Dakota County Criminal Records
Dakota County criminal records are held by the Sheriff's Office and the District Court in Hastings. The county is the third most populated in Minnesota, with nearly 400,000 residents. It lies along the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers in the southern Twin Cities metro and is part of the 1st Judicial District. The court handles roughly 200,000 cases per year across 36 judges and more than 250 staff. This page walks through the main ways to find arrest records, court cases, jail rosters, and criminal history for Dakota County.
Dakota County Overview
Dakota County Sheriff and Jail
Under Minnesota Statute 13.82, arrest data is public in Minnesota. This law requires law enforcement agencies to disclose the time and date of each arrest, the location, charges filed, and custody status. Dakota County is a large jurisdiction with a high volume of arrests. The jail handles a significant number of bookings annually given the county's population of nearly 400,000 people spread across communities including Lakeville, Eagan, Burnsville, and Apple Valley.
The jail roster lists current inmates with charges, bail amounts, and in-custody status. If you are looking for someone who was arrested in Dakota County, the roster is the fastest starting point. For warrant checks, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Active warrants for Dakota County residents may also appear through the court records system. Court Administrator Carolyn M. Renn manages the court operations. The main phone number is 651-438-8100. The court is part of Minnesota's 1st Judicial District. With 36 judges and over 250 staff, it is one of the busiest court systems in the state, processing around 200,000 cases every year across all case types.
Free online access to Dakota County court records is available through Minnesota Court Records Online at publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us. MCRO covers filings since July 1, 2015. You can search by name or case number to see charges, docket entries, hearing dates, and case status. For cities like Lakeville, Eagan, Burnsville, and Apple Valley, all criminal cases go through this same court. The court finder at mncourts.gov/Find-Courts has current hours and directions for the Dakota County courthouse.
If you need document copies, certified records, or access to cases that predate the MCRO system, visit the courthouse or call the court administrator's office. Staff can search older records and let you know what is available. For a court this size, walk-in staff are typically experienced with public record requests and can help move things along.
| Court Administrator | Carolyn M. Renn |
|---|---|
| Court Address | 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033 |
| Phone | 651-438-8100 |
| Online Records | MCRO Case Search |
BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains the statewide criminal history database. Dakota County convictions are included. A public name search costs $8 and is available at chs.state.mn.us. The BCA's full information site is at bca.dps.mn.gov.
Minnesota Statute 13.87 governs public access to conviction data through the BCA. The law limits public records to those from within 15 years after sentence discharge. Older convictions do not show up. Arrest-only records, dismissed cases, and expunged records are also excluded from public results. Active investigations remain confidential while open; they become public once the case closes, unless restricted by court order.
Dakota County Criminal Record Sources
The roster is searchable and updated with current data from the county jail, showing charges, bail, and custody status for each booked individual.
Additional county criminal justice data and inmate information for the broader region can be found through resources maintained by neighboring county systems at sites like opendata.ramseycounty.us, which can help with cross-jurisdictional lookups in the Twin Cities metro area.
For people with ties to both Dakota and Ramsey Counties, these adjacent systems can help confirm where a person is held or where a case was filed.
Expungement and Record Sealing in Dakota County
Minnesota's expungement statute at Minnesota Statute 609A lets people petition the Dakota County District Court to seal certain criminal records. An approved petition results in a court order directing all named agencies, including the BCA, the court, and the Sheriff's Office, to seal their copies from public access. The record stays on file for authorized use but does not show in public searches.
Some Dakota County cases qualify for automatic sealing under Minnesota Statute 609A.015. These include cases that ended in acquittal or dismissal, certain stays of adjudication, and some lower-level convictions. For cases that require a petition, you file with the court, give notice to the Dakota County Attorney, and attend a hearing if one is scheduled. The judge decides. Given the volume of cases in Dakota County, this court processes expungement petitions regularly.
DOC Offender Search and Sex Offender Registry
The Minnesota DOC public viewer at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer lets you search for people currently in state prison or on supervised release. It is free and covers all Minnesota counties. Search by name for current status and supervision details.
Predatory offender registration in Dakota County follows Minnesota Statute 243.166. People with qualifying convictions must register with the Dakota County Sheriff's Office. The BCA maintains the statewide public predatory offender registry. Failure to register is a felony under state law. With nearly 400,000 residents, Dakota County has an active registration caseload handled through the Sheriff's Office at the Law Enforcement Center in Hastings.
Cities in Dakota County
Several major cities in Dakota County have their own pages with local criminal records information. All criminal cases from these cities are filed with the Dakota County District Court in Hastings.
Other communities in Dakota County include Hastings, South St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, West St. Paul, and Farmington. All criminal cases from these cities go through the same District Court.
Nearby Counties
Dakota County borders these counties in the Twin Cities metro area and southeast Minnesota. Criminal records from other counties are separate from Dakota County records.