Dakota County MN Arrest Records Search | Jail & Court Dakota County MN Arrest Records Search

Q: Does the Dakota County inmate search show past arrests?

No. Dakota County states that the online jail search displays only people currently in custody. A person who was released may disappear from that search even though an arrest report, criminal complaint or court case still exists.

Q: How do I find a Dakota County criminal complaint?

Use Dakota County's official Criminal Complaint Search and search by name and posting-date range. The county states that complaints are available in that tool for 12 months. Older complaints and records not displayed there can be researched through Minnesota Court Records Online or Dakota County District Court.

Q: Why can't I find a pending Dakota County criminal case by defendant name in MCRO?

Minnesota Court Records Online restricts defendant-name searching for pending criminal matters before a conviction is entered. Use the case number, citation number, attorney name or attorney bar number when permitted. Dakota County's Criminal Complaint Search can help locate a recent complaint and case information.

Q: How do I find the final outcome of a Dakota County arrest?

Locate the Dakota County District Court case and review the Register of Actions and available court documents for filed charges, amended charges, dismissals, pleas, judgments and sentences. A jail booking charge does not establish the final case outcome.

Q: How do I search Dakota County warrants?

Use the official Dakota County Warrant Search and search the person's last name, first name and date of birth when available. Do not attempt to arrest or confront someone based on a website result. Current warrant status should be confirmed by law enforcement or the responsible court.

Q: How do I get a certified Dakota County criminal court record?

Request the document from Dakota County District Court. Minnesota Judicial Branch currently lists a 14 dollar fee for a certified copy of an instrument from a civil or criminal proceeding. Online MCRO documents can be viewed or downloaded without a document charge, but MCRO does not issue certified copies.

Q: How do I obtain my Minnesota criminal history?

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension provides public criminal-history access and personal criminal-history requests. The current Minnesota-only self background-check fee is 8 dollars. Different procedures apply when the record will be used for employment, housing, licensing, a name change or international travel.

Q: How do I correct an inaccurate Dakota County or Minnesota arrest record?

Determine whether the incorrect information originated with the arresting agency, Dakota County Jail, District Court or Minnesota BCA. Obtain the controlling report or court disposition, ask the originating agency or court to correct its record and then follow the BCA data or identity-correction process when the statewide criminal history is also affected.

Q: Can a Dakota County MN arrest record be expunged or sealed?

Some Minnesota criminal records qualify for court expungement or another statutory sealing process. If a person was arrested but never charged, or the matter ended before a complaint was filed, a different process under Minnesota law may apply. Use the current Minnesota Judicial Branch criminal-expungement forms and verify eligibility before filing.

Dakota County, Minnesota · Current custody, complaints, warrants and District Court

Search a Dakota County Jail Booking and Verify the Court Case

Dakota County’s jail search answers whether a person is currently in custody—not whether the person has ever been arrested. For an earlier arrest, follow the booking into the criminal complaint, court case or arresting agency record.

This guide also explains warrants, bail, voluntary surrender, police reports, court copies, jail visits, mail, calls, public defenders, victim services, BCA records and Minnesota expungement.

Search current jail custody Search criminal complaints Verify the court outcome

DAKOTA RECORD BRIDGE VERIFYING

CURRENT JAIL SEARCH

DAKOTA DISTRICT COURT

OUTCOME FOUND

BOOKING → CASE → DISPOSITION

Arrest does not mean conviction. A jail charge or criminal complaint describes an accusation. Charges may be amended or dismissed, and the defendant may be acquitted. Verify identity and read the final court disposition before drawing conclusions.

Jail search

Displays only people currently in custody.

Complaint search

Public county tool covers approximately 12 months.

Pending cases

Use a case or citation number in MCRO.

Certified court copy

Current District Court fee: $14.

Jail information

651-438-4800

Start with the right record

Which Dakota County system should you search?

DAKOTA COUNTY JAIL Is the person held now?

Use the inmate search for present custody, posted court information and the current jail record.

It is not a historical arrest archive.

COUNTY ATTORNEY Was a complaint filed recently?

Search the public criminal-complaint tool for recent complaints filed by the Dakota County Attorney.

The search tool keeps complaints for 12 months.

ARRESTING AGENCY What did officers report?

Request the incident report, arrest report or releasable supplements from the agency that created them.

The jail may not be the report custodian.

DISTRICT COURT / MCRO What happened to the case?

Review filed charges, hearings, orders, dismissals, pleas, judgment and sentence.

Use the case number for a pending criminal case.

MINNESOTA BCA What appears statewide?

Use the Minnesota criminal-history system when a Dakota County-only search is not enough.

Public and personal-use requests follow different procedures.

Best sequence: check current custody → save identifiers → find the complaint or case number → verify the arresting agency → read the court disposition → request only the report or certified copy still needed.

Official current-custody search

How to search the Dakota County Jail roster

Current custody only. Dakota County specifically states that its inmate search displays only people currently in custody. A released person can disappear from this search even though an arrest, complaint or court record still exists.

Open the official inmate search Use the Dakota County government search rather than a paid inmate-search site. Run the Dakota County Jail search

Enter at least one search criterion The form accepts last name, first name, a posted-date range and court date.

Begin with the last name A surname-only search reduces the chance of excluding a record because of a middle name, compound surname or spelling difference.

Add the first name only when necessary Narrow a broad result after checking the surname results.

Use posted dates when the arrest is recent A date range can help separate people with similar names.

Open every plausible result Compare the known arrest date, charges, court date and identity details.

Record all identifiers Save the exact booking name and every booking, court or agency identifier displayed.

Treat court times as estimates Several defendants can share the same calendar start time. For specific court-time questions, call District Court at 651-377-7188.

Continue to the criminal complaint or MCRO The jail entry describes custody. The court record is needed to understand prosecution and disposition.

Identity warning from the Sheriff: people can use false identification information. The county states that true identity can only be established through fingerprint comparison. Do not take legal action based solely on a name or online jail result.

Result decoder

What a Dakota County jail result actually tells you

Jail fields, limitations and next actions
Information	What it helps establish	What it does not establish	Next action
Current-custody result	The person is presently displayed in Dakota County custody.	How the criminal case will end.	Save the result and check the court case.
Booking name	The identity used in the jail system.	That no alias or false identity was used.	Match independent identifiers.
Posted date	When the online custody record was posted.	The precise offense or arrest time.	Compare the arresting-agency report.
Charge	The allegation associated with custody.	The final prosecutor charge or guilt.	Read the criminal complaint.
Court date	An estimated scheduled court appearance.	The precise time the individual case will be called.	Verify with District Court.
Bail or release information	A current release-related entry.	That no other warrant or hold exists.	Confirm every active matter before paying.
Disappearance from roster	The person is no longer displayed as currently held.	That charges were dismissed.	Search the court disposition.

Identity safeguard

Use more than a matching name

Full first and last name are consistent

Middle name, suffix or known alias is consistent

Age or birth date is consistent when available

Arrest or posting date matches the known event

Arresting agency matches the location

Case or citation number matches another official record

Charge chronology matches the court case

Fingerprint confirmation is used when legal certainty is required

Do not identify someone from a photo or common name alone. Dakota County expressly warns that false identifying information can be used.

No-result troubleshooting

No Dakota County jail record found? Check these causes

The person was already released The county inmate search is current-custody only. Move to the complaint, court or records-request process.

Intake is still underway Identification, medical screening, property processing and data entry can delay an online result.

The name is different Try the surname alone, alternate spelling, former surname, hyphen variation or suffix.

The person was never booked into Dakota County Jail A citation, hospital stay or custody in another county can produce no Dakota jail result.

A city police department made the arrest The police report may exist even when no active county-jail record remains.

The complaint is older than 12 months Use MCRO or Dakota County Court Administration instead of the county complaint search.

The person moved to another correctional system Check another Minnesota county, Minnesota DOC or federal custody when appropriate.

The record is legally restricted Juvenile, sealed, expunged and other protected information may not be public.

Missing-custody call script

I am trying to confirm the custody or booking status of [full legal name]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. I have [case, citation or report number if known]. Can you confirm whether the person is currently held, released, transferred or listed under another booking identifier?

Dakota County Attorney

Search the actual criminal complaint

A criminal complaint is more useful than a booking-charge label because it is the formal document filed to begin a criminal prosecution and explains the charges and alleged facts.

Open Dakota County Criminal Complaint Search Use the county’s own search before paying for a private court-record site. Search Dakota County criminal complaints

Search the last name Add the first name when the result set is broad.

Add a posted-date range The form includes from-date and through-date fields.

Open the matching complaint Compare the defendant, filing date, alleged offenses and incident timeline with the arrest.

Save the court case number This is the most useful key for continuing into Minnesota Court Records Online.

Use MCRO for the case history The complaint is the beginning of the prosecution—not the final disposition.

Important complaint-search limitations

Complaints remain available in the county search for 12 months

Older complaints should be researched through court records

Criminal sexual conduct complaints are not available through the public county search tool

Complaints involving child sexual abuse images are not available in the public search tool

A complaint describes allegations, not proof of guilt

Charges can later be amended, dismissed or resolved differently

Need an older or unavailable complaint?
Dakota County Court Administration: 651-377-7180
You can also use Minnesota Court Records Online or a courthouse public-access terminal.

Minnesota Court Records Online

Find the filed charges and final Dakota County court outcome

Important MCRO search rule: a pending criminal matter generally cannot be located by defendant-name search before a conviction is entered. Use the case number, citation number or other permitted identifier.

Get the case number first when possible The recent Dakota County criminal-complaint search is one useful place to obtain it.

Open Minnesota Court Records Online Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch entry point. Open MCRO

Choose Case Search Search the known court case number for the cleanest match.

For a pending criminal case, do not rely on defendant-name search Use the case number, citation number, attorney name or attorney bar number when applicable.

Open the Register of Actions Read the events chronologically instead of relying on a single status label.

Compare the filed charges with the booking Prosecutors may file different charges than those initially displayed at jail intake.

Check every amended filing Later documents can add, dismiss, replace or reduce counts.

Read warrant entries in order A warrant-issued entry can later be followed by service, cancellation or another court order.

Locate the disposition for every count Look for dismissal, plea, acquittal, conviction, judgment and sentencing entries.

Download available public documents MCRO currently does not charge a fee to access or download documents available through the system.

Use Court Administration for older or unavailable documents Online access can be limited for documents filed before July 1, 2015.

Order a certified copy when proof is required MCRO does not issue certified court documents.

Name-search tip: Minnesota court searches can be sensitive to the precise name entered. When the search method allows it, test name variations rather than assuming a zero-result search means no case exists.

Court records and certification

Dakota County criminal court copy fees

Current Minnesota Judicial Branch Dakota County record fees
Record service	Published fee	When to use it
MCRO document access	$0	Review or download an available public online document.
Uncertified copy / printout / screenshot	$0	Informational copy when certification is not required.
Certified copy of an instrument	$14	Formal proof from a civil or criminal proceeding.
Certified system printout	$14	When the recipient requires a certified court-system record.
Case-management report, 1–50 pages	$5	Court-generated reports when requested.
Case-management report, over 50 pages	$25 per 50 pages or portion	Larger court-generated reports.
Exemplified and certified copy	$28	Only when the recipient specifically requires exemplification.

Ask the recipient what proof is required Do not pay for certification if an MCRO PDF or ordinary copy is acceptable.

Identify the exact document Examples include complaint, dismissal order, judgment, sentencing order or register of actions.

Give the clerk the case number This avoids an unnecessary name search.

Confirm the current fee before ordering Court fees can change. Check current Dakota County court fees

Arrest and incident reports

Request the police report from the agency that created it

Jail custodian ≠ arrest-report custodian. A city police department can make the arrest while Dakota County Jail handles the booking. Request the detailed police report from the arresting or investigating agency.

Where to send common Dakota County record requests
Record needed	Likely custodian	Best identifiers
Current jail custody	Dakota County Sheriff / Jail	Full name, booking information and custody date.
Sheriff arrest or incident report	Dakota County Sheriff’s Records Unit	Report number, date, location and involved name.
City police report	The city police department that created the report	Agency case number, incident date and location.
Criminal complaint	Dakota County Attorney / District Court	Defendant and court case number.
Court disposition	Dakota County District Court	Court case number and defendant.
State criminal history	Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension	Accurate legal name, birth date and fingerprints when required.

Identify the arresting agency from the jail or complaint record Do this before submitting a data request.

Ask for specific documents Request the incident report, arrest report and specifically identified releasable supplements.

Add the official identifiers Include the report number, arrest date, location, defendant name and court case number.

Request electronic delivery Ask for electronic copies when available.

Set a cost ceiling Ask the agency to provide an estimate before exceeding a stated amount.

Ask for the legal basis of withheld information Some investigative, juvenile, victim, medical or legally protected information may not be released.

Copy-ready arrest-report request

I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report and identified supplements concerning [full legal name] for the incident on or about [date] at [location]. Known identifiers are agency report number [number], jail or booking identifier [number] and Dakota County court case number [number]. Please provide a cost estimate before processing if charges will exceed $[amount] and identify the legal basis for any withheld or redacted information.

Dakota County Sheriff’s Records Unit
The Sheriff’s Records Unit processes data requests and maintains administrative law-enforcement records.
Sheriff: 651-438-4700
Email: sheriff@co.dakota.mn.us

Official warrant search

Check a Dakota County warrant without relying on rumors

Open the Dakota County Warrant Search Use the Sheriff-hosted search. Search Dakota County warrants

Enter the last name Add first name and date of birth when available to reduce false matches.

Open each plausible result Compare all available identity and case information.

Check the bail information A warrant record can identify whether bail is available.

Watch for “Body Only” Dakota County explains that Body Only means no bail amount is set and the person must be taken into custody.

Confirm current status A website result should not be used as the sole basis to detain or confront someone. Contact the Sheriff, court or a lawyer.

Do not attempt to arrest anyone yourself. Dakota County instructs law enforcement to confirm warrants through the prescribed NCIC process rather than relying solely on the public website.

Have information about a wanted person? Dakota County Sheriff publishes 651-438-TIPS. For an emergency or immediate danger, call 911.

Bail and bond

How Dakota County bail payment works

Cash bail

Money is paid to satisfy a court-authorized monetary release requirement when bail is available.

Bond

A bonding company can post an authorized bond rather than the full cash amount, subject to its agreement and fees.

Search the warrant or custody record first Confirm that bail or bond is actually available.

Check for “Body Only” No bail amount is available on a Body Only warrant.

Identify every active warrant and case Paying one matter may not resolve another jurisdiction’s hold.

Choose a court window during business hours Eligible Dakota County warrant bail or bond can be handled at the Judicial Center, Northern Service Center or Western Service Center, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.

Know the court-window payment rule Dakota County states that District Court locations do not accept electronic payment for this process. They accept cash and bonds issued by bonding agents.

The wanted person does not have to appear just to pay an eligible bail amount Dakota County states that another person can make the payment on the wanted person’s behalf when the warrant allows bail or bond.

Use the Law Enforcement Center for 24/7 kiosk access Lobby kiosks at the LEC are available 24 hours a day to accept eligible cash bail or bond.

Keep the receipt and new court information When payment satisfies the warrant process, the warrant is deactivated and a new court date is issued.

Check current Dakota County bail instructions

Three District Court payment locations

Judicial Center

1560 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033

Northern Service Center

1 Mendota Road West, Suite 140
West St. Paul, MN 55118

Western Service Center

14955 Galaxie Avenue West
Apple Valley, MN 55124

Bail scam warning: Dakota County Sheriff states that deputies will not call people and request bail money. If someone claims to be from the Sheriff’s Office and demands bail payment, the county advises calling 911.

Active warrant

What to do if you plan to turn yourself in

Dakota County provides a specific voluntary-surrender process. Turning yourself in deactivates the warrant immediately; what happens next depends on the warrant, available release terms and court calendar.

Check the warrant and bail status first Determine whether the warrant allows cash bail, bond or requires custody.

Adults can surrender at a Dakota County court location during business hours The county lists Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. for the three District Court locations.

You can also surrender to local law enforcement Dakota County states that adults can turn themselves in 24/7 to local city law-enforcement agencies in the county.

The Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Center is another 24/7 option Full booking includes photographs, fingerprints and standard custody processing.

Consider the county’s timing guidance Dakota County advises surrendering before 4 a.m. Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays, to reduce the likelihood of being held more than 24 hours while waiting for the next appropriate court calendar.

Bring government photo identification Use a valid state or federal photo ID.

Bring medication information Have a current prescription list and pharmacy information rather than bringing unnecessary medication containers unless instructed.

Bring necessary medical aids Examples include glasses, hearing aids or required orthopedic devices.

Prepare transportation information Have contact information for the person who can pick you up after release.

Prepare financial information for appointed counsel Dakota County suggests bringing income verification such as a recent pay stub or W-2 if you intend to seek a public defender.

Do not bring unnecessary property

No weapons

No food or perishable items

Avoid excessive personal belongings

Avoid nonprescription medication

Electronics will be taken during booking

Bring season-appropriate clothing

Review current surrender instructions

Record lifecycle

Follow a Dakota County arrest through the justice system

Law-enforcement incident A sheriff’s deputy or city police officer creates the initial incident or arrest documentation.

Booking Dakota County Jail processes the person when county detention is required.

Current-custody posting The person’s information can appear in the public inmate search while held.

Criminal complaint The Dakota County Attorney can file a formal complaint describing charges and alleged facts.

First appearance and release decision The court addresses counsel, release conditions, bail where applicable and scheduling.

Pretrial proceedings The case may involve amendments, motions, hearings, negotiations and trial preparation.

Disposition Counts can end through dismissal, acquittal, plea, conviction or another court order.

Sentence, release or supervision The person may be released, placed on probation, serve local custody or enter another correctional system.

Correction or record relief Incorrect data can be corrected and eligible records may later qualify for sealing or expungement.

Dakota County Jail visits

Check custody before scheduling a jail visit

Jail visit schedules, housing availability and operational restrictions can change. Confirm the current rules on the Dakota County visitation page before traveling.

Search current custody first If the person is no longer displayed, do not assume a previously planned jail visit is still valid.

Confirm the person remains at Dakota County Jail Court movement, release or transfer can affect visit availability.

Open the official visitation instructions Check the current visit type, scheduling procedure and any live restrictions. Open Dakota County Jail visitation

Use only the provider linked by the county Dakota County uses Inmate Canteen/TurnKey services for several inmate communication functions, including video communication.

Have valid identification ready Follow the current jail visitor identity and approval rules.

Recheck the visit before leaving home Jail operations can affect scheduled access.

Personal jail visits and ordinary inmate communications should not be treated as confidential attorney communication. Avoid discussing sensitive defense strategy through monitored non-legal channels.

Mail and inmate property

Know what Dakota County Jail will accept

Items accepted as in-person drop-offs

Dakota County states that the Jail accepts only certain medically necessary items for inmates, and medical-unit approval is required.

Prescription medications in a clean, properly marked prescription container

Eyeglasses

Other necessary medical equipment approved by medical staff

Medication label information is used to verify doctor, pharmacy and dosage

Do not bring ordinary personal items to the jail

Books, hygiene products, writing materials, uniforms and shoes are provided to inmates while in custody.

Photographs and letters

Photograph limit

An inmate may possess no more than 10 photographs.

No Polaroids

Polaroid photographs are not permitted.

Use the Postal Service

Photos and letters must arrive through the U.S. Postal Service.

No lobby hand-delivery

The jail will not accept notes, letters, cards or photographs handed in at the facility.

Confirm the current inmate mailing address

Property after release

Pick up remaining jail property within 90 days Dakota County gives the released inmate or designated person 90 days from release.

A designated pickup person needs identification The person must also be listed on the property-release form completed by the inmate.

For property confiscated during arrest, contact the arresting police agency The county jail may not control seized evidence or property.

For an impounded vehicle, contact the arresting agency or impound lot Ask what proof and release documentation are required.

Money, phone and video

Use the county-approved inmate communication system

Canteen

Inmates can use their funds to buy postage-paid envelopes, snacks, soft drinks and other necessities.

Phone and messaging

TurnKey Corrections and Inmate Canteen provide inmate telephone, email and text-related services.

Entertainment and video

Available services can include movie or game passes and video calls.

Confirm the person is still in custody Do not fund an account using only an old arrest record.

Open the county’s current Canteen and Phone instructions Verify the provider before entering payment information. Open Dakota County Canteen and Phone instructions

Use Inmate Canteen for the final account action Match the inmate carefully before making a credit-card deposit. Open Inmate Canteen

Select the correct service Funds for inmate purchases, telephone use and other communication services may serve different purposes.

Keep the confirmation Save the inmate information, payment amount and transaction record.

Deposit assistance
TurnKey Corrections: iccsupport@tkc32m.com
Inmate Canteen also provides a “Chat with us” support option.

Release and transfer

Do not treat release from jail as dismissal of the case

Release can occur after court authorization or completion of release requirements

A release can occur while criminal charges remain pending

A transfer can remove the person from the Dakota inmate search

A sentenced person can later move into another correctional system

Court conditions can remain active after release

The court docket—not the jail roster—shows the legal case outcome

Dakota County states that most inmates released according to a sentence are released at about 5 a.m. unless the court order specifies another time. Exact release circumstances vary, so family members should remain in contact near the anticipated release date.

Check current Dakota County release guidance

Criminal defense

Request the Dakota County public defender

Person in custody

Ask for appointed counsel at the first court appearance.
Do not discuss confidential case facts on ordinary recorded jail calls.
Have employment and income information available.
Follow the court’s eligibility process.

Person already released

Contact the First Judicial District Public Defender.
Have the court case number available.
Prepare income and financial information.
Confirm that representation has actually been assigned.

First Judicial District Public Defender – Hastings
919 Vermillion Street, Suite 200
Hastings, MN 55033
Phone: 651-480-0122

Apple Valley Public Defender Satellite Office
7300 West 147th Street, Suite 212
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Phone: 651-352-2510

Dakota County’s surrender guidance specifically recommends bringing income verification such as a recent pay stub or W-2 when you expect to apply for a public defender.

Find Minnesota Public Defender offices

Victim and witness help

Get case support, restitution help and custody notifications

Case information

Victim-witness staff can explain criminal procedures, rights and case developments.

Prosecutor liaison

Staff can help victims communicate with the prosecuting team.

Court preparation

Support can include trial preparation and help understanding court appearances.

Impact statements

Advocates can explain the victim-impact process.

Restitution

Victims can receive help understanding and pursuing eligible restitution.

Community resources

Staff can connect victims with additional support services.

Dakota County Attorney Victim-Witness Program
Victim-Witness Supervisor: 651-438-4471
Restitution help: 651-438-4470
Email: attorney@co.dakota.mn.us

Minnesota VINE custody notifications

Register after confirming the correct person Use Minnesota VINE to receive available county-jail status notifications.

Choose the notification method The service can provide information about changes such as release, transfer or escape.

Do not rely on notification as a substitute for a safety plan Contact law enforcement in an emergency. Open VINElink

Minnesota VINE: 1-877-664-8463

Open Dakota County Victim-Witness Support

Jail accessibility

Communication access for deaf and hard-of-hearing inmates

Dakota County Jail states that communication accommodations are provided without charge.

Qualified interpreters

Note-taking assistance

Hearing-aid-compatible telephones

Closed-caption television access

TTY services

Text-only cellular devices when provided under the program

Video relay communication

On-demand interpreting

Accessibility coordination: 651-438-4834

Minnesota statewide criminal history

Use the BCA when Dakota County alone is not enough

A Dakota County jail result and a Minnesota BCA criminal history answer different questions. The jail search is live county custody; BCA maintains statewide Minnesota criminal-history information.

Public Minnesota criminal-history search

Use Minnesota Public Criminal History for public records.
Search carefully using accurate identity information.
A name-only match can belong to another person.
Read the disposition rather than stopping at an arrest line.

Open Minnesota Public Criminal History

Your own criminal history

A personal-use request follows the BCA data-request process.
Employment, housing, licensing, name-change and travel uses follow the background-check procedure.
Forms sent for use by others may require notarization.
Requests can be made by mail or in person.

Open BCA public background-check instructions

Current BCA fees

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension background-check fees
Request	Current fee	Important note
Minnesota-only self check	$8	For the subject’s Minnesota-only record.
Minnesota-only general/statutory check	$15	The correct authority and request type must be used.
Fingerprinting service	$10 per card	BCA fingerprinting is by appointment.
General FBI-authorized check	$32	FBI checks require statutory authority and fingerprints.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55106
Background-check questions: 651-793-2400, option 7
Main: 651-793-7000
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., excluding holidays

Identity problem? If another person appears to have used your name in a criminal-justice interaction, BCA provides a questioned-identity process that uses fingerprints to help distinguish records.

Record correction

Fix an inaccurate Dakota County or Minnesota record

Identify exactly where the error appears Compare the jail result, police report, complaint, District Court record and BCA criminal history.

Save the incorrect record Record the date viewed, agency, case number and incorrect field.

Obtain the controlling proof Examples include the correct arrest report, certified dismissal, amended court order or identity documentation.

Correct the originating agency first A police-record error should begin with the police agency; a judicial-record error should begin with the court.

Request an updated BCA record when statewide data is affected Follow the BCA data-request or correction process.

Use fingerprints when mistaken identity is the issue Fingerprints are the strongest way to separate two people with similar identifying information.

Recheck connected systems A correction in one database may not instantly update every government or private database.

Correction is different from expungement. Correct a record when the information is factually wrong. Use expungement or sealing when the information is accurate but may qualify for restricted access.

Minnesota record relief

Expunge or seal an eligible Dakota County arrest record

Minnesota expungement generally concerns restricting access to criminal records; it does not mean every government record is physically erased. Eligibility depends on the case result, offense, sentence and applicable Minnesota law.

Arrest but no complaint filed

A different statutory process may apply when the person was arrested but never charged or the matter ended before a complaint was filed.

Court case exists

Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch criminal-expungement procedure when court records exist and the case qualifies.

Special no-charge / no-court-case situation

Minnesota Judicial Branch explains that when a person was arrested but never charged—or the matter was dismissed before a complaint was filed—there may be no court record to expunge. Minnesota Statutes section 299C.11 may provide a route to ask law-enforcement agencies and BCA to destroy identifying parts of the arrest record, except DNA information, and seal the arrest record when statutory requirements are met.

Obtain the complete case history Gather the arrest report number, complaint, case number and disposition.

Confirm whether a court case exists Search MCRO and Dakota County records before choosing a form.

Check the no-charge pathway when appropriate If no complaint was filed, review the Minnesota Judicial Branch instructions for arrest-only records.

For a court case, review EXP101 EXP101 explains the statewide criminal-expungement process and eligibility considerations.

Prepare EXP102 when the petition route applies EXP102 is the Notice of Hearing and Petition for Expungement.

Use the required victim and service forms Depending on the case, the packet includes EXP103 and EXP104 for notice and proof of service.

Identify every agency holding the record This can include the arresting police department, Dakota County Sheriff, prosecutor, District Court and BCA.

File in the proper Minnesota District Court Follow the current Dakota County filing and service requirements.

Request a fee waiver when eligible Do not abandon a potentially eligible case solely because of a filing charge.

Attend a hearing when the court schedules one Bring case dispositions and documentation supporting the petition.

Keep the signed order Save certified copies for future correction of court, law-enforcement or background-report records.

Recheck public systems after processing Court, BCA and other systems may update on different schedules.

Download current Minnesota expungement forms Check the case before filing

Local contacts

Dakota County jail, court, defender and victim contacts

Dakota County Sheriff’s Office

Law Enforcement Center
1580 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033

651-438-4700

sheriff@co.dakota.mn.us

Dakota County Jail Information

1580 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033

651-438-4800

Dakota County District Court

Judicial Center
1560 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033

Main: 651-377-7180

Criminal/Traffic: 651-377-7188

Northern Service Center Court

1 Mendota Road West, Suite 140
West St. Paul, MN 55118

651-377-7190

Western Service Center Court

14955 Galaxie Avenue West
Apple Valley, MN 55124

952-247-7099

First District Public Defender

919 Vermillion Street, Suite 200
Hastings, MN 55033

651-480-0122

Victim-Witness Program

651-438-4471

attorney@co.dakota.mn.us

Minnesota BCA

1430 Maryland Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55106

Background checks: 651-793-2400, option 7

Dakota County Law Enforcement Center map

Before traveling: verify current custody, the correct court building, office hours, visitor rules and whether the service requires an appointment.

Fast task board

What to do next in common Dakota County situations

One practical next action for each common problem
Your situation	First action	Then do this
Arrest happened today	Search current jail custody.	Allow intake time and call Jail Information if necessary.
Person was arrested last month but is no longer jailed	Search the Criminal Complaint tool.	Use the case number in MCRO.
Arrest occurred more than one year ago	Search MCRO or BCA.	Request the original agency report if needed.
Pending criminal case is missing from name search	Find the case or citation number.	Search MCRO using the number.
Need proof that a charge was dismissed	Locate the case in MCRO.	Order a certified dismissal/disposition if required.
Possible active warrant	Search Dakota County Warrants.	Confirm with Sheriff, court or counsel.
Someone calls demanding bail	Do not send money.	Independently verify through the county and call 911 for the Sheriff-impersonation scam described by Dakota County.
Need your statewide Minnesota history	Use BCA procedures.	Verify each arrest against its court disposition.
Record belongs to someone else with the same name	Stop relying on name-only matches.	Use BCA questioned-identity/fingerprint procedures.
Eligible old arrest is affecting background checks	Collect the disposition and full case history.	Review Minnesota expungement or arrest-only relief.

Dakota County arrest-record FAQs

Frequently searched Dakota County MN arrest-record questions

How do I search Dakota County MN arrest records?

Start with the official Dakota County Jail Inmate Search when the person may currently be held. If the person was already released, move to the county criminal-complaint search, Minnesota Court Records Online, the arresting agency or Minnesota BCA.

Does the Dakota County inmate search show past arrests?

No. Dakota County states that the search displays only people currently in custody. A released person’s prior arrest may still exist in police, complaint, court or BCA records.

How do I find a Dakota County criminal complaint?

Use Dakota County’s Criminal Complaint Search. Search the name and posting-date range. The county tool makes complaints available for 12 months.

Why can’t I find a pending Dakota County criminal case by name in MCRO?

MCRO restricts defendant-name searching for pending criminal cases before conviction. Use a case number, citation number or other permitted search identifier.

How do I find the final outcome of a Dakota County arrest?

Use the Dakota County District Court case in MCRO and review the Register of Actions, available documents and final disposition for every count.

How do I search Dakota County warrants?

Use the official Sheriff’s Warrant Search and match the name and date of birth when available. Confirm current status rather than acting solely on an online result.

How do I get a certified Dakota County criminal court record?

Request it from Dakota County District Court. The Minnesota Judicial Branch currently lists a $14 fee for a certified copy of an instrument from a criminal or civil proceeding.

How do I obtain my Minnesota criminal history?

Use Minnesota BCA. A Minnesota-only self background check currently costs $8, while other purposes and FBI-authorized checks use different procedures and fees.

How do I correct an inaccurate Dakota County or Minnesota arrest record?

Identify the agency that originated the incorrect information, obtain the controlling report or court order, correct the source record and then update BCA information when necessary.

Can a Dakota County MN arrest record be expunged or sealed?

Some records qualify for Minnesota expungement or statutory arrest-record relief. The correct process depends on whether a complaint was filed, how the case ended and the offense involved.

Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not Dakota County, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Attorney, Minnesota Judicial Branch, Public Defender or Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Jail custody, warrants, bail, court dates, release status and public records can change. Verify multiple identity details and obtain the current official record before making a legal, employment, housing, financial, safety or publication decision.

A booking, arrest, warrant or criminal complaint is not proof of guilt. This guide provides general procedural information and is not legal advice.

Official Dakota County, Minnesota Judicial Branch and Minnesota BCA procedures reviewed August 17, 2026.