Dakota County Background Check

A Dakota County background check lets you search criminal history records, court case data, and public records for one of the most populous counties in Minnesota. The county seat is Hastings, where the Sheriff's Office and District Court are both located. Dakota County includes major suburban cities like Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley, and Lakeville. The BCA criminal history search and Minnesota Court Records Online are the main free tools for running a background check here.

BCA Criminal History Search for Dakota County

The free BCA Criminal History Search is the best place to start a Dakota County background check. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains this public database and keeps it updated with conviction data from courts and law enforcement agencies across the state. You search by name and date of birth. Results come back quickly and cover Minnesota cases statewide.

Under Minnesota Statute 13.87, conviction records are public for 15 years after the sentence ends. Once that window closes, the record is no longer shown publicly. Arrests without a conviction are excluded from public view entirely. This framework means the BCA reflects a specific slice of criminal history, not every arrest or contact with law enforcement.

Start the search at chs.state.mn.us. Dakota County cases are reported to the BCA through the standard statewide process, so results for local cases appear alongside records from anywhere in Minnesota.

The BCA Criminal History Search provides free statewide access to Minnesota conviction records, including cases from Dakota County courts.

For a certified background check document, mail a notarized request with a $15 fee to the BCA at 1430 Maryland Ave E, St. Paul, MN 55106. Processing takes about two weeks. Call 651-793-2400 with questions. This is the same database as the online search, but produces an official certified result.

Note: The BCA also operates within the Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) network. Dakota County agencies, including the Sheriff, report to the BCA monthly under state requirements, which helps keep the database current.

Dakota County District Court Records

The Dakota County District Court is part of the First Judicial District. The courthouse is at 1560 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. Phone: 651-493-2200. The Court Administrator manages all case files, processes public records requests, and maintains the official docket for every case filed in the county. Dakota County sees a high volume of cases given its large population, so the court system is well-organized and accessible.

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is the state's free public case search tool. It covers Dakota County cases from July 2015 forward and is available at mncourts.gov/access-case-records/mcro. Search by name or case number. You can see party names, case types, docket entries, and dates. Document images are sometimes available for newer cases. Most criminal and civil records are publicly accessible through this tool.

The Minnesota Courts directory page for Dakota County lists the courthouse address, phone number, and links to online case search tools in Hastings.

For older records or certified copies of documents, contact the Court Administrator at the Hastings courthouse. Staff can search by name or case number and provide copies. The Remote Public Access portal at pa.courts.state.mn.us gives docket-level access to Minnesota cases statewide. It shows current case status without requiring a trip to the courthouse.

Minnesota Statute 13 sets the rule that government data is public unless a specific law says otherwise. Dakota County court records follow that presumption. Sealed files, juvenile cases, and certain family law records have restricted access. Routine criminal and civil case records are open to anyone who asks.

Dakota County Sheriff's Office

The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is at 1580 Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033. Phone: 651-438-4700. The Sheriff handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas of the county and runs the county jail at the same address, reachable at 651-438-4750. The Sheriff's Office also maintains access to the BCA's Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) network and reports to the BCA monthly as required under Minn. Stat. 626.5534.

The Dakota County Sheriff's Office website provides department contact details, services, and current news for residents of the county.

The Sheriff provides fingerprinting services for court-ordered purposes, probation transfers, and contractor clearances. Under Minn. Stat. 299C.10, the Sheriff is required to fingerprint felony, gross misdemeanor, and targeted misdemeanor arrestees and submit those records to the BCA. Gun permit applications processed through the Sheriff's Office also involve a BCA background check. The Sheriff does not conduct general public background checks. Use the BCA and court systems for that purpose.

Arrest records from the Dakota County Sheriff carry partial public access under Minn. Stat. 13.82. The time, place, charges, and final disposition of any arrest are public data. To request specific arrest information, contact the Sheriff's Office and reference the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

Other Tools for Dakota County Record Searches

The Minnesota DOC Offender Locator shows current incarceration and supervised release status for people in the state corrections system. It is free at coms.doc.state.mn.us/PublicViewer. This is useful for checking whether someone is currently in custody, but it does not show completed sentences. Use it alongside the BCA and MCRO for a broader view.

Expungement affects what a search can show. Under Minn. Stat. 609A, a court can seal a criminal record through expungement. Sealed records disappear from public databases like the BCA and MCRO. If a search returns no results, the record may be sealed rather than nonexistent. Law enforcement agencies and certain licensing boards retain access to sealed records.

The DPS BCA information page at dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/Pages/background-checks.aspx explains what each background check type covers and who can request each kind. For a broader look at how the state system handles criminal records, the Minn. Stat. 13 data practices framework is the governing law for public access to government data in Dakota County and across Minnesota.

Cities in Dakota County

Dakota County includes several large cities. These cities all file criminal cases at the Dakota County District Court in Hastings. Each has its own local law enforcement agency that reports to the BCA.

Other communities in Dakota County include Hastings, Rosemount, Farmington, South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, and Savage. All criminal cases for these communities go through the Dakota County District Court.

Nearby Counties

Dakota County borders several metro and southeast Minnesota counties. Each uses the same statewide BCA and court systems for background checks, but cases are filed at each county's own courthouse.