Dakota County Booking Releases and Inmate Search
Dakota County booking releases are searchable in real time through the official Jail Inmate Search tool on the county website. The Dakota County Jail books approximately 9,000 people per year and has a maximum capacity of 270. You can search by last name, first name, or date range, or click "View All" to see everyone currently in custody. Results include booking numbers, names, ages, booking dates, locations, charges, bail amounts, photos, and court information.
Dakota County Overview
Dakota County Sheriff's Office
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is at 1580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. The sheriff's main phone is (651) 437-4700. The jail is at the same location and can be reached at (651) 438-4800. Dakota County is one of the most populous counties in Minnesota, covering the southern Twin Cities suburbs.
| Address | 1580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Phone | (651) 437-4700 |
| Jail Phone | (651) 438-4800 |
| District Court | 651-377-7188 |
| Jail Capacity | 270 maximum, ~183 average daily population |
| Annual Bookings | Approximately 9,000 per year |
For court date information, call Dakota County District Court at 651-377-7188. For all jail and inmate questions, call the jail directly at (651) 438-4800. The sheriff's main line at (651) 437-4700 handles general law enforcement inquiries.
How to Search Dakota County Booking Releases
The Dakota County Jail Inmate Search is at co.dakota.mn.us/LawJustice/Jail/InmateSearch. The tool shows only people currently in custody. You can search by last name and first name, set a date range for bookings, or click "View All" to see the full current inmate list. The search runs in real time and reflects the most current custody data available.
The Dakota County Jail Inmate Search is a real-time tool that shows everyone currently in custody. Search by name, set a date range, or view the full list at once.
Each record includes the booking number, full name, sex, age, booking date, location and time of arrest, all charges, bail amount, a photo, and court information. This is one of the most detailed public booking tools among Minnesota counties and reflects the volume of bookings this large county processes each year.
Note: The Inmate Search shows only people currently in custody. People who have been released will not appear. The tool may be temporarily unavailable at certain times for system maintenance. If you cannot access the search, call the jail at (651) 438-4800.
Dakota County Detention Services
The Dakota County Jail serves as the primary intake point for all law enforcement agencies in Dakota County. Every person arrested in the county is brought to this facility for processing. The jail houses adult males and females who are either awaiting trial (pre-trial) or have been convicted and sentenced to up to one year. People sentenced to longer terms go to a state facility, not the county jail.
The average daily population is approximately 183 people, well below the maximum capacity of 270. The jail books close to 9,000 people per year, which averages out to about 24 new bookings every day. Not all of those people remain in custody for long. Many are released on bail or their own recognizance shortly after booking.
For custody status change notifications, the VINE system covers Dakota County. You can sign up for free alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or has a change in custody status. Call 1-877-664-8463 to use VINE by phone.
Legal Basis for Dakota County Booking Records
Minnesota Statute 13.82 classifies all arrest and booking data as public. This means the name, booking date, charges, and arresting agency are open records for any person to access. No reason is required and no formal request is necessary to view the inmate search results.
Minnesota Statute 13.85 extends that public data requirement to correctional facility records, including the inmate roster. Minnesota Statute 641.05 places the formal duty on the sheriff to maintain records of all bookings and releases. Dakota County meets these requirements through its real-time online Inmate Search tool, which is updated continuously as people are booked and released.
Visitation and Inmate Communication
For visitation hours, scheduling, and rules at the Dakota County Jail, call (651) 438-4800. Visitors must have valid government-issued photo ID. The jail enforces a standard dress code and has rules about who can visit and what they can bring. Check with the jail for the current schedule before planning a visit.
For questions about inmate phone services, commissary, and mail, contact the jail directly. Mail for inmates should be addressed to the inmate's full legal name and booking number, sent to the Dakota County Jail at 1580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. All incoming mail is subject to inspection.
State Resources for Dakota County Records
For court case records tied to a Dakota County booking, use the free Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) tool. MCRO covers all 87 counties and shows case filings, charges, hearing dates, and case status. Dakota County cases appear in the 1st Judicial District. To ask about specific court dates for a Dakota County case, call District Court at 651-377-7188.
The BCA Criminal History database provides statewide conviction data for $8 per search. This is useful for background information beyond what the current inmate search shows. The VINE system at 1-877-664-8463 provides free custody status alerts for anyone registered for the service.
Cities in Dakota County
Several qualifying cities in Dakota County have dedicated pages on this site. These cities all have populations over 100,000 and are served by the Dakota County Jail in Hastings for booking and detention purposes.
Nearby Counties
Dakota County borders several other Minnesota counties, each with their own booking release records.