Dakota County Arrest Records

In Dakota County, arrests are legal rights that deprive individuals of their freedom. Arrests become necessary when an individual is suspected of committing a crime. Law enforcement agencies have the legal right to arrest those in this category. Furthermore, they may temporarily hold offenders in the Dakota County Jail.

Law enforcement agencies keep records of all arrested persons in the county. For example, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office maintains a searchable database for inmates in the county jail. You can also find arrest information alongside related court and criminal records. Dakota County Court Records on criminal or civil cases may contain arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Dakota County?

Minnesota Government Data Practices classifies arrest records as public documents. This means public members can request and obtain the records from designated custodial bodies. Furthermore, state laws require custodian agencies to release the records to public members. Nevertheless, the law also exempts certain arrest information from public view. Generally, exempt arrest records may contain information that, when disclosed, will violate the record subject’s safety.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records are formal documents that may include the following details:

• Name of the charge and offense
• The arrested person’s name and physical identifying data

Note: Confidential arrest records may include additional information, such as the arresting officer’s name and the arrest event description.

Dakota County Crime Rate

Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension records all reported crimes in Dakota County. Per the report, Dakota County recorded 40 crimes per 1,000 residents in 2023. Note that the report covers both violent and property-type crimes. The FBI Crime Data Explorer is also a resource for accessing crime statistics. According to the report, larceny thefts made up 37 percent of all reported crimes in Dakota County. Furthermore, aggravated assaults were the second-most recurring crime, at 33%.

Dakota County Arrest Statistics

Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety collates arrest statistics for the state counties. Per the report, Dakota County recorded 9,101 arrests in 2018. While there is no county-specific incarceration information, the state correctional facilities housed a total of 8,152 inmates in 2023.

Find Dakota County Arrest Records

Dakota County arrest records may exist as inmate information. You can find inmate data through custodian agencies at the local, state, or federal level. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and Minnesota’s Department of Corrections maintain inmate records at the federal and state levels, respectively.

To obtain inmate records via the BOP, record seekers must visit the site and search either by inmate number or name. That said, the online platform keeps Galveston County inmate records from 1982 until the present.

In contrast, the MDOC maintains separate databases based on the inmate’s circumstances. For example, the inmate locator contains data on currently incarcerated inmates. In contrast, the wanted fugitive search is for searching wanted offenders. To find arrest information on these platforms, you must provide the inmate’s name or MNDOC ID number.

Dakota County’s Jail Search portal is also an online repository for searching arrest records. To view arrest information, interested parties must provide the following details:

• The offender’s first and last name
• The jail posting date
• Court date.

Alternatively, you can access arrest records at the county sheriff's office. The county sheriff may keep arrest records as incident or police reports. To obtain the records, visit the county sheriff at:

1580 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
Email: Sheriff@co.dakota.mn.us
Phone: (651) 438-4700

Free Arrest Record Search in Dakota County

In Dakota County, interested parties can access arrest records via these free resources:

• The Dakota County Jail Search
• Minnesota’s Department of Corrections
• Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
• Dakota County Sheriff’s Office

Third-party search sites are also options for accessing Dakota County arrest records. Nevertheless, these sites are not substitutes for official resources. Some third-party search sites are unregulated and may contain incomplete or inaccurate arrest information.

Get Dakota County Criminal Records

Dakota County criminal records generally contain information on the following:

• Criminal charges
• Conviction date
• The court that handled the case
• Sentencing information

Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is the custodian agency for all criminal records created in Dakota County. The agency provides online and offline access to these records. To access Dakota County criminal records online, record seekers must visit the BCA website and fill out these search details:

• The offender’s first and last name
• Birth date.

To access criminal records offline, record seekers must send a mail or in-person request to the BCA. Note that the agency will only issue criminal records to the record subject or authorized third-party requesters. Third-party requestors must receive an authorization form from the record subject.

That said, you must follow these steps to obtain criminal records from the BCA:

1. Create a request form that contains the record subject’s name, the crime description, and other required data.
2. Include a $15 money order or check payable to the BCA.
3. Attach a notarized consent form (this applies to third-party requesters)
4. Send these documents and fees to the BCA in a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55106

Dakota County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Dakota County arrest records differ from criminal records in terms of content, record custodian, and implication. For instance, an arrest record does not indicate whether the subject is guilty of the offense. However, a criminal record means the court has tried and convicted the offender.

Arrest records only contain data generated by law enforcement agencies. In contrast, criminal records are a compilation of court- and law enforcement-generated content.

Arrest records contain the record subject's basic information, mugshot, criminal charges, arresting agency, and arrest date and location. However, Dakota County’s criminal records may contain court-related data like sentencing, case numbers, and attorney names.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records will indefinitely stay on your records. However, you can remove arrest information by expunging or sealing your criminal record.

Expunge Dakota County Arrest Records

In Dakota County, you can expunge arrest records based on the arrest details. Per Minnesota Statutes, Section 299C.11, you can seek expungement if the criminal charge did not lead to a conviction. To expunge arrest records, you must send a written request to law enforcement agencies that hold copies of the record. An alternative option is to send an application to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. The agency maintains a Statewide Expungement Program that handles all expungement requests.

Note: There is a different procedure for expunging arrest records filed with the court. In such situations, you must send an expungement petition to the district court that handled the case.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Dakota County?

In Dakota County, you are eligible to expunge arrest records under these conditions:

• You were not convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in the last ten years after the arrest
• Criminal charges were dismissed before they were filed with the courts
• The prosecutor refused to file charges for the offense.

However, you don't qualify for arrest record expungement under these conditions:

• You successfully completed a diversion program
• You completed a sentence.
• The record is already sealed under expungement law (Minn. Stat. 152.18)

How can I expunge arrest records in Dakota County?

Eligible persons can expunge arrest records by sending an expungement letter to all law enforcement agencies holding the record. So, fill out the following expungement letter and send them via mail to the corresponding agency.

• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to BCA
• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to City Attorney's Office
• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to County Attorney's Office
• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to County Department of Corrections
• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to the Police Department
• Minn. Stat. Section § 299C.11 Letter to County Sheriff's Office

Send the letters via mail and include “Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested”. The agencies’ addresses are included in the forms.

Note: You must follow a different procedure when expunging criminal records in Dakota County. The record subject must fill out a criminal expungement and file it with the county courts. You only pay a filing fee if the court ruling is not in your favor.

What types of arrest records are not eligible for expungement in Dakota County?

You can’t expunge an arrest record if the offense requires registering under the Predator Offender Registration Act. Offenses under this act include sex-related crimes.

Dakota County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are directives that authorize the apprehension or arrest of suspected individuals. Court judges are responsible for issuing these directives upon receiving a request from law enforcement agencies. The judge may also issue arrest warrants to enforce a court order. Note that arrest warrants become necessary in these situations:

• The offender is a flight risk
• The offender is on the run or resides outside the county
• The offender failed to follow a court order
• The offender violated probation or pre-trial conditions

Per Rule 3.02 of Minnesota Revised Status, arrest warrants must contain the following information:

• The defendant's name, aliases, and other physical-identifying features
• Description of the offense
• Bail amount and release conditions.

Dakota County Arrest Warrant Search

Dakota County maintains a searchable portal for all outstanding or active warrants issued by the district court. To view arrest warrants on the portal, you must fill out the offender's full name and birth date.

Do Dakota County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Dakota County, arrest warrants do not expire. Note that arrest warrants remain valid even after the statute of limitation for the crime has expired. The statute of limitation will only take effect when the arrest warrant has served its purpose.