Find Criminal Court Records in Dakota County

Dakota County criminal court records are maintained by the 1st Judicial District, with the main Judicial Center located in Hastings at 1560 Highway 55. The court also operates service centers in Apple Valley and West St. Paul to serve residents across the county's many communities. You can search most records online at no cost through Minnesota Court Records Online.

Dakota County District Court Locations

Dakota County is one of the busiest in the 1st Judicial District. The district serves seven counties and processes nearly 200,000 cases each year. Thirty-six judges work across the district. In Dakota County, court business is handled at three locations depending on the type of case and where the defendant lives or the offense occurred.

The Dakota County court information page has current hours, directions, and service information for all three locations. If you are not sure which location handles your case type, call the main number before you go.

The court information page also lists what services are available at each location, which is useful if you live closer to Apple Valley or West St. Paul than to the Hastings Judicial Center.

Online Criminal Case Search

The main tool for searching Dakota County criminal court records is Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). It is free and open to anyone. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney. Results show charges filed, hearing dates, case status, and the final disposition. Documents filed after July 1, 2015 are available to view and download.

Dakota County also has a local criminal complaint search tool. The Dakota County Criminal Complaint Search shows complaints filed in the past 12 months. This can be useful for very recent filings that may not appear fully in MCRO yet. Note that the complaint search excludes cases involving criminal sexual conduct and child pornography charges.

For payments related to a court case, visit the Dakota County Court Payment Center. Fines, fees, and bail can be handled there. The court system and the payment center are linked, so your case information is already on file once a case is active.

More general information about district court services in the county is available at Dakota County District Courts. That page covers court calendars, self-help resources, and links to forms.

Sheriff and Jail Records

The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is at 1580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033, right near the Judicial Center. The main number is (651) 438-4700. The Sheriff handles arrest records, incident reports, and jail operations. If you need records from a law enforcement stop or arrest that did not result in a court case, the Sheriff's Office is your contact.

The Dakota County Sheriff's Office page has contact information for the various divisions. The records unit handles public requests for police reports and incident records. Response times vary depending on the request and the age of the file.

For jail information, the Dakota County Jail Roster shows who is currently held in custody. It is updated regularly and searchable by name. If you are trying to find out whether someone was booked, this is the place to check. The roster does not include historical data, only current and recent bookings.

Getting Copies of Criminal Court Records

You can request copies of Dakota County criminal court records in person at any of the three court locations, by mail, or by phone. Certified copies cost $14 per document. Uncertified copies are free as of July 1, 2023. For detailed instructions on how to submit a copy request, visit the Minnesota Courts copy request help page.

When making a request by mail, include the case number, the full name of the party, the type of document you need, and payment. Make checks or money orders out to Dakota County Court Administration. Mail to the Judicial Center at 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. If you prefer to pay by credit card, call (651) 438-8100 during business hours.

In-person requests can be handled at the Judicial Center or at either service center. You can also inspect records for free at the courthouse without getting copies. Bring a photo ID. If you find what you need and want copies, staff can make them for you at that time.

BCA Statewide Criminal History

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension runs a separate criminal history database that covers all 87 counties. A BCA search costs $8 and shows conviction records from the past 15 years. Use it at the BCA criminal history search page. BCA records are useful when you want to see if someone has a history beyond Dakota County or when a case is older than what MCRO covers in full detail.

Court records and BCA records are not the same thing. The court has the full case file. The BCA has conviction data pulled from courts and law enforcement statewide. Use both if you need a complete picture. If the case was dismissed or the person was acquitted, the BCA record will not show it. That information is in the court file.

Expungement and Record Sealing

Under Minn. Stat. Chapter 609A, people with qualifying criminal records can petition the court to seal those records from public view. If expungement is granted, the record will no longer appear in MCRO searches. The Minnesota Courts expungement page explains the process step by step and lists which case types qualify.

Not all cases are eligible. Eligibility depends on the charge, the outcome, and the time that has passed since the case closed. Dismissals may qualify right away. Convictions often require a waiting period. The court's Self-Help Center can help you understand whether your case qualifies and walk you through the forms. Once a record is sealed, the general public cannot access it through court searches.

Cities in Dakota County

Several of Dakota County's larger cities have their own pages with local records information. All criminal cases from these cities are handled through the Dakota County district court system.

Nearby Counties

Dakota County shares borders with several metro and southeastern Minnesota counties, each served by their own district court offices.