Minnesota's 1st Judicial District. It handles all criminal prosecutions in the county, from misdemeanors to felonies. The court is located at 1560 Hwy 55 in Hastings, right near the Sheriff's Office. The Court Administrator manages all case files and handles records requests from the public.
The Minnesota Court Records Online system (MCRO) is the main way to search Dakota County court records from home. It is free to use and covers criminal cases going back many years. You can search by name or case number. The system shows case status, docket entries, charges, and hearing dates. Some sealed or restricted cases will not appear in the results. Under Minnesota Stat. sect. 13.87, criminal history data held by agencies has specific public access rules that may affect what shows up.
Minnesota Court Records Online is the state's free public case search system. The screenshot below shows the MCRO portal used to look up Dakota County criminal history cases.
MCRO is updated daily and covers all district court locations statewide, including Dakota County in Hastings.
The Dakota County District Court page on mncourts.gov lists the court address, phone number, hours, and links to case search tools. The screenshot below shows the Dakota District Court information page.
The court is open Monday through Friday. Call (651) 438-4333 for assistance with records requests.
| Court | Dakota County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 1560 Hwy 55, Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Phone | (651) 438-4333 |
| Judicial District | 1st Judicial District |
| Case Search | Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) |
Statewide Criminal History Through the BCA
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) maintains the official statewide criminal history database. This database pulls together records from all counties, including Dakota County. It covers arrests, convictions, and dispositions from across the state. A BCA criminal history check gives you the most complete picture available through official channels.
You can request a criminal history check through the BCA's website at bca.dps.mn.gov. The BCA also offers background checks for organizations that need them for certain purposes. Their main number is (651) 793-2400. Data shared by the BCA is governed by Minnesota Stat. sect. 13.87, which sets rules on what criminal history data is public and what is private. For more on the background check process, visit the BCA background checks page.
Expungement of Dakota County Criminal Records
Minnesota law allows some people to have criminal records sealed or expunged. If a case was dismissed, ended in acquittal, or resulted in a stayed sentence that was completed, you may qualify. The law covering this is Minnesota Stat. sect. 609A.02. Automatic expungement under Minnesota Stat. sect. 609A.015 applies to certain low-level cases where enough time has passed.
To seek expungement in Dakota County, you file a petition with the Dakota County District Court. The court reviews the petition and may set a hearing. If granted, the records are sealed from public view. Sealed records still exist but are not accessible through normal searches. The process takes time, and not every case qualifies. Contact the court or a legal aid office for help with eligibility and the filing process.
Cities in Dakota County
Dakota County includes many communities in the southern Twin Cities metro. All criminal cases from these cities are handled by the Dakota County District Court in Hastings.
Communities in Dakota County include Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Hastings, Rosemount, Farmington, South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, and others. All criminal filings go through the District Court in Hastings regardless of which city the case originates in.
Nearby Counties
Dakota County borders several other Minnesota counties. If you are looking for records from a neighboring area, use these links.