Dakota County, Minnesota Inmate Search

The public can use an inmate search to confirm an individual’s jail custody status. The search provides comprehensive information on current detainees, the reason for their detention, and their status within the criminal justice system. The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office typically oversees local detention records, while the Minnesota Department of Corrections manages state facilities for those sentenced for felonies. Individuals charged with federal offenses are detained in regional facilities operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Eagan and Lakeville are the most populous cities in the county, each served by its respective police department. While these departments handle initial arrests and maintain temporary holding centers, they generally do not run independent long-term jails. Instead, arrested individuals are typically transferred to Dakota County Jail in Hastings, where the Sheriff’s Office maintains custody until they are released.

How to Find an Inmate in Dakota County Jail

In Dakota County, individuals can access inmate information via the Dakota County Jail Inmate Search portal, maintained by the Sheriff’s Office. Alternatively, they can call the jail’s line at (651) 438-4800 for the information.

Dakota County Jail (Adult Detention)

1580 Highway 55

Hastings, MN 55033

Dakota County Sheriff’s Office

1580 Highway 55

Hastings, MN 55033

How to Use the Dakota County Jail Roster

The Dakota County inmate/jail roster can be accessed online as follows:

• On the Dakota County government’s official website, select "Law & Justice" from the top menu, then "Jail."
• On the next page, select "Jail Inmate Search" from the left-hand menu. This action opens the Jail Inmate Search application, or jail roster.
• Enter the defendant’s "Last Name" and "First Name" for more precise results. Users can also fill in a date posted range or court date field, if known.
• Click "Search." The system will show a list of names and booking numbers for all matches.
• Select the inmate’s name to see their jail details

Search results are limited to individuals currently in Dakota County jail custody, while released individuals are removed from the active roster.

What Information is Included in the Dakota County Inmate Roster

Typical information found after a Dakota County inmate roster search includes

• Person Data: This includes
  • Full legal name of the arrested person
  • Mugshot (front and side)
  • Booking number: A unique identifier assigned to a person upon confinement in the jail
  • Booking date and time
  • Arrest date and time
  • Arresting agency
  • Arrest city
  • Reason held: The official reason for the individual’s detention
  • Inmate location: Where the individual is being held. This is typically the Dakota County Jail
  • Anticipated release date: This field applies only to sentenced individuals. For a detainee, the field will be blank.

• Bail Information:
  • Type of bail
  • Court case number: The unique number assigned by the court for the associated legal proceeding
  • Amount of bail
  • Paid: Whether the bail amount has been settled by the defendant
  • Comments: Added notes about the bail or its status

• Charge Description: This section outlines details about each charge the defendant was arrested on. It includes the charge level (e.g., GM for General Misdemeanor), charge description, offense statute, charge disposition, and charge disposition date, as well as court information, such as
  • Presiding court
  • Next court date and time
  • Reason for court appearance
  • Court disposition (e.g., Awaiting - Probation Violation (Pro Viol) Hearing)

Through the inmate portal, individuals can also subscribe via the portal to receive notifications upon an inmate’s release.

Note that while inmate information can be publicly accessed, sensitive data-such as financial records, psychological assessments, medical information, and personal details-is restricted to inmates and authorized personnel, in accordance with Minnesota Statute § 13.85.

Furthermore, information that could jeopardize security or safety, including transport schedules and the identities of confidential informants, is not accessible to inmates or the general public.

Contact Details for Dakota County Jail or Sheriff’s Office

Family, legal representatives, and the public can obtain inmate information by contacting the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.

Dakota County Sheriff’s Office

1580 Highway 55

Hastings, MN 55033

Phone: (651) 438-4700

Email: sheriff@co.dakota.mn.us

Dakota County Jail (Adult Detention)

1580 Highway 55

Hastings, MN 55033

Phone: (651) 438-4800

Fax: (651) 438-4709

James Smith

Jail Facility Overview in Dakota County

The Dakota County correctional system features two primary facilities for housing individuals based on age, legal status, and security needs.

The Dakota County Jail, located in Hastings, is the county’s main detention center for adult males and females. It serves as the intake facility for all arrests by local law enforcement. This mid-security jail houses pre-trial detainees and inmates serving sentences of up to 1 year. Housing pod officers provide direct supervision and monitor behavior, enabling quick conflict resolution. This facility has a 270-bed capacity, following an expansion that includes the Integrated Health Unit (IHU) with 26 beds for inmates with serious health issues like substance use disorders and chronic physical conditions.

The Juvenile Services Center, on the other hand, provides secure detention and residential treatment for court-ordered juvenile offenders, both male and female, who either require treatment or pose a risk to community safety. The JSC has a capacity of 40 beds that accommodates youths aged 10 to 21. This facility is utilized by Dakota County, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (for specialized juvenile placement), and neighbouring counties. The JSC prioritizes education and rehabilitation by mandating daily school attendance and providing access to therapeutic services, mental health therapy, and substance abuse treatment.

Agency	Office and Mail Address	Phone Number	Office Hours	Email
Dakota County Jail	1580 Highway 55 Hastings, MN 55033	(651) 438-4800	8.00 a.m to 4:30 p.m Monday to Friday	sheriff@co.dakota.mn.us
Juvenile Services Center	1600 Highway 55 Hastings, MN 55033	(651) 438-8399	8.00 a.m to 4:30 p.m Monday to Friday	dccc@co.dakota.mn.us

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Dakota County Jail

Friends/family members can deposit funds into an inmate’s commissary account, enabling the purchase of items such as snacks, writing supplies, and personal hygiene products. Acceptable deposit methods include

• Online Deposit: Money can be sent to an inmate online via an authorized third-party vendor. Users may create an account and make credit card deposits directly into an inmate’s account.
• Money Order: Money orders can be mailed to an inmate, provided the mail is marked with the inmate’s full name and booking number. Personal cash and checks are not allowed and will be returned to the sender.
• Lobby Kiosk: A physical kiosk for cash and credit card deposits is available at the lobby of the Dakota County Law Enforcement Center in Hastings, allowing credit/cash deposit 24 hours a day.

There are surcharges and administrative fees for managing inmate accounts. Typically, a booking fee of $25 is deducted from the inmate’s first deposit or cash on hand during booking.

Inmates are subject to a weekly spending limit for canteen items, and funds transfers among inmates are not allowed; that is, funding must originate from an external source.

For more details on how to send money to an inmate, interested persons may visit the Dakota County Sending Mail and Money page.

Inmate Search by Jail Facility

The DakotaCounty detention system requires a tailored search method for each facility. The adult jail and the Juvenile Services Center serve different population age ranges and maintain independent rosters.

Dakota County jail searches for adult inmates are conducted using the Sheriff’s Jail Inmate Search tool. However, for security reasons, there is no public roster for the Juvenile Services Center. Inquiries about a juvenile in custody must be made by a legal guardian or parent directly to the JSC staff.

Adults participating in the Work Release program or those serving "sentence to service" terms may not always appear on the main jail roster if they are currently out in the community on an authorized pass. For information on these individuals, one can contact the Work Release unit directly at the Law Enforcement Center, Hastings.

Facility	Inmate Roster Type	Search Method
Juvenile Services Center	Private	Phone: (651) 438-4970
Dakota County Jail	Online/Public	Sheriff’s Jail Inmate Search tool
State Prison (Minnesota DOC)	Online/Public	Department of Corrections (DOC) Offender Locator
Federal Prison (BOP)	Online/Public	BOP Inmate Locator

Dakota County Visitation Rules and Schedules

Dakota County enforces strict jail visitation rules and schedules for inmates’ visits, which are primarily facilitated through an on-site video kiosk system. Prospective visitors are required to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Dress Code: Visitors must dress modestly; revealing clothing is prohibited.

• Identification and Age: Visitors must be at least 18 years old. Minors are only allowed if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. All adult visitors must provide a valid government-issued photo ID.

• Visit Duration: Visits are limited to 20 minutes during designated visiting hours.

• Prohibited Items: Visitors cannot bring cell phones, weapons, firearms, alcoholic beverages, or food into the jail visiting area.

General Visiting Schedules

The standard visiting hours are

• Morning schedule: 7:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m
• Afternoon schedule: 3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• Evening schedule: 7:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

In contrast, the Juvenile Services Center operates under a different visitation schedule based on the youth housing pod/unit. JSC generally permits greater levels of interaction but restricts it to legal guardians, parents, and designated professional visitors.

Mailing and Commissary Information

Individuals can deposit funds and send mail to inmates in the Dakota County jail with ease by complying with specific rules and jail format guidelines, which include

• All mail must be sent via the United States Postal Service (USPS).
• Envelopes must be standard-sized and free of unauthorized contents.
• Mail addressed to an inmate should be properly formatted, i.e.,

Dakota County Law Enforcement Center

P.O. Box 247J

Hastings, MN 55033

The facility employs a strict screening procedure for all incoming mail. Prohibited items may be returned to the sender or stored as part of the inmate’s personal property until their release. Some permitted/prohibited items include

• Prohibited: Perfumed/scented mail, stamps, glitter, blank paper, stickers, and photos containing gang-related or sexual content.
• Permitted: Money orders, greeting cards, standard photographs (up to 10 with no polaroids), and letters.
• Periodicals/Books: These are usually not accepted when sent by individuals. Only items shipped from recognized vendors/publishers, such as Barnes & Noble or Amazon, are allowed. Book items must have softcover only.

Friends/family can deposit money into an inmate’s commissary account through the jail’s private vendor, as explained in the "How to Send Money to an Inmate in Dakota County Jail" section.