How to Search the Dakota County Jail Roster
The official roster is the Dakota County Jail Inmate Search. The form asks for a last name (preferred), a first name, a from/to date posted range, and a court date. The page validates that at least one criterion is entered. The county warns that information should not be relied on for legal action, that the Sheriff's Office cannot represent the information is current, accurate, or complete, that persons may use false identification information, and that identity can only be confirmed by fingerprint comparison.
The search page also reminds users that court times shown in the roster are estimates. Several people may be scheduled for the same starting time, and times are subject to change. Specific court-time questions go to District Court at 651-377-7188. The roster covers current custody only; a no-result search does not prove the person has never been arrested. They may have been released, transferred to DOC, held federally, booked under a different name, or held in another county.
- Open the official Dakota County Jail Inmate Search page.
- Enter a last name. Add a first name to narrow if the last name is common.
- Optionally set a "From date posted" and a "To date posted" range.
- Optionally set a Court Date if looking for someone with a known hearing.
- Press the search button; the search returns current-custody records.
- If the page shows a service-unavailable message, call Jail Information at 651-438-4800.
- For released individuals, switch to the released inmates page for VINE, MN HAVEN, and DOC options.
The Dakota County jail inmate search form sits inside the county's Law & Justice section. The disclaimer text above the form is part of the official guidance and should be read before relying on any result.
Dakota County Jail Inmate Search Fields
The roster uses a small, focused field set. Each field works exactly as labeled, and date pickers are used for the date range and court date.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Name | Text | At least one criterion required | Current custody only. |
| First Name | Text | Optional | Current custody only. |
| From Date Posted | Date | Optional | Calendar selector. |
| To Date Posted | Date | Optional | Calendar selector. |
| Court Date | Date | Optional | Calendar selector. |
| Search criteria notice | Validation | Yes | "Please enter at least one search criteria." |
| Processing | Status | n/a | Indicator while the search runs. |
Sample Dakota County Inmate Record Fields
A public Dakota County jail roster result shows a small set of fields tied to current custody. Restricted fields such as medical, mental health, classification, security, and visitor data are not in the public result. The table below lists the field set drawn from the search labels, the page disclaimers, and the common custody-data categories supported by the county pages.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Name | Subject name as booked; the page warns false IDs are possible. |
| Custody Status | Current custody only; no released-inmate list on this search. |
| Date Posted / Booked | Booking or posting date; used by the date-range filter. |
| Court Date | Estimated court date; verify times with District Court at 651-377-7188. |
| Charges / Warrants / Case References | Likely shown when public; verify with a live result. |
| Identity Disclaimer | Identity can only be confirmed by fingerprint comparison. |
| Release Notification Link | Link out to VINE / Minnesota DPS notification. |
| Restricted Fields | Medical, mental health, classification, security, visitor, and other private correctional data not in the public result. |
Dakota County Jail and Sheriff Contact Information
The Dakota County Jail is tied to the Law Enforcement Center at 1580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. Jail Information is 651-438-4800. The Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Joe Leko, who has served since 2023, with a term that expires in 2026. The Sheriff's Office main phone is 651-438-4700 and the email is sheriff@co.dakota.mn.us. The official Sheriff page is at co.dakota.mn.us.
The Sheriff's Office page lists current leadership, contact information, the mission statement, and links to jail services. It is the right starting point for inmate, custody, or sheriff administration questions.
Dakota County Law Enforcement Center
1580 Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
Jail Info 651-438-4800
Sheriff 651-438-4700
Lobby kiosk open 24 hours
Dakota County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Joe Leko
1580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033
651-438-4700
sheriff@co.dakota.mn.us
Dakota County Jail Visitation Schedule
On-site jail video visiting at the Law Enforcement Center runs daily, seven days a week. Each visit is up to 20 minutes. Visitors must be at least 18 unless accompanied by an adult. Proper attire is required. ID may be requested. Visits may be monitored or recorded. Attorneys have unrestricted physical access to clients but may face delays for emergencies, lockdowns, or security concerns; attorneys using the public visiting kiosks must have an account verified by Turnkey/Inmate Canteen or the visit will be recorded.
| Visit Type | Schedule | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public on-site video visiting | Daily 7:30-9:45 a.m. | Up to 20 minutes | Inmate may be unavailable due to court, programs, or lockdown. |
| Public on-site video visiting | Daily 3-4:45 p.m. | Up to 20 minutes | Visits cannot start after end time. |
| Public on-site video visiting | Daily 7-9:45 p.m. | Up to 20 minutes | Segregation access may be limited. |
| Attorney physical access | Unrestricted physical access | n/a | Kiosk use requires verified attorney account. |
| Remote video / email messaging | Through Inmate Canteen / Turnkey | Provider rules | Online visiting and messaging from home. |
The jail visitation page at co.dakota.mn.us lists the rules in full, including ID acceptance, attire, and the bans on firearms, alcohol, narcotics, food, and beverages in the visiting area.
Sending Mail and Money to a Dakota County Inmate
Mail to a Dakota County inmate goes to the Law Enforcement Center P.O. box, not the building street address. Allowed mail items include letters, photos, greeting cards, and money orders. The county bans perfume-scented mail, lipstick marks, inappropriate or gang-related photos, decorated or musical cards, stamps and envelopes, blank paper, newspapers, books, magazines, personal bills, cash, personal or payroll checks, and business cards or brochures. Books, hygiene items, writing materials, uniforms, and shoes are provided in custody.
Money can be sent by mail money order, online deposit through Inmate Canteen with Turnkey Corrections support, or in-person deposit at the Law Enforcement Center kiosk. The lobby kiosk accepts cash or credit cards and is open 24 hours per day. Online account issues should be directed to Turnkey Corrections at iccsupport@tkc32m.com.
Mail address format:
(Inmate Name)
Dakota County Law Enforcement Center
P.O. Box 247J
Hastings, MN 55033
The jail mail and money page lists the full allowed and banned lists. It also covers deposit options and the 24-hour kiosk in the Law Enforcement Center lobby.
Dakota County Jail Inmate Property Rules
The county accepts only a narrow set of items for inmates: prescription medications, eyeglasses, and necessary medical equipment, each approved by medical staff. Prescription medications must be in clean, appropriately marked containers so doctor, pharmacy, and dosage information can be verified. Inmates may possess no more than 10 appropriate photographs, with no Polaroids. Letters, photos, and cards must arrive through USPS; the county does not accept hand-delivered notes, letters, cards, or photos.
Property left at the jail after release must be picked up by the inmate or an authorized designee within 90 days. Property confiscated at the time of arrest goes back to the arresting police department, not the jail. If a vehicle was impounded, the person should contact the arresting agency and the impound lot directly.
The inmate property page sets expectations for what can be dropped off, what stays with the inmate in custody, and what is forwarded to the arresting agency.
Dakota County Jail Fees
The county jail publishes a fee schedule that covers booking, jail booking reports, fingerprints, out-of-county boarding, pay-for-stay, and work-release charges. Fees are listed on the official jail fees page. The page also links the booking-fee refund form and the jail-fee waiver form for eligible cases.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Booking fee | $25 |
| Daily jail booking report, per month | $35 |
| Fingerprints | $20 |
| Out-of-county boarding straight time, per day | $120 |
| Pay for stay, per day | $25 |
| Work release fee, per day | $25 |
| Work release for out-of-county boarders, per day | $120 |
Release Notifications: VINE and MN HAVEN
Dakota County's victim notification page describes VINE as a free, 24-hour automated telephone service that provides notification of an offender's release, transfer, or escape from a county jail facility. Register by calling 1-877-MN-4-VINE (1-877-664-8463) or using VINELink. For Minnesota state prison custody, MN HAVEN is the free and anonymous custody-status and release notification tool; the county lists DOC Victim Assistance at 1-800-657-3830.
The Dakota County victim notification page also links HSI Victim Notification for certain immigration-related releases and Safe at Home for address confidentiality.
State DOC vs Dakota County Jail Search
The Dakota County jail roster covers current local custody. People sentenced to state prison move to a Minnesota Department of Corrections facility, where the Minnesota DOC offender locator takes over. People in federal custody appear in the federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. If a person disappears from the Dakota County roster, the next stop depends on the case: state DOC for state sentences, BOP for federal sentences, another county for a transfer, or release with no further custody.