Search Burnsville Criminal Records
Burnsville criminal records are held by the Burnsville Police Department and the Dakota County District Court. The city sits in Dakota County in the southern Twin Cities metro with about 63,000 residents. You can get police reports and public data through the Burnsville Police records unit, search court cases for free through MCRO, or run a statewide background check through the BCA. This page explains what records exist, who holds them, and how to request them.
Burnsville Overview
Burnsville Police Department
The Burnsville Police Department is at 100 Civic Center Parkway, Burnsville, MN 55337. The department handles all law enforcement within city limits. For administration and records, call 952-895-4600 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ask for the Records Unit when you call to check report availability. The department lobby is staffed Monday to Friday during those same hours, but dispatch and the lobby phone line run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For emergencies anywhere in Dakota County, call 9-1-1.
The Burnsville Police have an online police public data request system at burnsvillemn.gov. You can submit a request for incident reports, accident reports, and other public data through that form. Copy fees may apply depending on the type of record. Accident reports can also be requested through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services. The department also handles letters of clearance, known as Good Conduct letters, for immigration, citizenship, adoption, visa, and other purposes. Those cost $35 and must be paid by cash or check only.
The Burnsville Police Department at burnsvillemn.gov/police handles public records requests and provides links to county resources including the inmate search and warrant lookup.
The Burnsville city homepage links to the police department, online data request forms, and quick links to county-level criminal justice resources.
| Department | Burnsville Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Civic Center Parkway Burnsville, MN 55337 |
| Administration Phone | 952-895-4600 |
| Non-Emergency Dispatch | 651-322-2323 or 952-322-2323 |
| Lobby Hours | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Data Request Form | burnsvillemn.gov |
| Good Conduct Letter Fee | $35 (cash or check only) |
Searching Burnsville Criminal Records
Minnesota Court Records Online at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us is free and covers Dakota County District Court cases from July 1, 2015 forward. Search by name, case number, or citation number. The system shows party names, charges, case status, hearing dates, and docket entries. You do not need an account or to pay anything to run a search. This is the quickest way to check if someone has a criminal case filed in Dakota County.
For full document access or older records, you need to visit the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings. Court staff can pull files and make copies. Call the courthouse before you go to confirm hours and the current copy fee schedule. Certified copies are more expensive than plain copies. Bring a photo ID. The Court Administrator handles all public records requests for the district court.
The Burnsville Police website also provides quick links to the Dakota County warrant search and the Dakota County inmate search. These are good starting points if you want to check whether someone has an active warrant or is currently in custody before pulling a full court record.
Dakota County Court Records
Burnsville is in Dakota County, so all criminal court cases go through the Dakota County District Court in the 1st Judicial District. The Judicial Center is at 1560 Highway 55 in Hastings. This is where Burnsville cases are arraigned, heard, and sentenced. The Court Administrator there manages all case files and processes public requests for court records.
For current custody and inmate information, the Dakota County Sheriff's Office at co.dakota.mn.us/departments/sheriff runs an online search tool. You can check whether someone is in the county jail or has an outstanding warrant through the Sheriff's website. The Burnsville Police Department links directly to these county tools on their website, making it easy to access multiple data sources from one place. Background check referrals for formal screenings go to the BCA, not to local police.
| Court | Dakota County District Court - 1st Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Address | 1560 Highway 55 Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Sheriff Website | co.dakota.mn.us/departments/sheriff |
Criminal Background Checks in Burnsville
The Burnsville Police Department refers all formal background check requests to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The BCA at bca.dps.mn.gov runs the statewide criminal history system. The public name search costs $8 at chs.state.mn.us. A BCA search covers convictions from every county in Minnesota, including Dakota County. Under § 13.87, public conviction data is available for 15 years after the sentence ends.
The department also offers fingerprinting services. Fingerprinting can support BCA-based background checks for jobs, licensing, or other purposes. Contact the department at 952-895-4600 during business hours to ask about scheduling and fees. Fingerprint-based searches return broader data than the standard $8 public name search and are used for state-required screenings in fields like healthcare, childcare, and public safety.
Expungement in Burnsville
Minnesota law lets people seal criminal records through expungement. If your charges in Burnsville were dismissed or you were found not guilty, automatic expungement may apply under § 609A.015. The court can seal those records without you filing a petition. Completing a diversion program without a conviction can also trigger automatic sealing.
For convictions, the petition process under § 609A.03 requires filing at the Dakota County District Court in Hastings. A waiting period applies depending on the offense type. The judge weighs your circumstances against public safety before ruling. If the expungement is granted, the record is sealed from public BCA searches and from MCRO. A sealed record does not disappear entirely. Law enforcement retains access for certain purposes even after a court grants expungement.
Predatory Offender Registry
People convicted of qualifying sex offenses must register with local law enforcement under § 243.166. This applies to anyone living, working, or attending school in Burnsville. The BCA maintains the statewide registry and updates it when registrants change addresses. The Burnsville Police Department receives those updates and works with Dakota County to monitor offenders in the city.
The Burnsville Police website includes a quick link to predatory offender notification information. High-risk level three offenders may be subject to community notification under § 244.052. This means neighbors and local organizations may be told when such an offender moves into the area. You can search for offenders registered near Burnsville through the BCA's public portal. Use the ZIP code search to see registered offenders in your neighborhood.
Nearby Cities
Burnsville is in southern Dakota County near several other qualifying cities. These pages cover police departments and court records for nearby communities.
Dakota County Criminal Records
Burnsville is part of Dakota County. All criminal court cases from the city go through the Dakota County District Court. For county-wide resources including the Sheriff's Office, jail roster, and warrant search, visit the Dakota County page.