Search Dakota Court Records

DakotaCountyCourt.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports.
All searches conducted on DakotaCountyCourt.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

  1. Dakota County Court
  2. Dakota County Arrest Records

Dakota County, Minnesota Arrest Records

Arrest records are official documents that detail the apprehension and detention by law enforcement agencies. In Dakota County, the Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments create these documents when they detain and book individuals for allegedly violating local, state, or federal laws. 

Arrests do not confirm guilt for criminal acts; they serve as part of broader public records. Section 15.17 of the Minnesota Statutes mandates all local and state agencies (including law enforcement) to create records of their activities, while Minnesota Statutes 363A.42 establishes public access to these documents to ensure transparency and accountability of the government.  Dakota County arrest records ensure citizen oversight of the county's law enforcement agencies and prevent misuse of police powers. 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Dakota, Minnesota?

Yes, arrest records are public in Dakota County, but there are restrictions on public access to certain records. Chapter 13, Section 13.82 of the Minnesota Statutes grants individuals the right to access Dakota County arrest records.  Minnesota permits access to basic information about arrests to support public oversight and transparency without disclosing sensitive investigative details. Hence, interested parties can access information, such as:

  • The arrestee’s name
  • Date, time, and location of the arrest
  • Booking information
  • The offense or charges listed at arrest (general descriptions, not detailed narratives)
  • The law enforcement agency involved
  • Custody status.

Notwithstanding, Minnesota law also clearly protects certain categories of arrest and criminal justice data. These include:

  • Privacy-protected information, such as Social Security Numbers and medical, mental health, or treatment information
  • Investigative & intelligence data, including:
    • Police reports and narratives
    • Evidence descriptions
    • Informant identities
    • Surveillance materials
    • Internal law enforcement notes 
  • Juvenile arrest records
  • Sealed or expunged arrest records. 

Dakota County Arrest Search

In Dakota County, the pathway to accessing arrest records depends on the agencies responsible for the arrests. While information about local law enforcement agency arrests is accessible using county search tools, access to state and federal arrests is through state-level and federal-level searches.

State-level access to Dakota County arrest records 

Minnesota does not offer a single lookup portal for arrest records. Information about Dakota County's arrests that result in state prosecutions may be accessible as part of criminal history records through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The BCA provides access to conviction data, including:

  • Adult criminal history information, such as arrest, charges, and disposition details 
  • Fingerprint-based records tied to arrests
  • Conviction and non-conviction data (with restrictions).

However, public access to Dakota County arrest records through criminal history reports requires the subject’s consent or statutory authorization. 

Minnesota also provides access to arrest records as part of statewide court records. To access Dakota County arrest records as part of Minnesota criminal court records, log in to the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal. Dakota County arrests may appear as part of the county's:

  • Case filings linked to arrests
  • Charge descriptions
  • Court dates and case status
  • Case outcomes (dismissed, pending, convicted)

Federal-level access to Dakota County arrest records 

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator provides access to information about individuals under federal detention. This includes Dakota County arrestees:

  • Convicted of federal crimes
  • In custody at federal prisons
  • Recently released from federal penitentiaries.

Additionally, records seekers can access information about Dakota County arrestees prosecuted under federal criminal laws through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). Interested parties may also access Dakota County's federal criminal case-related arrest records through the  U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota Clerk of Court’s Office at the following addresses:

U.S. District Court – District of Minnesota

Clerk of Court’s Office

Warren E. Burger Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse,

316 North Robert Street,

St. Paul, 

MN 55101

U.S. District Court – District of Minnesota

Clerk of Court’s Office

U.S. Courthouse

300 South Fourth Street,

Minneapolis, 

MN 55415.

Dakota County Inmate Locator

Inmate locators are search tools that provide information about individuals in law enforcement custody. Unlike state and federal inmate locators, the Dakota County Jail Inmate Search Portal provides information about individuals in custody at the local level. Users can access custody-related information, such as:

  • Inmate identification detail
  • Arrest and booking information
  • Charge information
  • Custody and release status
  • Bail and bond details
  • Court-related information.

To access inmate details through the Dakota County Jail Inmate Search:

  • Visit the Dakota County website and locate and click the Jail Inmate Search link
  • Enter the inmate's name into the name field
  • Enter the appropriate dates and click Search to submit the request.

Active Warrant Search in Dakota County

Arrest warrants are official documents issued by the courts, authorizing law enforcement agencies to take named persons into custody. In Dakota County, District Court judges or judicial officers issue these warrants when the County Attorney’s Office or law enforcement agencies provide evidence of an arrestable offense.

The Dakota County District Court also issues warrants for:

  • New criminal charges filed by a prosecutor
  • Failure to appear in court
  • Violations of probation or release conditions
  • Unpaid fines or contempt of court.

Once judicial officers issue a warrant, the order becomes enforceable. The Dakota County Sheriff's Office then enters the information into state and national law enforcement databases. Furthermore, the Sheriff's Office coordinates with other agencies to execute the warrant, updates the warrant's status upon service, and manages records if the court recalls the warrant or the parties resolve the underlying case.

Dakota County does not maintain a searchable online database for warrant information. However, interested parties can request access to active warrant information through the county's Sheriff's Office. Dakota County arrest warrants may also appear as part of Dakota County criminal cases records, or information seekers can inquire about warrant status through the Dakota County Clerk of Court at:

1560 Highway 55,

Hastings, 

MN 55033

Phone: (651) 438-8100.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Dakota County

There are several options for accessing Dakota County arrest records at no cost. However, these tools are for public transparency, rather than comprehensive access to arrest details. Dakota County's arrest records are accessible for free as part of inmate records through the Dakota County Jail Inmate Search Portal. Interested parties can also access Dakota County's arrest records as part of the county's criminal case prosecutions through the Minnesota Court Records Online or Public Access Terminals at the Dakota County District Courthouse.

Information seekers can also inquire about Dakota County arrest records for free through the Dakota County Sheriff's Office at:

1580 Highway 55,

Hastings, 

MN 55033

Phone: (651) 438-4700.

While there are ways to access Dakota County arrest records for free:

  • Older arrests may not be available online
  • Redactions are common for privacy and safety
  • Turnaround times apply for staff-assisted searches
  • Identity verification may be required, even for free inquiries
  • Free tools focus on viewing, not document delivery.

Dakota County Arrest Report

When navigating the criminal justice system in Dakota County, it is essential to distinguish between the various criminal case-related records. While individuals often use the terms "arrest records” and “arrest reports” interchangeably, they serve different purposes and have distinct levels of accessibility.

Dakota County Arrest Records 

Dakota County arrest records are administrative entries created by the Dakota County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies when they make arrests and detain individuals. These documents appear in jail systems and court case databases and contain information, such as:

  • Full name and basic identifiers
  • Date and time of arrest or booking
  • Arresting agency (police department or sheriff)
  • General charge description
  • Booking or case number
  • Custody status (in jail, released, transferred)
  • Bail or bond amount (if applicable).

Dakota County arrest records are designed for tracking and transparency, and are accessible through the Dakota County jail inmate search portal, the Minnesota Judicial Branch case lookup, and the Sheriff’s Office custody records. In Dakota County, arrest records are accessible online. However, online access does not include narratives or evidence. Furthermore, arrest information may disappear from public view after release or case closure.

Dakota County Arrest Reports 

Unlike arrest records, which are summary details, Dakota County's arrest reports are detailed written narratives prepared by arresting officers. These documents detail arrest events. A typical Dakota County arrest report includes:

  • Narrative description of events leading to the arrest
  • Observations made by officers
  • Statements from the arrested individual and witnesses
  • Timeline of the incident
  • References to evidence collected
  • Applicable statutes or probable cause statements.

Arrest reports are maintained by the law enforcement agencies responsible for the arrests. However, these documents are sometimes attached to prosecutorial case files. Dakota County arrest reports are investigative documents and are not usually available online. Access to Dakota County's arrest reports requires formal public record requests, and they may involve partial or full redaction.

Feature 

Dakota County Arrest Records 

Dakota County Arrest Reports 

Created By

Dakota County Jail or court system 

Arresting Officers 

Level of detail

Basic summary

Detailed narrative

Public availability

Often public 

Limited or restricted

Available online

Frequently 

Rarely 

Free to view

Usually 

Not always 

Includes officer narrative

No

Yes.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Dakota County

In Minnesota, expungement does not permanently erase a record. Rather, it seals or removes the record from most public databases so it does not appear on background checks by employers, landlords, or the general public. However, these records remain accessible to authorized agencies, such as courts, prosecutors, law enforcement, and immigration authorities.

Under the Minnesota Clean Slate Act, there is automatic sealing of:

  • Non-conviction arrest records
  • Arrest associated  with controlled substance possession violations that result in dismissal or discharge 
  • Arrest record where the court resolves the associated case or proceeding in favor of the defendant.

There are two options to remove Dakota County arrest information that does not qualify for automatic sealing. The owner of this record can contact the Dakota County Attorney's Office for information about expunging the specific arrest record or petition the  Dakota County District Court. To seal a Dakota County arrest record through the court:

  • Download and complete a Notice of Hearing and Petition for Expungement Form (EXP 102)
  • Submit the petition at the Dakota County District Court 
  • Pay all applicable filing fees, unless the court waives them for indigent status
  • Serve notice of the petition to the agencies that hold the arrest record. This includes:
    • The arresting law enforcement agency 
    • The Dakota County Attorney’s Office
    • Dakota County Sheriff
    • Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)
    • Any other entity that might have the record 
  • If the court sets a hearing date (typically at least 63 days after service), attend the hearing
  • If the court grants the petition, the judge will sign an order sealing the record. 

How Do You Remove Dakota County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Sealing a Dakota County arrest record does not guarantee its total disappearance from the internet, as third-party websites often continue to display these documents. Consequently, individuals must take additional measures beyond a court order to scrub this information from the web.

To remove arrest information from the internet, the owner of the record should follow these steps:

  • Secure a sealing order from the Dakota County District Court. This order blocks access through official government sources and provides the legal foundation for all subsequent removal requests.
  • Identify and catalog platforms that publish the record. The individual should list their URLs and website names, noting whether the sites are commercial mugshot databases, data brokers, local news blotters, or cached search engine results.
  • Submit direct removal requests to each website. Most administrators require proof of expungement, a government-issued ID, and the original case or booking number. While some sites remove records for free upon receiving a court order, others may attempt to charge a fee.
  • Request search engine de-indexing from platforms like Google and Bing if a specific website refuses to delete the content. Providing the URL and the sealing order to these search engines can prevent the record from appearing in public search results.
  • Leverage the Minnesota Consumer and Privacy Protection Act to challenge outdated or misleading criminal history publications.
  • Hire an attorney to send formal cease-and-desist or takedown letters if website owners remain uncooperative.

What Do Public Dakota County Arrest Records Contain?

Under Minnesota law, public access to arrest records is limited to basic information. Typically, a public-facing Dakota County arrest record contains the following categories of information:

  • Basic Identification Information
    • Full legal name of the owner of the arrest record 
    • Age or year of birth (often partial)
    • Gender (sometimes listed)
    • Booking or inmate identification number 
  • Arrest and booking details
    • Date and time of arrest or booking
    • Arresting agency (city police department, sheriff, or state patrol)
    • Location of detention (county jail or holding facility)
  • Charge information
    • Statute-based charge titles
    • Charge level (misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony)
    • Number of charges filed 
  • Custody and Release Status
    • In custody, released, transferred, or booked and released
    • Bail or bond amount (if applicable)
    • Type of bond (cash, surety, or conditional)
  • Court-related references
    • Case or citation number
    • Scheduled court date and location (when available)
    • Warrant indicator related to the case (if applicable).