Dakota County Jail
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Guides for This Facility
How to Register for Minnesota VINE to Track Someone in Dakota County Jail
Minnesota VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is the statewide automated system for custody notifications. Dakota County's inmate-search page directs you here when you want updates about someone's custody status, location, or release. Looking for the "alerts" option on the county site? This is it—you register through Minnesota VINE.
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How to Schedule a Visit at Dakota County Jail: Call-Ahead Rules and What to Expect
Visiting someone at Dakota County Jail takes some planning. The key thing: you have to call ahead, and available times depend on which pod the person is housed in.
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Phone Calls from Dakota County Jail: 15‑Minute Limits, Recording, and When Calls Can Be Suspended
Inmates in Dakota County Jail's general living units can make collect calls from the phones on their unit. Phone access isn't automatic or unlimited—it's a privilege that can be restricted if rules are broken.
Read GuideAt a Glance
Communication
- Dakota County Jail’s phone and video services are provided through Securus, which lists multiple payment product options.
- AdvanceConnect is a prepaid calling account families can use to control and manage spending on an incarcerated person’s calling.
- You can add funds to a contact’s Securus Debit account for them to use on Securus services at their location.
Inmate Lookup
- Dakota County’s online inmate search is not guaranteed current, accurate, or complete and should not be relied on for legal action.
- People may provide false identification information; identity can only be confirmed through fingerprint comparison.
- Court times shown in the inmate search are estimates and are subject to change.
Facility Info
- Dakota County encourages people to use Minnesota VINE to check custody status and register for custody-change or release notifications.
- Victims of violent crime have a right to be notified of pretrial release and are advised to register with Minnesota VINE for timely alerts.
- After conviction, custody-status change notifications typically require a request to the jail or facility where the person is housed; Minnesota VINE may also provide alerts.
Based on official sources and community feedback. Learn how we verify
Topic Overviews
Communication
Dakota County Jail handles phone and video services through Securus. You've got a few payment options: AdvanceConnect lets you fund a prepaid calling account you control. You can also add money directly to the incarcerated person's Securus Debit account, which they use to pay for Securus services at their location. Securus offers Direct Bill too—this bills calls monthly to the recipient, but requires a credit check to qualify. These services are vendor-run and outgoing from the incarcerated person. Expect calls and video sessions to be monitored or recorded.
Inmate Lookup
Dakota County warns that its online inmate search results aren't guaranteed to be current, accurate, or complete—don't rely on them for legal action. The county also notes that people sometimes provide false identification, and only fingerprint comparison can confirm someone's identity. Court times shown are estimates that can change, so call District Court at 651-377-7188 with specific questions. For ongoing updates, register with Minnesota VINE to check custody status and get notifications about location changes or release. Minnesota guidance recognizes victims' rights to custody-status notifications. After conviction, you may need to contact the jail directly, while Minnesota Haven covers state DOC facilities.
Read full guideFacility Info
Need custody updates for someone at Dakota County Jail? The county directs you to Minnesota VINE, the statewide system for checking custody status and signing up for release notifications. Minnesota guidance says victims of violent crime have a right to pretrial release notifications—registering with VINE is the recommended way to get timely alerts. After conviction, custody-change notifications often require a direct request to the jail or facility where the person is housed (though VINE may still work in many cases). County jails and state prisons don't always use the same notification system. If someone transfers to Minnesota DOC custody, register with Minnesota Haven instead. Check local instructions and allow time for processing.
Common Questions
Showing 6 of 9How can I pay for phone calls from someone at Dakota County Jail?
Phone calls from Dakota County Jail go through Securus, which lists several payment options. You can use AdvanceConnect, add funds to the person’s Securus Debit account, or apply for Direct Bill (monthly billing to the recipient with a required credit check).
CommunicationWhat is AdvanceConnect and how does it work?
AdvanceConnect is Securus’s prepaid calling option that helps you manage and control spending. You add funds in advance, and your incarcerated contact uses that balance when placing outgoing calls through the vendor system.
CommunicationWill calls or video sessions from Dakota County Jail be monitored or recorded?
Yes—vendor-run phone, video, and electronic messages are routinely monitored or recorded for security. Sessions are outgoing from the incarcerated person, and you’ll need to accept the call or video session to connect.
CommunicationHow accurate and up to date is Dakota County’s online inmate search?
Dakota County warns that inmate-search results aren't guaranteed to be current, accurate, or complete—and shouldn't be used for legal action. Keep that caveat in mind before making decisions based on what you find.
Inmate LookupWhy does an entry show the wrong name or identifying details?
Dakota County notes that people may provide false identification information, and identity can only be confirmed through fingerprint comparison. If you need a definitive match, ask the appropriate agency about fingerprint verification.
Inmate LookupHow can I get notifications about custody status or release for someone at Dakota County Jail?
Register with Minnesota VINE to check custody status and receive notifications about location or release changes. Minnesota guidance also recognizes victims' rights to custody-status notifications. After conviction, you may need to contact the jail directly. For people in state DOC facilities, Minnesota Haven handles notifications.
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Did You Know?
Dakota County’s inmate-search information is not guaranteed to be current, accurate, or complete; do not rely on it for legal action.
This guide is based on feedback from dozens of families and official facility documentation. Learn how we verify